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"PHYSICS is PHUN"

The Physics KICKS (Keep Improving Content, Knowledge and Skills) Institute is one of a series of NCLB funded projects designed to help science teachers gain stronger command of science content knowledge, skills, and pedagogy to ensure science literacy for all students through rich learning experiences. Institutes are offered in Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Elementary, and Inquiry. Participants benefit from staff development opportunities (such as NATS conferences), awareness of outstanding organizations and resources (e.g. Science Olympiad, NSTA, Science Objects, and SCASS), as well as becoming professional leaders in a strong networking support system through Building a Presence in Science (BaP) and online sharing.

"For a new teacher, like me, KICKS was a great way to network and glean ideas from more experienced teachers. The insights and materials I collected are invaluable to me, and the time really went fast because I was engaged in learning. Anyone who is interested in sharing their knowledge can pull something positive from KICKS. For those who are focused on learning about teaching in their content area, it is an excellent way to give their curriculum a KICK in the pants!" -- Jenny Judt, Norfolk Catholic

Participants are paid expenses and a stipend, with graduate credit available. The Norfolk Physics KICKS cohort met for two 4-day weeks last summer, at NATS in Fremont in the fall, and twice this spring at ESU #8. More information about this and other upcoming KICKS programs across the state can be found at http://kicks.ishareinfo.org/mspkicks/

Les Piper (Pierce), Polla Hartley (Spalding Academy), and Jennifer Judt (Norfolk Catholic) determine the spring constant of a screen door spring at a Physics KICKS followup session held at ESU 8. Instructor Tyler Berzina, Millard West, assures them that "Physics is Phun."

 

Jim Woodland, NDE Director of Science Education, and Tyler Berzina, Physics KICKS instructor, watch as Jay Kuecker (Kearney Senior High) and Tammy Walters (Johnson High School) perform a physics experiment.

 

Rylan Cheney (Cody-Kilgore) and Kevin Breedlove (Tekamah) analyze their results.