Applications of Research to Improve High School Physics Classes: Physics First through AP Physics

Applications of Research to Improve High School Physics Classes: Physics First through AP Physics

Randal Harrington, The Blake School, Minneapolis, MN

I will describe the development and discuss issues of implementation of a high school physics program that has made use of multiple research-based curricula that includes aspects of Modeling, Physics by Inquiry, CPU, Tutorials in Introductory Physics, and on-line Web based problem solving (WebAssign and Cybertutor). The program starts with Physics First in 9^th grade, and includes numerous electives including modern physics, astronomy, electronics, and AP Physics.