CONNIE WELLS
named Woman Physicist of the Month by the American Physical Society Connie can be contacted at [email protected] |
CONNIE WELLS has a Master of Science Degree in Physics from The University of Kansas. After teaching Physics and AP Physics at the high school level for over twenty five years, Connie is now an adjunct instructor of physics at Rockhurst University in Kansas City, Missouri. She has been active in test scoring and development for The College Board and was a Regional Winner of the Siemens Award for Advanced Placement Teaching sponsored by The College Board and The Siemens Foundation and was awarded the Rockers Award for Greater Kansas City Area Outstanding Teacher in Science in 2008. As a workshop leader and consultant, she has presented physics teacher training institutes throughout the United States and abroad—including Edmonton (AB, Canada), Hawaii, Saipan (Northern Marianas Islands), Barranquilla (Colombia), Bangkok, Skopje (Macedonia), Shanghai, Tokyo, Harbin (China), Taipei (Taiwan), Hangzhou (China), and Beijing. She is the author of several physics review guides produced by major publishers and of documents and focus booklets for AP Physics published by The College Board. Connie has been Chair of the Committee on Teacher Preparation for the American Association of Physics Teachers. In August, 2015, she was named Woman Physicist of the Month by the American Physical Society.
COURSE AGENDA: Marin on the Bay AP Physics 1 Summer Institute
AP Physics 1 Online Institute Overview Connie Wells, AP Physics Consultant
Day 1 –
• Introductions
• Overview of institute goals
• Review of digital materials supplied for participants
• AP Physics 1 Complete Examination of CED (Revised in 2024-25)
• Test specifications (changes and revised testing methods) and four new required FRQ problem types
• Small group assignments of 2025 Free Response questions for presentation
• Discuss a plan for preparation of individual course syllabus with timeline
• Set of activities for development of motion and graphing: (Materials: graph paper, small pull-back spring car, masking tape, marker or several coins, metronome app on phone)
• Center of mass activity (Materials needed at hand: graph paper, calculator, 3 different coins)
• Lesson 1 on Fluids (new to P1 this past year): Concepts and Labs Related to Static Fluids
Asynchronous assignments:
• Work with your small group to prepare your assigned Free Response question for presentation to the class
• Look over 2025 FR exams
• Begin work on course syllabus/timeline (required for credit participants but recommended for everyone)
Day 2 –
• Roll Call: “One Item I Gained Yesterday That Will Be Helpful in My Classroom”
• Discussion of the process of preparing, reading and scoring AP exams
• Modeling the lab inquiry process • Discussion of student lab records
• The PVC Centripetal Force and Rotation Experiments (Materials needed: calculator)
• Lesson 2 on Fluids: Conservation Laws and Activities/Labs Related to Fluids in Motion
Asynchronous Assignments:
• Work in small groups on presentations of solutions to 2025 Exam FRQs and Sample Free Response question samples
• Work on your Course Plan
Day 3 –
• Roll Call: Select and report on an Instructional Strategy from the CED
• Complete presentations by small groups of FRQ solutions
• Examination and discussion of multiple-choice questions and ranking
• Demonstrations on topics by unit in Physics 1
Asynchronous Assignments:
• Work in small groups on published sample multiple choice exams provided
• Work on course syllabus
• Prepare 1-2 minute “Best Practice’ (optional)
• If you have not completed your new audit, go through power point “AP Audit” and watch the video https://vimeo.com/949282811/209e0ea7f9?share=copy
• Read the brief document provided (PDF): “Broadening Access to AP for Underrepresented Populations in Your School”
Day 4
• Roll Call: “Best Practice” presentations
• Finish going over multiple-choice examples and ranking of achievement levels
• Discuss testing of laboratory skills on the exam
• Develop a summary of ideas for a laboratory plan • Small Group Meeting and Discussion: “Broadening Access to AP for Underrepresented Populations in Your School”
• Q&A Session • Workshop evaluation *Note: On Day 3 or Day 4, a guest Curriculum Lead from The College Board will be invited for a 30-minute “Ask the Expert” session to answer your questions related to the new CED changes, corrections, and new exam testing format. Contact Information: Connie Wells College Board Consultant [email protected] cell: 913-709-1673
For participants: Please Bring
COURSE AGENDA: Marin on the Bay AP Physics 1 Summer Institute
AP Physics 1 Online Institute Overview Connie Wells, AP Physics Consultant
Day 1 –
• Introductions
• Overview of institute goals
• Review of digital materials supplied for participants
• AP Physics 1 Complete Examination of CED (Revised in 2024-25)
• Test specifications (changes and revised testing methods) and four new required FRQ problem types
• Small group assignments of 2025 Free Response questions for presentation
• Discuss a plan for preparation of individual course syllabus with timeline
• Set of activities for development of motion and graphing: (Materials: graph paper, small pull-back spring car, masking tape, marker or several coins, metronome app on phone)
• Center of mass activity (Materials needed at hand: graph paper, calculator, 3 different coins)
• Lesson 1 on Fluids (new to P1 this past year): Concepts and Labs Related to Static Fluids
Asynchronous assignments:
• Work with your small group to prepare your assigned Free Response question for presentation to the class
• Look over 2025 FR exams
• Begin work on course syllabus/timeline (required for credit participants but recommended for everyone)
Day 2 –
• Roll Call: “One Item I Gained Yesterday That Will Be Helpful in My Classroom”
• Discussion of the process of preparing, reading and scoring AP exams
• Modeling the lab inquiry process • Discussion of student lab records
• The PVC Centripetal Force and Rotation Experiments (Materials needed: calculator)
• Lesson 2 on Fluids: Conservation Laws and Activities/Labs Related to Fluids in Motion
Asynchronous Assignments:
• Work in small groups on presentations of solutions to 2025 Exam FRQs and Sample Free Response question samples
• Work on your Course Plan
Day 3 –
• Roll Call: Select and report on an Instructional Strategy from the CED
• Complete presentations by small groups of FRQ solutions
• Examination and discussion of multiple-choice questions and ranking
• Demonstrations on topics by unit in Physics 1
Asynchronous Assignments:
• Work in small groups on published sample multiple choice exams provided
• Work on course syllabus
• Prepare 1-2 minute “Best Practice’ (optional)
• If you have not completed your new audit, go through power point “AP Audit” and watch the video https://vimeo.com/949282811/209e0ea7f9?share=copy
• Read the brief document provided (PDF): “Broadening Access to AP for Underrepresented Populations in Your School”
Day 4
• Roll Call: “Best Practice” presentations
• Finish going over multiple-choice examples and ranking of achievement levels
• Discuss testing of laboratory skills on the exam
• Develop a summary of ideas for a laboratory plan • Small Group Meeting and Discussion: “Broadening Access to AP for Underrepresented Populations in Your School”
• Q&A Session • Workshop evaluation *Note: On Day 3 or Day 4, a guest Curriculum Lead from The College Board will be invited for a 30-minute “Ask the Expert” session to answer your questions related to the new CED changes, corrections, and new exam testing format. Contact Information: Connie Wells College Board Consultant [email protected] cell: 913-709-1673
For participants: Please Bring
- Meter stick or measuring tape
- Graphing calculator
- Graph paper, pencil, ruler
- Text book presently used
- School calendar for planning
- Your favorite demo or lab idea to share
- Your enthusiasm