LEDs, photonics and quantum theory: Modern physics and light

Saturday 27 May 10:30 a.m.

Workshop - 40 spaces

Do you need inexpensive, versatile experiments that convince students of the simple reality of the quantum? Let’s play with light-emitting-diodes (LEDs), batteries, clothes-pins, bits of wire and foil, solar cells, and whatever else comes to mind. With this set of activities, and some related work sheets, you would take students through the relationship between energy and frequency of photons, electron-waves and energy levels, and some of the connections between the two. A cost of $20.00 will be required for a take-home package of hardware and blackline masters that you can use on Monday May 29. The focus of this workshop session is student learning. First, students will learn to make some simple, but powerful representations of their thinking on paper, to provide the material upon which they must reflect. The students are then expected to master a small set of very specific skills, to manipulate and edit their representations. Finally, students will use those skills to test and refine their developing quantum concepts.

Biography

Jim has more than 25 years experience in secondary science education, both in private and public school systems. For six years he was the Coordinator of Investigative Studies at Nicholson Catholic College, Belleville, ON, where his portfolio included science, math, history, geography, and the social sciences. In 1991, Jim relocated to London, ON, to complete his Master of Education in curriculum, with a focus on cognitive structure of students' natural thinking about science. Jim was last year on secondment from the London Catholic District School Board to the Faculty of Education at the University of Western Ontario, where he taught preservice chemistry and physics teachers. Jim Ross is also the senior author for Ross Lattner Inc. He is currently teaching at Catholic Central High zschool.