Brian's+Page

Brian Hourigan toc** School:Masuk High School, Monroe CT Subject: Physics Experience: 8 years

=**Email**= bhourigan23@gmail.com =**Blog**= @http://bhourigan.blogspot.com/ =**Final Project**= My final project will be to design a unit in which I incorporate a variety of technologies to help students learn the content better. The unit I plan to teach with the aid of technology is a sound chapter. In this unit I plan to integrate a SMART Board and classroom response system to teach lessons. I am also planning to use laptops and microphone probes to measure the frequencies of various instruments and to measure the speed of sound. The technology involved in the data collection side of this chapter I hope will offer my students the chance to see how technology can be a terrific aid to the scientific method. Finally I would like to incorporate some interactive computer applets to help students visualize a sound wave. Sound is tricky for some learners because you cannot see it, so hopefully by integrating some video into my lessons I will help students visualize the content better.

=Week 1=

Podcast with Tim
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=Week 2=

Tim and Brian Wiki Edit:
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Classroom 2.0
I found Classroom 2.0 to be very informative. I will definately be going back there for more teaching ideas. I was unable to respond to any posts because my account has not been approved yet. However there are three that I am interested in. The first is a post on creating Flash media for the classroom. I would like to respond to pick up the book Learnig Flash 8 by Suzanne Weixel that I used with Dr. Sponder in 512. I thought it was very helpful. The secoond post I found was a post about useful physics animations online. I saw many that I have never heard of and that I am interested in trying. I did have one that I would like to suggest that I did not see on any of the posts. The third discussion I found interesting was a discussion about using audacity in the physics classroom to teach a unit on sound. Having just taken the audio class with David Miller and learning more about Audacity I thought I could offer some thoughts. Overall in my limited use of it I am a big fan of classroom 2.0.

Instructional Strategies
2) SMARTboard || 2) DVD/internet video 3) Digital Probeware 4) Internet Applets 5) Digital Camera || 2) Computer based instruction || 2) Internet based applets || 2) Video of other classes responses || 2) Internet classes/Connect 3) Skype 4) Computer based programs 5) laptops || 2) laptops for group work 3) Jeopardy games for review || 2) laptops for group work || 2) Graphical Analysis 3) Graphing Calculator || 2) Graphical Analysis 3) Graphing Calculator || =Week 3=
 * < **Instructional Strategy** ||< **Technology Ideas** ||
 * < Presentation ||< 1) Powerpoint/Keynote
 * < Demonstration ||< 1) SMARTboard
 * < Drill and Practice ||< 1) Computer Applications
 * < Tutorial ||< 1) DVD/video
 * < Discussion ||< 1) Classroom response system
 * < Cooperative Learning ||< 1) Video conferencing
 * < Games ||< 1) Smartboard(display to entire class)
 * < Simulation ||< 1) Smartboard(display to entire class)
 * < Discovery ||< 1) Digital Probeware
 * < Problem Solving ||< 1) Digital Probeware

Wikipedia Article-Ladder Ball
__Ladder Ball__

Ladder Ball is a game were two individuals or two teams of two compete in throwing 3 bolas each (string with golf balls tied to the end) in the attempt to have them wrap on a PVC ladder to earn points. The first team to score exactly 21 points is the winner. Ladder Ball is also known as Ladder toss, lawn golf, and blongo ball. The Ladder Ball described in this article is played mostly in southwestern CT.

__History__ (Gaucho Marxmen, most succesful team in Ladder Ball history) The original origins of the game are unknown. The game is played in many different settings with a variety of rules interpretations. Southwestern CT Ladder Ball got its origins first at a Relay for Life walk. While resting walkers would play the game. The popularity of the game quickly spread to backyard barbeques and family birthday parties. The games popularity quickly spread but family competitivness caused tensions to rise as there was no official set of rules. By the early summer of 2009 rules were drawn up and the first ever Ladder Ball tournament was held in July 2009. Nine teams of two participated in the double elimination format and the Gaucho Marxmen were crowned champions. The September Bowl was then held on September 7th 2009. This tournament consisted of 12 teams and again the games greatest duo, The Gaucho Marxmen, took home the title. On October 23rd of 2009 a special tournament was held to celebrate the marriage of one of the games founding fathers. The JH open was the most talented field to date with the eventual champions winning a thrilling 21-11 match. Future tournaments are in the works with the next scheduled for late June early July 2010. (Names have been left out for privacy)

__Rules of the Game__

__​__The Ladder Ball court is 40 feet long by 8 feet wide. A ladder is placed at each end. The ladder consists of 3 horizontal rungs each 1 foot apart vertically and 2 feet wide horizontally. A team places one member at each end of the court. After both teams have tossed all their bolas(3), scoring is determined by the bolas that are still hanging from the horizontal steps. Players alternate throws during the course of the game.Players can knock-off bolas during the course of the game, in fact knocking-off other players bolas is encouraged and a good way to play defensively. Bolas that are knocked off during play do not count as points. Only bolas that are left hanging after all bolas are tossed are counted as points. Points are determined by which step your bola wraps around. The top step is worth 2 points the middle step is worth 3 points and the bottom step is only worth 1 point. Players can score an optional bonus of 1 point by hanging all 3 bolas from the same step or by hanging a bola on all 3 (1-2-3) steps in one round. The highest amount of points for any round is 10 points (3-3-3 +1). A game is won when a team reaches a score of 21. If a team goes over 21 in one round they lose those points and start the next round at their original score. For example, if a team starts a round at 18 and they hit a 1 pointer and a 3 pointer that team will lose all points for that round and start the next round back at 18. (JH Open, 10/23/09)

Video Capture using SCREENR
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=Week 4=

Let's Practice 5 Podcast with Tim
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Five Sites (#2)
Below are five credible websites that I have found that all focus on the physics of sound. 1) [|The Physics of Sound] This site is credible because after researching the author he is a mathematician and engineer. In addition to that he sites a variety of Physics texts in his work on the site. 2) [|PHET Sound and Wave Simulations] This site is credible because it is a .edu and is maintained by the Physics department at the University of Colorado Boulder. 3) [|Hyperphysics] This site is credible because it is a .edu and is maintained by the Physics department at Georgia State University. 4) [|The Physics Classroom] This site is credible because the author is a science teacher. The site is for educational purposes and is free. 5) [|Sound Wave Applet] This site is credible because it is NASA's website.

Internet Rules (#6)
1) I will use the internet in an appropriate manner and in a way that pertains to the assignment that has been given. 2) I will maintain the integrity of the files and data that I am working with. 3) I will treat the information that I am viewing as the private property of the author/creator. I will respect copyrights. 4) I will protect my email and computer login password from others. 5) I will only use my login and email password and no one else's at any time. 6) I will respect the computer hardware that I am using and not download any materials that could be harmful to the computer. 7) I will look for credible sources. 8) I will not use the internet for commercial purposes. 9) I will not try to "hack" the system in any way. 10) I will not modify or copy files without the consent of others.

Webquest (#7)
After looking on the web I would like to create a WebQuest on the energy involved in a roller coaster. I would like to do this because when I teach about energy I often do sample problems that involve roller coasters. My classes never get the chance to go to an amusement park to investigate roller coasters because we complete this chapter in January and the parks don't open until late March. This way at least the students can research some famous roller coasters. I found a [|roller coaster WebQuest] online that I would like to model mine off of. I am not that great at creating these activities so I thought modeling my WebQuest off of an already successful one would be a good option. I would however make substantial changes. First the linked WebQuest is about designing a roller coaster through research. My WebQuest would have the primary function of researching key information such as heights and maximum speeds of various steel and wooden coasters. This research could be used in calculations to figure out how much kinetic and potential energy the coaster has. This would be very useful for the energy unit I teach because we talk in great depth about kinetic and potential energy. I would have to update some of the links that are in the sample WebQuest. Some do not work and some do not lead to the type of information I am looking for. Despite this the link above is a good template to follow and I think creating this WebQuest would definitely be possible.

Kathy Schrock (#9)
What I found most useful about Kathy Schrock's Guide for Educator's Website were the extensive number of links that were available in my subject area. I always like seeing new links that can lead me to new ideas on how to teach my subject. I found the organization of the site excellent and it was very easy to navigate. Beyond the obvious reasons of liking the site because it provided me with excellent resources I also liked how the site gave awards to some of the most useful sites. I found this to be very helpful as you try to read through the hundreds of site links that they provide. I was looking through the Biology page and rather than read every site description I just went right to the site with the award ribbon next to it and checked it out. I also liked some of the resources for educators links. The one I found myself looking at were the rubric links. I actually found a good rubric for multimedia presentations. I give a video project at the end of the school year and I always struggle grading it. This site gave me some excellent options for doing so. Finally, I also found several rubric maker links on the site. In all the site is an outstanding resource and my favorite feature other than the content is the organization and structure of it. It is so easy to use and find what you are looking for.