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Michigan Section News

Fall Meeting (2006)

The Michigan Section of AAPT convened for our fall meeting at the University of Michigan-Dearborn in their new Science Learning and Research Center. In spite of the cool crisp sunny fall day when most of us felt the call of leaves to be raked or a Tiger’s championship game to attend, 44 physics educators and six students met to listen and respond to their colleagues' presentations.

After a continental breakfast sponsored by Kevin Hill of VWR Education, our host Paul Zitzewitz and our President Kathy Mirakovits introduced Vaman Naik, Chair of the Department of Natural Sciences, and Katie Anderson-Levitt, Dean of the College of Arts, Sciences, and Letters and presented our program for the day.

Abstracts as well as links to the talks given below can be accessed at www.miaapt.org.

Contributed talks:
Diffusion of Educational Innovations via Co Teaching
Charles Henderson, Western Michigan University

Refining an Inquiry-Based Approach to Teach Intermediate Mechanics
Bradley S. Ambrose, Grand Valley State University

The Experience of Implementing Tutorials in Upper Division Mechanics
Carrie Swift, University of Michigan-Dearborn

Probeware on a Budget – Sneaky Uses for Free Software
Steve Dickie, Divine Child High School

Colorful Connections
Michael C. Faleski, Delta College

Research Experience for Undergraduates
Michelle Fritz, University of Michigan undergraduate physics major

ADT Results Reflect Course Goals and Show Room for Improvement
Michael C. LoPresto, Henry Ford Community College

A Continued Assessment: Pre-Service Teachers’ Conceptions of Energy
Patricia Hughey, Lansing Community College

Cooperative Group Assessment in Kinematics and Thermodynamics
Steve Rea, Plymouth High School

Physics Sudoku, Philip Edward Kaldon, Western Michigan University

Physics of Cell Phones and Wireless Communications Project
Mark Davids, Grosse Pointe South High School; Rick Forrest, Rochester High School; Don Pata, Grosse Pointe North High School

Poster Session:
First Semester Introductory Physics Labs at the University of Michigan
Carl Akerlof, University of Michigan – Ann Arbor

Invited Talk:
The Goals of Physics Courses and Scientific Abilities
Dr. Eugenia Etkina, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey

David Matzke and Carrie Swift provided a tour of the new facilities, including solar observations.

During our business meeting we adopted revisions to our constitution and had announcements and reports by our officers.

Eugenia Etkina, MIAAPT
Dr. Eugenia Etkina presents "The Goals of Physics Courses and Scientific Abilities."

Submitted by Scott Schneider
Email comments/inquries to Alan Gibson, Section Representative

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