PhysicsLAB

PhysicsLAB Survey
Student Comments: 1999-2000

What was the most difficult aspect of the class this year?
  • Doing the AP essays
  • nothing in this class has been very difficult
  • the AP essays were semi-difficult
  • The most difficult aspect of the class this year was not always being able to comprehend resource lessons. If you were absent during a lecture from the teacher, you could not find all the information on the resource lesson. Which made it more difficult to understand.
  • The Fundamentals of Waves and other things dealing with waves was very difficult for me to understand
  • Getting good grades!
  • Missing a day and then trying to get caught up, but granted it, you had a great deal of help in doing so.
  • Equations
  • Relativity
  • Some of the tests
  • Thermodynamics
  • The quantum physics was a difficult subject to comprehend
  • Learning a new topic and having many assignments thrown at the students to complete right away, when we weren't familar with the information that we were just beginning to learn
  • all of it, mostly the math, but that can be learned
  • magnetism
  • Labs
  • All of it was challenging
  • The Physics II class was expected to catch up on chapters even after having substitutes in class.
  • the homework in the text book
  • Lenses and to find the focus of a double lens
  • Tension and force units
  • Not having a computer a home really hurts you in high school, especially in Physics because the whole class is in web format.
  • I always thought that the tests were impossible, and the AP essays keeping up with them and the signatures that are supposed to be on them
  • The most difficult was trying to remember all the equations and all the different variables.
  • Famous Experiments
  • The most difficult would have to be the paper tests. It was only difficult b/c it covered a whole topic over a long period of time. So for me it was more difficult to review for it.
  • The amount of AP essays that had to be completed.
  • Keeping an organized notebook
  • The only difficult aspect of the class was motivating myself to do the homework. Mrs. Colwell did not present us with any difficult tasks.
  • Keeping up with all of the work.  This is only because of other classes and all the job work I do outside of school.
  • Voltage and potential
  • Keeping a notebook!
  • Maintaining focus. Technology can distract as much as it helps.
  • The most difficult aspect was taking notes from the resource lesson instead of printing it.
  • getting used to using less paper
  • Group work
  • It was all pretty easy
  • Tests/Quizzes!!!
  • Nothing really, just not applying myself
  • Nothing really, because I took almost eveything that we covered in the Upward Bound Program.
  • My last minute AP test preparations
  • I found it difficult to learn the new lessons when the teacher was absent. This is partially due to some of the wording. I need to ask questions and talk stuff through.
  • Keeping up with the curriculum; completing all the assignments.
  • Taking paper tests without a partner
  • The paper test and some of the computer quizzes.
  • The tests, some were really hard!
  • I think that, of what I remember that the chase problems were the easiest
  • Attendance
  • The course in general was fairly difficult, but not in a negative way. All the topics challenged you to think and understand concepts.
  • exams
  • the homework out of the book
  • the forces
  • Kinematics
  • There really wasn't one - maybe a quiz or two, but that was it!
  • Homework in the textbook
  • Trying to pass the class without studyig.
  • The most difficult aspect of this class was adjusting to Ms Colwell's absences
  • Trying to keep up with all the assignments
  • If a day of class was missed and a lab had to be made up during lunch, after school, etc.
  • Getting use to computers, sometimes
  • When the computer did the teaching
  • memorizing Kinematics equations
  • Chase problems
  • Getting use to computers, sometimes
  • The most difficult part fo the course was being absent and coming back to school having to catch up & learn the NEW lesson the class learned while you were gone.
  • we had to stay on top of things well
  • When the teacher gives you an assignment without proper/addiquite information to pass. Most of the time an assignment was assigned minimal education was given on the topic. Then students are sent home to do homework and given the full lesson the next day. 75% of the time I had homework I could not finish it. I didn't not fully understand topics until we were a day or 2 passed the assignment starting on something new. This online presentation swings you in one direction to another giving you problems for homework that you have never seen examples of, I mean how to work the problem, just a page of Einstein-worded lettering that you can hardly understand the meaning of until you see an EXAMPLE of the problem presented before you
  • Textbook work
  • overcoming personal laziness ... nothing else really ...
  • Turn in assignments on time because I am inherintly lazy though this class has helped me to improve my work habits.
  • Most likely assembling a notebook from the mass of homework assignments and AP essays we had to do.
  • Newton's Law
  • taking her hard test on paper without a partner to help you. Not that I'm trying to say let my partner do all of the work,but working together makes me understand better.
  • Kinematics equations and freebody diagrams
  • The most difficult aspect was trying to pass her tests when studying at the last minute, that meant five minutes before thet test.
  • Nine weeks tests
  • The MATH ( I hate math )
  • Individual tests and quizes were too blunt, needed to be worded in a more understandable manner.
  • The most difficult aspect of this class was taking those on the paper tests beacause I am so used to doing everything on the computer. Also I am use to working with partners, so that was kind of difficult.
  • Keeping up with the work when Ms. Colwell isn't here
  • The most difficult part to me is the tests and vocabulary
  • nothing was too difficult
  • keeping a good notebook, it is not easy to have everything done on time with 4 AP classes
  • the quizzes were either really easy or really hard

What was the least difficult aspect of the class this year?

  • Performing labs and worksheets.
  • The LUXURY of having PhysicsLAB
  • using the computers
  • the classroom environment was very relaxed but we still managed to learn more than any other physics class
  • The least difficult aspect of the class this year was always having the resources available to you at all times online.
  • The Physics Olympics was fun and was not very hard to accomplish
  • Paying attention!
  • Doing the homework in class with teachers and students.
  • Group Internet work
  • Physics Olympics
  • The labs and classwork
  • The least difficult aspect of the class this year would have to be the beginning of the material taught in the school year. The charges of particles and the electricity chapters were pretty easy once you grasped an idea of the concepts.
  • The ability to find other sources of informtation on a topic in addition to the textbook
  • Working with the computers in class, and therefore always knowing exactly what was to be accomplished during the class period.
  • oh let's see, oh showing up was easy, but as far as class goes, I would say nothing its a hard course, but I loved it
  • nuclear particles
  • Tests
  • Physics II was easier, because we didn't move at as fast a pace.
  • Lens and Mirror units
  • The easiest thing all year would have to be kinematics. Kinematics were easy for me because I had calculus alongside this class.
  • Everything was hard this year
  • The least difficult was participating in the Physics Olympics, however this added some fun to the school year.
  • I would have to say the least difficult would have to be the labs b/c you had a group or partner help you.
  • The online worksheets.
  • keeping up with assignments
  • Understanding the material, due to the superb teacher.
  • Following the pace Mrs. Colwell presented us with. I didn't feel rushed and I felt she did a great job teaching us the curriculum.
  • I think it would be the CP workbook pages.  I still think that they are important in understanding the required material.  they helped me understand more information.
  • It was not difficult to find information for test, quizzes and other inclass events because of the website.
  • modern physics
  • Electromagnetic pulse, light, etc.
  • Everything was pretty hard now that I think about it.
  • The least difficult aspect of the class was group labs.
  • staying organized
  • labs and keeping a notebook-but thats because I am generally very organized
  • Learning about the concave lens, velocity vectors, the velocity time graphs, and acceleration of motion.
  • Working with my teacher, Ms. Colwell, was especially easy. She is an enthused and intellegent teacher who made the lessons comprehendable with the aid of the active classroom.
  • Using the computers to complete assignments.
  • the labs, they were always a lot of fun
  • The resource lessons and the work out of the textbook.
  • Labs, because we got to work in groups
  • the most difficult to me was changing the v-t graphs to st graphs
  • The least difficult aspect was understanding the way physics played a role in day to day life
  • The least difficult period was the time allotted before Physics Olympics to prepare for the event. Spending an entire month of class time was entirely too much. In my opinion, it would have been better to continue on, and perhaps finish the entire course, before getting ready for the competition. I believe we would have had adequete time to finish Thermodynamics, and still have a week and a half or so to get ready for DBCC.
  • The CP workbooks
  • doing the online worksheets
  • The least difficult aspect was not having to worry about tests and quizes.
  • the math
  • The worksheets
  • The Physics Olympics and the practice that was done for it. Just doing that activity, I learned a lot.
  • Knowing what was going on at all times.
  • The worksheets and book work and labs
  • Everything on the computer, quizzes
  • not having alot of books and papers to carry around.
  • Book homework
  • The least difficult aspect of this class was learning how to use ActiveClassroom and learning how to use Excel for calculating data
  • Quizzes
  • Everything being on the computer and being able to access the classwork at any time.
  • Getting along with teacher
  • Whenever the teacher did the teaching
  • Refraction
  • Position-time graphs for uniform velocity
  • Getting along with teacher
  • The least difficult aspect of this class was being able to address Mrs. Colwell whenever assistance whenever help was needed.
  • we only had 3 tests
  • Vocabulary
  • Group work
  • Taking missed test quizes, solving missed worksheets and CP workbooks, catching up with the material that has been missed due to the absenses..
  • Understanding the concepts was the least difficult aspect of this class
  • Probably the practice for Physics Olympics. The rest was pretty much even.
  • converging and diverging lences
  • Woring with the computers.
  • Some worksheets I can't understand that good.
  • The least difficult aspect of this class was the Physics Olympics.  It was time consuming, but so much fun that you didn't mind.
  • The least difficult aspect of the course was that the interaction of this class and the teacher had a great significance to what was taught this year.
  • Computer quizzes
  • Worksheets
  • Online vocabulary
  • CP Workbook, Resource Lessons and Vocabulary
  • The internet quizzes
  • The least difficult aspect of this class this year was turning in a notebook. All the information is right there on the web-site to get. It is a very fair grade.
  • Practicing for physics olympics
  • The least difficult thing this year was the calculations.
  • The least difficult aspect was coming to class working on the website. It is so easy that when I come to class I look forward to working onthe computer.
  • Learning new material
  • homework

What was your favorite aspect of the class this year?

  • My favorite aspect of this class was working with partners on every lab. All the labs created by Mrs. Colwell this year were fun and interesting. None of the labs were boring, and I'm a student that doesn't like boring labs.
  • The days when I didn't come, but I could still keep up with my assignments
  • Review sheets for tests
  • group activities
  • learning pyhsics while having fun.
  • Paper tests. They are hard but it is a true test of what you know and good prep for the AP test
  • demonstrations
  • The way work was allowed to be completed; the option of submitting answers from home; using the computers.
  • working on the computer so much, it is like we are living in the future
  • Labs
  • The interaction with Mrs Colwell. She is an awsome teacher!
  • the use of computers to learn physics and all the technlogy in one room for just physics
  • My favorite aspect of the class this year was the fact that the majority of work done is "team" work. Which helped me to learn better and compare my ideas with other students' to come up with the right answers, etc.
  • The Physics Olympics was very enjoyable learning experience
  • Having a teacher like Mrs.Colwell
  • Learning about how you can apply physics to your everyday life!
  • Dynamics
  • The Physics Olympics
  • Black Holes and Electricity. I liked the theoretical part of the Black Holes. I really enjoyed having a class where you can't really do classical homework so to compensate you had to participate in the class discussions. The electricity really stuck in my head since the RIPV diagrams and especially the hands-on lab that we did with the circuitboards.
  • being able to print out notes
  • Thermodynamics
  • Group work and labs on the computer
  • nuclear particles
  • Tests
  • The motor lab.
  • The Internet giving help (lessons). It helped me understand better
  • Online worksheets were very nice because after ward you can check answers on it. That help me learn a lot.
  • Having the oportunity to take part in a class that has access to such an informative and interactive site such as ActiveClassroom.
  • the atmoshphere of the people in the class, everyday everybody was prepared to learn
  • The teacher along with the technology helped provide a new level of learning by making it fun and efficient through out the whole year.
  • V=IR and net F=ma
  • My favorite would have to be the AP review sessions b/c they help me further understand the topic we were learning at the time.
  • The group activities and demonstrations.
  • group quizzes
  • Learning.
  • Mrs. Colwell's: attitude, dedication, cool shoes and curly hair.
  • Classroom interaction. Being involved with the class and feeling some importantce in the class.  the computers were also a favorite.
  • The demonstrations, physics Olymics, and the quick grade quizzes.
  • Participating in Physics Olympics
  • Labs, online quizzes.
  • PhysicsLAB made reviewing very easy and largely replaced the necessity to take excessive notes.
  • My favorite aspect of the class was when we got to compete for the Physics Olympics.
  • the lack of paper
  • where do I start... I loved physics olympics.
  • When we did the things that went along with the Physics Olympics.
  • Whiteboard and the technology used in the class to to class work
  • I enjoyed learning. I am a very inquisitive scholar and learning is my passion. I'm pleased with the outcome of my comprehension.
  • the labs, resource lessons, CP Workbook, and Vocabulary.
  • Mrs. Colwell's great way of teaching
  • Having friends and the group work
  • working in groups on labs quizzes and on worksheets
  • having all the assignments on-line
  • My favorite aspect was being able to work in groups and have a lot of freedeom to do what is needed to be done.
  • the teacher
  • Getting to work with the computers
  • How the computer graded everything right when we were finished
  • The whiteboard
  • Computer quizzes
  • Physics Olympics practice
  • PHYSICS!!!! This was my favorite class to come to
  • The use of the computers with the teachers making it easier to understand
  • The entire curriculm was excellent. I would definitely recommend Physics as an superb and worthwhile course to anyone at Mainland.
  • taking notes so I could do the work right
  • the organization of the class, including the internet access, the online classroom, the computers, and especially the interactive whiteboard. I think most, if not all, classes should have access to these systems.
  • Interaction with classmates
  • I liked the fact that I had my own computer. I didn't have to fight with a partner about where I wanted to go on the site.
  • Mrs. Colwell
  • Be able to see anything and everything you have done need to do or will do
  • Working in groups helped me understand the information more and it was fun to interact with others.
  • having a helpfull teacher that have never leave her students in a whole of either knowledge or feelings...
  • helping others with their work
  • Well, the teacher is always a favorite. Also, interacting with computers is always a joy for me.
  • The way we used the computers
  • Working in groups was very helpful in figuring out how to accomplish tasks.
  • Physics Olympics because it was just a fun thing to do in class working with physics.
  • Physics Olympics.  Only cause it was fun to interact and acutally win something for all our efforts
  • My favorite aspect of the year was the on-line labs,and the way the Ms. Colwell taught the course, it gave me a broad knowledge basis of what is needed to be done
  • It was good that you could interact with the same things that the class is doing in class when online later
  • My favorite aspect this year was doing the labs and working with the IBID. Mrs. Colwell made the labs fun and interesting. The IBID was neat and very useful.
  • I want to say Physics Olympics but I got sick and couldn't go
  • My favorite aspect of the class is the whiteboard

What was your least favorite aspect of the class this year?

  • Tests
  • there was no activity in this class that I didn't like
  • Class always flew by
  • the short amount of time for one class it should be block class for APB and APC
  • My least favorite aspect of the class this year, was well to be honest with you I don't really have one. I enjoyed the class...it is one of my favorites.
  • Studying the Fundamentals of Waves
  • A lot of work had to be done.
  • Not being here all the time and failing the last semester.
  • Graphing vectors
  • Relativity
  • The Semester Exams
  • Thermodynamics
  • keeping a notebook
  • Quantum physics
  • Not always having Mrs. Colwell in class to teach us
  • all the homework, oh yeah, let's not forget the ISTF till 11:00 PM
  • Labs
  • Watching all the videos.
  • Inertia
  • When Mrs. Colwell was not there
  • Random-picked partner
  • The textbook has to be the worst part of the class. I think that worksheets can be given out in class or printed off of the website at home.
  • It's hard to pick my least favorite aspect, but I would have to say when the server was down. This only happened about three times though.
  • Magnetism
  • My least favorite would have to be not doing a massive amount of labs. The amount we did was very efficient but I would have liked more.
  • I don't have one. I hate tests but I understand that its only fair.
  • Homework
  • I enjoyed everything that we did.
  • Not sure
  • My only complaint is that I'm graduating and can not further into AP Physics next year at Mainland high school. I'm going to miss Ms. Colwell!!!!!
  • Being required to complete so many assignments for one class.
  • Sometimes we took a lot of notes and I had no idea what Mrs. Colwell was talking about
  • The paper test and some of the computer quizzes.
  • Interpreting the wording of the CP workbooks
  • All the AP essays because I just never had any time to complete them or understand them
  • Bringing my book to class.
  • Physics Olympics
  • My least favorite aspect of the class was taking quizzes on the computer even though they really helped me a lot.
  • lectures
  • My least favorite aspect was when II would fall behind and feel lost.
  • Kinematics
  • The textbook, it didn't help me at all
  • seeing some people fail the class.
  • Paper quizzes = death!!
  • Sometimes when the teacher was absent leaving a sub who didn't understand
  • Working independently
  • My least favorite aspect was not being able to pull up NetMeeting when Mrs. Colwell was giving very important notes on the whiteboard.
  • not knowing how to do the homework
  • The absence of the teacher for extended periods of time
  • When the air conditioner broke it was pretty hot in the classroom.
  • It's always cold in here
  • when I have to help others that are fully capable of making an "A" on their own
  • The insufficient examples the website gave on certain problems.
  • Freebody diagrams!
  • I don't have a least aspect, except that some of the students need to learn when to be quiet.
  • scatter plots
  • Work days
  • a really confusing lab we did
  • My least favorite is the vocabulary
  • too much bookwork
  • Having to keep a notebook. It counted for double that of my tests and I did very well on my tests, where as I didn't do so well on my notebook due to my 4 AP classes. I had a very high test average all year but still got a B one 9 weeks. I found that rather agitating.
  • polishing essays

What advice would you give to someone who is going to enroll in physics next year to help them do well in the course?

  • Be prepared to face a course that actually requires you to learn something.
  • Go to class every single day, you miss a day, you miss a lot!
  • Take good notes and thing about what you are writing, Physics is about concepts
  • keep up your notebook and do all the homework
  • this is a very fun class if you pay attention and do your notebook. keep up with your assignments and be nice to mrs colwell she the best physics teacher ever
  • I would advise someone enrolling in physics next year to just be organized. If you come to class everyday, and pay attention it is almost impossible to to poorly in the course. The resources available to the physics students ensures that they will do well in the course.
  • Do your best not to ever get behind in the class
  • To study as much as possible, and listen to what Mrs. C says.
  • Don't sell yourself short because you encounter a new learning method or difficult activities, because it will not do you any good in the long run.
  • Become computer savie
  • Keep up with the work from the beginning
  • Apply yourself in the beginning of the year and you'll see that the work is not that hard.
  • Having IM would be a big help so that you can talk to people already finished with the course you are or will be taking. If you are taking Physics 2, read "A Brief History of Time," by Stephen Hawkings. It will help you a great deal. Perhaps buy a class copy for those who can't afford their own.
  • Don't take notes, pay attention to the lectures instead
  • Pay attention, some concepts are difficult to understand
  • Make sure that they come to class everyday, because then the material is very easy to comprehend, and if they have to miss class, then look up today's agenda on the website
  • get out now, as fast as you can!! ok just kidding, do everything, take really good notes, don't play around, listen carefully, and get a really smart test partner. And Good Luck to you all!
  • Keep a good notebook, and study.
  • make sure you go to the web site as much as you can to review the lesson
  • Keep a good notebook and you have to go to class, don't miss a day! You will be totally lost!
  • Go to class and pay attention
  • Stay up with the work because in most math-based classes you can fall behind really fast.
  • To connect to the site from home as much as possible so you can stay on top of the material and you won't fall behind.
  • Finish all work and keep it in notebook
  • Keep up with the homework and do the AP essays on time b/c they are very beneficial. This will really improve your grade in Physics.
  • Keep up with the course work. Never fall behind n doing your notebook or homework. You'll never catch up.
  • be prepared to learn.
  • Do what Mrs. Colwell says and keep a good notebook
  • To make sure to do the homework and to not get behind.  Understand everything before going on to the next level and understand the material being studied
  • If they read the resource lessons they can learn everything they need to know.
  • go through Physics I, II, and then AP Physics. You may loose important information by skipping this order and going straight to AP.
  • Study and work hard because it's easy at first but when you get further in the year you need to know the material you learned earlier, so don't just copy.
  • Drink caffine
  • listen
  • take advantage of the website to stay caught up. But also make sure you use your textbook, it's still a good tool
  • You need to study hard and pay attention when Mrs. Colwell is talking.
  • Keep up with everyday work
  • Keep you attendance up and study the resource lessons.
  • Keep up with all tbe assigments and complete them on time. Whatever you do, do NOT fall behind!
  • Make sure that you attend class regularly and pick good partners to work with. As long as you keep up with what is on PhysicsLAB, you will do fine in the class
  • To make sure that you complete notebook and turn it in on time. Make sure you do all your homework and get it signed off.
  • Listen to what Mrs. Colwell has to say!!!
  • Do not be a stranger to the class and pay attetion
  • Study, study, study!
  • You should pay attention in class and do all the homework to get the grade
  • I would tell them to stay on top of the game and pay a lot of attention.
  • take notes and pay attention, try to do the homework every night
  • Do all your work and go to PhysicsLAB for all of your studying needs.
  • Pay attention, make sure you get enough sleep at night so that you can be readily focused for this type of course. And study your material.
  • Always keep your notebook in order and never cheat!!!
  • Keep a good notebook, do all of the worksheets, and have a reliable lab partner
  • Get in Ms Colwell's class, it's not only fun, but you actually learn
  • Learn to use a computer, and a calculator
  • Get a tutor
  • do ALL of your homework!!!
  • Make sure you come to class everyday, have an open mind to learn new things, be ready to take on challenges
  • Advice to students enrolling in Physucs next year is to never fall asleep in class. When you wake up you'll think they were reviewing all day because they will have covered so much information in so little time.
  • Pay attention when the teacher talks and ask a quesiton if you don't understand wat the teacher is asking
  • alwayas keep up with work and pay attention to Ms. Colwell when she is speaking - she is very tricky sometimes about dropping a word, that only several people notice, and then asking it on the quiz or somewhere else.
  • Listen to the teacher and and keep every assignment from the beginning to the end of a semester
  • Either love AP Essays and Homework Sets or you will do terribly in this class. Oh, and study hard!
  • Have a little computer background and computer skills.
  • Make sure you pay attention real good because you can get lost at the beginning. Take good notes and keep up a good notebook and you would do well in her class.
  • Always show up to class.  If you have to skip school, wait until after your physics class, getting behind and catching up  is next to impossible
  • come to class, participate in the activities as much as you can so that you may learn, explore, and experience what science is all about.
  • Just listen carefully
  • come everyday and get toturing
  • Turn in your Physics notebook on time.
  • Pay attention to the instructions
  • Keep a good notebook and it will make it a lot easier to stay up with your work and it makes it twice as easy to do quizzes and tests when you have the Internet and your notebook together
  • I would advise them to pay attention and read all directions on the website carefully.
  • Go to the Physics Olympics
  • keep a notebook as you go and polish your essays as you do them.