I created this website to share my experience with teaching Physics at Northern Virginia Community College. It also includes the results of researching and applying cognitive psychology tools for improved attention, retention of information, student motivation, and more.
Teaching tips and insights, results from my research, and a list of my favorite tech tools that I have used in my classroom.
Believe it or not, but Physics can be fun. At least, that is what we have in my Conceptual Physics class. Follow the link for videos, projects, and other resources relevant to Conceptual Physics.
Have you checked out my podcast Physics Rules? There is so much on the Internet nowadays, that I asked myself why add more to it. I wanted something quick and startling and to the point. Something that people generally don’t think about and yet can grasp it without pain or tears or years of mathematics preparation. This project is still in its infancy, but do check out the latest episode. I had my 10-yr-old daughter join me to discuss Newton’s First Law. She is currently going through the Fairfax County Public School system, and needless to say, I am far from impressed with the quality of physics being taught. It was either create something positive like the Physics Rules or go and scream at the Principal or the School Board. I opted for the more fun alternative!
If you are planning to go into the health professions, you will more likely need to take College Physics. College Physics is very similar to University Physics, only with a little less focus on calculus and more focus on the biological applications. I love to collaborate and exchange ideas with my colleague David Fernandez on all the ways physics is involved in the functions of the cells.
Introductory University Physics shares topics and problems with College Physics but requires and uses advanced mathematics from Calculus, Differential Equations, and Linear Algebra. It is for students who intend to major in physics, engineering, chemistry, computer science, and other physical sciences.