–by Zhenzhou Hu

This year at Palm Valley, we’re offering a new course, Physics by Design. Our blog correspondent Zhenzhou Hu interviewed the teacher, Mrs. Sackett, asking about the class and what it’s all about.–Editor Gaige Griffin

Zhenzhou: This is a new class at Palm Valley School, so students are not as familiar with this class as they would be with others. What do your students do in Physics by Design, and what do you think they can learn from this class?

Mrs. Sackett: This is a project-based class in which students learn by doing. They are asked to be creative, to design and build, to collaborate and think for themselves. I don’t do much lecturing. I provide the resources they need to learn more independently.

Zhenzhou: I noticed that students are designing something in this class–much like we did last year in AP Physics where we designed mousetrap cars. (Which was really fun!) Can you give me the details of what is going on?

Mrs. Sackett: The project involves using electronic components called LittleBits. These components are easily linked magnetically and can be combined in different ways to create a variety of devices that use electricity. 

Zhenzhou: Do you have fun teaching this class?

Mrs. Sackett: I really enjoy working with students in this class. They need encouragement sometimes to work and create. I try to offer open-ended instructions.

Zhenzhou: I saw a 3-D printer and the “sand.” Can you explain this to us? I’ve never seen that before, and it looks awesome!

Mrs. Sackett: The interactive sandbox is very cool. It projects contour lines as seen on topographic maps onto the sand. As students move the sand to create mountains, rivers, or valleys, the contour lines automatically adjust. Water can be added as well as lava. Students made it rain in the mountains the other day and were able to see the water rush into the valley and make the connection with what happens in our valley. 

Zhenzhou: Does the class involve physics? I mean does it use something like torque or acceleration like we did in AP Physics?

Mrs. Sackett: Yes, we have spent most of first quarter working with circuits. Students started with easy battery and bulb circuits and progressed to soldering their own components onto a circuit board to create flashing LED’s.

Zhenzhou: Are they any other things you’d like to add about this class?

Mrs. Sackett: There is something very satisfying about creating a new course. We are definitely learning by doing. Occasionally, we hit road blocks. For instance, we are waiting on a new extruder to get our 3-D printer up and running again. Students have been designing objects using a web-based CAD Program, and they are anxious to see their designs come to fruition.