https://www.smedberg.org/home daily 1.0 2019-12-03 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5bf99e16e17ba3b146febc7d/1543098374267-1LTIEVKTFIKH1OIZKE1N/projectile_1.png Philosophy of Education - Learning is student-Centered The best learning is done with a student’s skills and needs in mind. The most effective way to learn a new thing is teaching it to someone else, so my students are encouraged to speak up - both to me and to each other. I try to promote an environment where asking questions is the norm, and where lively discussion is encouraged. I want every student to be master of her own learning, whatever that looks like. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5bf99e16e17ba3b146febc7d/1543172651695-I5AOY90ZOB1232ISUDQS/orienteering_1.png Philosophy of Education - Learning finds joy in a challenge To paraphrase Robert Browning, a learner’s “reach should exceed his grasp”, or what is truly learned? I believe that there is value in the struggle, and that the true growth happens when we push outside our comfort zone. I want to challenge my students, and encourage them to reach beyond what seems possible. Students should be proud of what they accomplished, and a strong classroom environment allows every girl to find joy in her discovery. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5bf99e16e17ba3b146febc7d/1543099255823-3GL2E1O46466F9CQQTWW/paper_tower.png Philosophy of Education - Learning is inquiry-based Real life isn’t a series of prescribed questions to answer, but instead a maze of challenges to solve. Inquiry-based learning presents goals for the students to achieve, while giving them the opportunity to meet unexpected challenges head-on. Students are encouraged to consider creative solutions to problems, and most importantly, discover that there are many ways to think about the same problem. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5bf99e16e17ba3b146febc7d/1543085647651-K9HGYBNIHUNE4X233JXA/library_arch.png Philosophy of Education https://www.smedberg.org/spotlight-projects daily 0.75 2019-12-03 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5bf99e16e17ba3b146febc7d/1575404434957-7YBNWFN8P8CMPNNJBWSV/treasure_hunt_pic.jpg Spotlight Activities - Treasure vectors Students are given a set of vectors and a starting location, and using a scale image of campus, they locate the hidden treasure somewhere on campus. All the maps started in-between the posts on the entrance to the oval, and used the vectors to locate their treasure - four locations on campus! By using our campus as a location, students can explore the idea of vectors combined with those of orientation. The students enjoy going outside and really enjoy when their math leads them to treasure! Vector Treasure Hunt https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5bf99e16e17ba3b146febc7d/1575400297474-C3K3WLF9I3DPZE6F58V1/file.jpg Spotlight Activities Example kit for one group (in this case, Team Gamma) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5bf99e16e17ba3b146febc7d/1543194309331-8TJU3ROD99K7FS6V7OJQ/poster_example.png Spotlight Activities - poster labs For each inquiry lab, the students are given an objective and materials. From there, they develop a lab procedure to accomplish the goal. The poster report requires students to consider the ideals of design and layout, and create a product that not only expresses the information, but does so in a way that is clear, compelling and interesting to the consumer. This turns the idea of a traditional lab report upside down, can be completed in class, and shared via OneNote. Students can then concentrate on inquiry without the anxiety of individually writing lab reports. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5bf99e16e17ba3b146febc7d/1543189063040-IVPN9PMU9MONPP1WISQE/electric_house_2.png Spotlight Activities - electric house In the spirit of STEAM, students design and create a scale model of a small home, and then wire it using knowledge gained in the course. Knowledge of prototyping and electrical load give a real world example of the difficulties faced when building at full size. Full creativity within the parameters is encouraged, and the finished house is a source of pride, if creative decorating. Electric House https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5bf99e16e17ba3b146febc7d/1575403849818-DF72JB6FXESJ5OE521YH/peggy_cindy.jpg Spotlight Activities https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5bf99e16e17ba3b146febc7d/1575403808289-TIA4GQ0G9OBM8DGE4WLL/jeff_macey.jpeg Spotlight Activities https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5bf99e16e17ba3b146febc7d/1575403866274-UWLVFLAN8UJWAPYVZWDC/withers_kids.jpg Spotlight Activities https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5bf99e16e17ba3b146febc7d/1575403809008-DKLPK45R8H3C2A29TBXT/abraham_lindsay.jpeg Spotlight Activities https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5bf99e16e17ba3b146febc7d/1575403886857-XRAA888Z9FV76JQQ269C/alex_kids.jpg Spotlight Activities https://www.smedberg.org/personal daily 0.75 2019-12-03 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5bf99e16e17ba3b146febc7d/1543195888430-SLSOUDK61NDNX396NA1R/about_me.png Personal - i live a charmed life It has been my honor to spend my career as a teacher, coach, sponsor, tutor and dorm parent. I have taught for 15 years, not including the 7 years I was a stay at home parent. I have taught in Maryland, D.C., Pennsylvania and Virginia, and have taught all levels of physics and mathematics. I live with my husband, Benjamin, a computer programmer, and our seven children. https://www.smedberg.org/lesson-planning daily 0.75 2019-12-03 https://www.smedberg.org/broad-content daily 0.75 2019-12-03 https://www.smedberg.org/professional-development daily 0.75 2019-12-03 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5bf99e16e17ba3b146febc7d/1543371338980-WLL3NIKWXLZVSNONIVQS/pd_5.png Professional Development - aapt - Washington, DC 2018 This summer I studied more inquiry labs (my new passion!) and created an optics demo tool kit that I can’t wait to use in PWT: Waves. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5bf99e16e17ba3b146febc7d/1543371226835-CFZW6U6PFU91WB4Y2PN8/pd_2.png Professional Development - AAPT - Atlanta, 2017 This conference allowed me to attend a workshop on inquiry based physics labs, and study project based learning. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5bf99e16e17ba3b146febc7d/1543371094490-C9M9GU8G4O83I86PDOO2/pd_1.png Professional Development - AAPT - New Orleans, 2016 The American Association of Physics Teachers offers and amazing opportunity for Physics educators of all levels to share ideas. At this conference, I learned how to create apps in HTML5, and how to teach rotation more effectively. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5bf99e16e17ba3b146febc7d/1543371179642-3DBD9APMDAGP272SA2SL/ap_grader.png Professional Development - AP Physics Reading The single most valuable professional development I do is as an AP Reader. There is no better way to truly understand what students think and where their misconceptions lie than to read what 10,000 of them write. I have learned so many things through my work with the College Board, and it has connected me with the best Physics teachers in the country who I consider my friends. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5bf99e16e17ba3b146febc7d/1543371263593-XHENWVDCIB932LIR2KF0/pd_3.png Professional Development - AP Symposium During the AP Reading, we have a professional poster session, where all these extraordinary educators share what they’ve learned. It is an incredible cross-section of college and high teaching best practices. 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