The S section ran into some technical difficulties today with the CPS computer response system. This system gives every student their own clicker and the chance to respond to questions that appear on the smartboard. In fact, it is a game for us, where the first person to respond gets a bonus of 5 points and every correct answer is 20 points. Sadly, my computer battery died with 10 minutes left in the class and we were not in my normal room so I didn't have my power supply with me :( They were good sports about it. I had set up this system for them: 80% correct (that means the total correct for every student for every question on average) and I would drop one essay from the 4 on the test; 90% and I would drop two; and 95% or more and I would drop three. When the computer died they had 96%! I stuck with my word and they can choose one of four.
The W section did the mirror star graph today. This lab has students look in a mirror while they try to follow through a star maze. Tough stuff, but everyone usually gets better over time. They graph their data at the end using a template they download from my moodle site.
The O and L sections today talked about momentum and got to see the great swinging pendulum balls demonstration. It is simply amazing to see the balls swing and knock out as many as are dropped. So, if I pull back one, one goes off the other side. Here is a video you can watch, actually using the same device I use in class. I do a lot more than this in class--I need a webcam so that I can record my demos! I'll keep working on that.
I hope the link works for you! I haven't had much luck lately with these.
No homework today for anyone, except to study study study for the tests coming up later this week.
Sweet justice.
