Physics First Works

Freshman getting data from photo-electric effect apparatus.        The links below are resources used prior to and during the transition the "Physics First" science sequence at a 1100 student urban high school focused on college preparation. Timeline :                               This page provides the key dates during the implementation of the Physics First Sequence.  This version of the web page now reveals comparisons using ACT© and AP© performance before, during and then after implementation of the "Physics First" sequence at McGill-Toolen Catholic High School. Introduction to Physics First Presentation :             This is the presentation to the staff, administration school board and parents explaining "Physics First" and to sell the sequence as a possible benefit to the school.  The school previously sequenced Biology, Chemistry and then Physics as an elective in the senior year. Action Research :                  Research prior to, d

The Impact of Grade 9 Physics using Modeling on Achievement in an Interscholastic Physics Competition Analysis of Performance at the University of Alabama High School Physics Competition from 2002-2018 ABSTRACT: This study examines the performance of a school at a regional physics competition over a sixteen year period from 2002 to 2018.   The urban private high school of 1100 students transitioned to a "Physics First" course sequence that implemented a grade 9 physics with modeling course. Performance at the regional physics competition was examined for the 6 years prior, during the 3 years of transition and for 7 years after the sequence change and course introduction . In the traditionally taught prior science sequence the school did not have enough interest to send teams for 4 of the 6 years prior to the new sequence and course. T he school studied had never won a school, team or individual award at th is regional physics competition pr