Physics 2008-2009

Course Objective

KET's Physics is a one-year high school course with the goal of providing the student with an appreciation and understanding of the physical world. An equally important goal is to prepare students for college courses and careers that require an understanding of physics - the sciences, engineering, medicine, pharmacy, education, agriculture, transportation, weather, and many other fields.

One essential tool in developing an understanding of physical principles is mathematics. Mathematical descriptions of motion, force, energy, electricity, magnetism, and light allow us to describe what we observe and predict what we have yet to observe in the most efficient manner possible. In physics we use mathematics as a tool to summarize and extend our observations. So is physics just another mathematics course? No, physics is about concepts and real events around us. Mathematics is just a very useful part of the language of physics. We ultimately want to know why the sky is blue and what gives a saxophone its brash sound. Math just helps us describe what we see. The preparation you need is two successful years of algebra. But a good dose of curiosity and good study habits wouldn't hurt!

In an effort to provide students with a more direct experience of the phenomena being studied and a more self-paced learning environment, the teacher has developed a CD-ROM using movies, animations, and a guided workshop approach to take students step by step through the course. The video portion of the class will be designed to wrap around the computer activities.

(You may view a few of these activities by connecting to the KET Distance Learning Web Site at www.dl.ket.org. When you get there, select the Physics icon to go to the Physics front page. With your mouse pointer, move across the oval buttons at the top of the page until you find the one named "Physics Companion." On the screen that appears, select "View a Sample of the Physics Companion." There are also some notes at the bottom of this screen about plug-ins you might need. These are programs that the Netscape web browser requires to let you operate this software. These are free. Please call us at KET if you need assistance.)

The CD-ROM uses a sequence of activities and questions to guide student learning. After responding to each question or discussion prompt, the students can see the teacher's suggested response. Working on computers in small groups, students will naturally tend to discuss the activities with one another. Interaction with the teacher will be in the form of telephone and internal e-mail. Students are encouraged to call the teacher while they work on the computer activities. In this way, students will have this interaction as the need arises. This interaction will be available during a substantial portion of the day.

Each school will need at least one computer connected to the Internet. This will allow for the sending of tests and other materials. During CD-ROM sessions, students work in small groups. Each group will need a Windows-based computer with a CD-ROM Player. Two to three students is an ideal size for a group. These computers could be at any convenient location in the school. Students will need to watch segments of the video classes during these computer sessions, so a TV and VCR will be needed.

Video Instructor

Chuck Duncan
Kentucky Educational Television
600 Cooper Dr.
Lexington, KY 40502-2296

(800) 333-9764
or (859) 258-7142
FAX (859) 258-7390
E-mail: cduncan@ket.org

Chuck earned his MS in nuclear engineering from the University of Kentucky, and his BS in physics from Morehead State University. Chuck is also one of twenty national recipients of the Christa McAuliffe Fellowship, awarded by the U. S. Department of Education through the National Education Association, for improvement in education. In addition to his regular satellite physics course, Chuck has produced many hours of televised professional development seminars for high school, middle school and elementary school teachers. As a part-time instructor at the University of Kentucky, he works with pre-service elementary and middle school teachers to prepare them for the physics component of their future teaching careers.
Work Experience: Fayette County Public Schools (Lexington) 1976-Present; University of Kentucky 1973-present; Institute for Mining and Minerals Research, 1974-1975; Environmental Protection Agency, 1974; Morehead State University, 1972-73; Boy Scouts of America and other camping organizations, 1966-1973.

Producing Organization

The Kentucky Educational Television Network and
Kentucky Department of Education

Special Equipment

Each student must have access to a computer for the CD-ROM sessions. (See: KET Computer Equipment Requirement Chart.) A maximum of three students should work together on one computer. These computers could be at any convenient location in the school. Students will need to watch segments of the taped classes during these computer sessions, so a TV and VCR will be needed.
Each classroom will require a telephone.

Student Prerequisites

Algebra I and Algebra II. The course can be taken at any stage of the biology, chemistry, physics sequence.

Lesson Delivery

The lessons are delivered via a set of purchased videotapes. ($198.00) Sometimes the video will be a full class period of lecture/demonstration. In most cases, however, the video will have several segments that are to be interspersed with computer and laboratory activities. One lesson will usually have enough material for more than one actual day of class. Special programs, just for facilitators, will also be included. Because the tapes are not divided into specific daily lessons, each school can work on their own schedule. Breaks for weather, holidays, professional development days, etc. will no longer be a problem.

Class Size

There is no limit on class size or necessity that all students are working at the same time during the day. Please consider that students in large classes may have difficulty reading the screen or taking notes, which are daily activities in the course.

Course Guides

The following materials will be delivered automatically, based on your enrollment:

Student Materials	$10.00 per student
Facilitator Tool Kit & Supplementary Materials	No charge

Textbooks & Lab Kit

Each student should have:

Physics Principles & Problems (Student Ed.), Glencoe/McGraw-Hill, Attention: Order Department, P. O. Box 543, Blacklick, OH 43004, Phone: 800.334.7344, FAX: 614.860.1877, ISBN #0-02-825-4732
OR (2002 Ed.) ISBN #978-0-078-23896-3
OR (2005 Ed.) ISBN #978-0-078-45813-2, $70.50

Each facilitator should have:

Physics Principles & Problems (Teacher Ed.), Glencoe/McGraw-Hill, Attention: Order Department, P. O. Box 543, Blacklick, OH 43004, Phone: 800.334.7344, FAX: 614.860.1877, ISBN #0-02-825-4740
OR (2002 Ed.) ISBN #978-0-078-25934-0
OR (2005 Ed.) ISBN #978-0-078-45814-9, $92.97
Physics Principles & Problems (Problem & Solution Manual), Glencoe/McGraw-Hill, Attention: Order Department, P. O. Box 543, Blacklick, OH 43004, Phone: 800.334.7344, FAX: 614.860.1877, ISBN #0-02-825-502X
OR (2002 Ed.) ISBN #978-0-078-25936-4, $25.50
OR (2005 Ed.) ISBN #978-0-078-65893-8, $29.97

Each classroom should have:

Physics Laboratory Kit, Arbor Scientific, P. O. Box 2750, Ann Arbor, MI 48106-2750, Phone: 800.367.6695, FAX: 866.477.9373, Part KE-1000 Lab Kit (one per 3 students), $144.00 plus shipping, and Part KE-1001 Lab Kit (one per school) $45.00

Tuition and Enrollment Forms

If you are outside Kentucky: $500.00 per student for 1-5; $475.00 per student for 6 or more per course. Enrollment Form for schools outside Kentucky.
Tuition fees for Kentucky public schools are paid by the state legislature. KET Kentucky Enrollment Form

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