Loose Ends: Mr. E Science Theater 2008

This last school year I tried a new project with my Honors physics classes, called "Mr. E Science Theater." Inspired by an article I had read in an old copy of The Physics Teacher, I envisioned my students giving presentations on some physics-related subject of their choosing. I had a few goals in mind:

• High Quality: I wanted my students to put together a high quality presentation. Not only did I want clear and scientific explanations, I wanted interesting and engaging presentations.
• Student Choice: Very much related to my high quality standard, I wanted to give my student's some choice in what and how they presented. I offered three broad subject options: science fair presentations, physics problem re-enactments and explanations, and real life physics demonstrations. Likewise, they were given three options on when/how to present: in-class live presentation, in-class video presentation, and out-of-class live presentation.

The project went surprisingly well for a first-time, shot-in-the-dark attempt. (My motto in life: when doing anything for the first time, survival is success.) As expected, some groups absolutely loved it and ran with it. Other groups were decidedly less enthusiastic. To give you some idea of the quality of some of the presentations, check out this video one group made to preface their calculations of their cars' horsepower:



I LOVE it! One of the student's parents later told me how impressed he was that his son had been willing to spend Spring break making a physics video. Of course, there is very little obvious physics in the clip, but from the speedometer scenes the students' did calculations and came to reasonable results. Hooray!

As a follow-up to the project, I created a wiki about the project and had my students "edit" it. The wiki I created was really just an outline. Students were expected to add details and suggestions to the outline. You can see the wiki here. Responses were good, but many were somewhat repetitive and borderline (and not-so-borderline) silly. I like the wiki as a way to encourage collaboration, but I think I need to refine my (written and expressed) expectations.

This project is definitely in the schedule for next year. Now that I have some quality examples to show, I'm excited to see what my students will do!

Loose Ends: 2007 Christmas Letter

I was tasked with writing the newsletter this last December. Here, for the sake of posterity, it is in its entirety:

2007: A Year of Firsts

Hello wonderful friends, family, and other well-wishers!

Cali and I are enjoying life as DINKs (dual income, no kids) – which, factoring in the outrageous cost of living in the DC area and our chosen professions is less lucrative than it sounds. 2007 was an eventful year for us, full of firsts in marriage…

First Trip Beyond US Borders (Together): Our most exciting (and expensive) adventure of the year was visiting Cali’s sister Hannah in France. The trip coincided perfectly with our six month anniversary and a streak of miserable winter weather in DC. We stayed with Hannah in central France; with Hannah’s French friends in Biarritz, on the Atlantic coast near Spain; and with other friends in Paris. It was great to take in the culture, spend time together, and escape the humdrum of winter work.

First Master’s Degree: Cali graduated in May with a Masters in Public Administration (MPA) from The George Washington University. After graduation, Cali accepted a job offer from the non-profit organization where she had been interning, the Partnership for Public Service. At the Partnership Cali is learning much about our federal government and enjoys working with dedicated, smart co-workers in a comfortable work environment (including Friday afternoon snacks and Monday bagels). Not to be out-educated, I started a Masters in Science Education through Virginia Tech two days after Cali’s graduation. The program operates out of the Northern Virginia satellite campus; it’s fairly close to our apartment and is designed around a teacher’s schedule. I should finish in August, leading to another first – first VT grad without a clue of what a “Hokie” is! (OK, probably not a first…)

First Time Attending Church in Swimsuits: There’s only so much you can pack into the hot Arizona desert in July. A white shirt and tie didn’t make the cut, so when Cali and I went to church while visiting the Havasupai Indian Reservation we did so in swim trunks. Cali convinced her supervisors at work to give her six weeks of vacation this summer. We flew to Utah where we went mountain biking on Antelope Island, swimming in the Great Salt Lake, fly-fishing in the Weber “river,” backpacking in the Unitas, cliff jumping at Causey Reservoir, night hiking Grandeur Peak, scouring art galleries for affordable, original Utah paintings (we found one!), and visiting family and friends. We finished our trip by journeying to the Havasupai Reservation, in the bottom of the Grand Canyon, and exploring the beautiful waterfalls.

First Anniversary! Always true to the essentials of our relationship, Cali and I celebrated our one year anniversary mountain biking. It’s almost hard to believe we’ve been married for more than a year. It’s been a wonderful year though and we’re looking forward to many, many more. I have the most wonderful wife in the world.

First Time My Wife Cheered While I Was in Pain (probably not the last): We often have friends come visit us since we’re so close to our nation’s capital. During each visit, we usually take them downtown to see the sights. This year I decided to enjoy the sights in another format. The Marine Corp Marathon starts at Arlington National Cemetery and weaves 26.2 miles through the city before finishing at the Iwo Jima Memorial. It was a great race on a bright, clear, but windy day with 20,000 other runners. Favorite fan sign (at mile 19 while crossing back into Virginia): “You are NOT almost there! You still have 7 MILES to go!” At moments like those, I was especially glad to have my beautiful wife cheering me on in my first marathon as a married man! (Certainly, it won’t be my last!)

Now you’ve just read our first Ence Family Year-End Spam-O-Gram! May we all find joy and adventure in 2008!

Accompanying Photos:

Josh and Cali in Biarritz

Hannah, Josh, & Cali in front of Notre Dame

Josh on the Great Salt Lake

Cali and Josh on top of Bald Mountain (High Unitas)

Loose Ends: Marine Corp and Charlottesville Marathons

About the same time that I made a first attempt at this blog, I began training for the Marine Corp Marathon in late fall of 2007. I posted up a few times about the training. Well, I did it! A belated "Huzzah!" for me. Here's what I wrote at the time in an email to friends and family:

"I'm sitting at my desk, quads aching, knees stiffening, and feet shod in my most comfortable shoes (crocs) - yup, it's the day after a marathon! After months of training, I finally ran the Marine Corp Marathon and had a great time. Cali and I got up early Sunday and were on the metro by 6:15; it was a good thing we left early. Although we heard about the incredible crowds (35,000 runners with at least that many spectators), it was really a sight. The metro was packed and nearly the entire course was lined with fans, two or three rows deep at some places.

Dawn arrived beautifully while we were making our way to the starting line. The weather was a little on the cool side and pretty windy, but bright and clear. At around 8, the race started with a bang (literally, a cannon was fired) and I crossed the starting line a minute later. The course started at Arlington National Cemetery, headed first into Arlington, then out Spout Run and across Key Bridge, then looped through Georgetown, then followed the river down to the National Mall, ran along Constitution Ave. and back on Independence, went all the way down around Hain's Point, crossed back to Virginia into Crystal City and finally back to Arlington where it finished close to the Iwo Jima Memorial. Needless to say, I say pretty much all of the Washington DC sights in one morning!

I found Cali after the race and celebrated with her. It was great having her at the race - another memory that we'll share forever! Because the race is a big loop, she could crisscross her way through the city and see me at a couple of places (at the start, at miles 10, 15, and 19). She ran with me a bit at miles 15 and 19. Seeing her really was a pick-me-up!

I finished in about 3 hours and 40 minutes (about a 8:20 min. pace) - definitely not my best time, but I'm satisfied. I made a few mistakes - I didn't eat enough during the race and wore myself out too soon. But my primary goal was to finish. I'm especially proud of how consistently I trained; I only missed a few training runs over six months."

Clearly, I was suffering from the all too common, post-marathon "what a great experience!" delusion. Let's be frank, folks: a marathon is a painful experience. You have to be at least a several shades of crazy to contemplate, decide, train, and participate in a marathon.

Let's look at the photographic evidence:

"What kind of idiot am I?"

This was at about mile 18.5. Sure, I look fine, but I was feeling it - burning quads, aching arches, weak limbs, and the mental anquish of realizing that I'm some sort of idiot for thinking that running 26.2 miles would be "fun." Thanks go out to Cali: she had be wipe away the froth from my mouth so I wouldn't look to psycho.

Post-race:

Relief

Yup, the medal was my "prize" for surviving, kind of like when you were a kid and the dentist let you pick out a stupid toy for enduring a half hour of torment. Still, you can see the delusions seeping into my head at this point: "That wasn't so bad. It was pretty cool, in fact. You should do another..." In retrospect, I could have saved myself time and money by simply cutting off my toes and been done with it.

But, I was in the grips of an attractive delusion. After a month or so off, I started training for the Charlottesville Marathon in April. This race would be a real pain-fest - hills aplenty. My training was a bit more relaxed; my goal was just to finish.

Charlottesville was beautiful in April - buds were popping out, the weather was warm and sunny, and spring fever was fueling the delusions of many others, besides myself.

We enjoyed a leisurely after evening before the marathon - picked up my race packet, enjoyed the weather, and wandered around Charlottesville.

Express yourself.

The Free Speech wall is a cool feature of the Euro-style pedestrian zone downtown. It's essentially a big slate wall with free chalk and the encouragement to express yourself. Cali drew the cool mountain in the lower foreground. Above it I wrote "Oh, be wise! What more can I say?" Yup, we're outspoken extremists.

The race was just what I was expecting: a long, painful death run. Hills, hills, hills. Did I mention the hills? Cali found a way to meet me out on the course a couple of times, although considering my pace, she managed to read War and Peace between sightings. (Thanks for your patience, babe!)

Here I am... walking. (I wish I could say the only time I walked was at the aid stations...)

Out for a 26.2 mi. stroll

My primary goal was to survive, my secondary goal was to finish under 4 hours. I accomplished both. (Of course, my tertiary goal was to cross the finish line prancing like a physics fairy, but well, that didn't happen.) All in all, a quality pain fest.

Why do I do these things again?

Oh, yeah, the insanity...

Insanity... the water's fine! Come on in!