PhysicsLAB

PhysicsLAB Survey
Student Comments: 2001-2002


What was the least difficult aspect of the class this year?
  • The least difficult aspect of the class this year was learning the metric system material because the majority of students had already learned about it previously in chemistry classes.
  • the least difficult aspect of this year was when we were practicing for the Physics Olympics. The Physics Olympics was the least difficult because we all got to interact with each other and we had fun doing it. We all used a Physics skill to complete each event.
  • Academically, the least was the kinematics equations, but technologically, it was accessing ActiveClassroom
  • Accessing my work in class was always a breeze because it was up to date and never broke down on us like some programs tend to do.
  • actual quizzes
  • Because we could work together on the worksheets and the teacher was always there to answer questions the least difficult aspect would be the worksheets.
  • coming to class
  • completing and submitting online worksheets
  • Completing assignments, due to the availability of the assignments from home, at any time of day.
  • doing good on tests and quizzes
  • Figuring out what I missed after I was absent-- it's just like, "oh. duh. it's on PhysicsLAB."
  • Finding information
  • Finding out what we were going to go on any particular day within the week ahead.
  • finding out what work was assigned
  • For me, the least difficult aspect was staying organized (which I naturally have trouble with) because of PhysicsLAB online notebook! It was fantastic!
  • getting my "A"  - Physics comes naturally and fun to me
  • Getting ready for the Physics Olympics
  • Going there
  • Group work
  • HA nothing, Mrs. Colwell is a very challenging teacher and does not make any easy lessons 
  • Having a way to access the site at all times.
  • Having the Physics Olympics
  • Having to organize and turn in a completed notebook.
  • the math
  • I feel that the least difficult aspect of this class was being informed of what assignments were coming up, and which were due. This helped to have a good understanding of the time frames when you needed to catch up.
  • I think the least difficult aspect of this year was the help to stay on track and know what I need to get done by the use of PhysicsLAB.
  • I thought Mrs. Colwell explained most of the material in away that I could understand it better, so the least difficult part was listening to Mrs. Colwell.
  • I would have to say that kinematics was the easiest, that, and labs.
  • I would have to say that the least difficult part for me was anything that we worked on that utilized the knowledge of Trigonometry, but then again, that's just me because I enjoy Math.
  • Interacting with the teacher and students.
  • it was doing the Physics Olympics because it was fun to do and it helped me to learn Physics easier.
  • It was very easy, thanks to the website, to stay organized.
  • Keeping organized. The on-line aspect of Physics really helped
  • Keeping up with the assignments due to PhysicsLAB website.
  • Keeping up with the work that was given and completing the assignments before database query time.
  • Kinematics
  • knowing what to do. I was almost always busy doing work.
  • labs
  • Labs because they were mostly about things that interested me as a student
  • Learning new stuff with PhysicsLAB was much easier then studying in a book, made learning new material a lot more interesting.
  • Learning the aspects of wave behavior.
  • Lenses
  • liking my teacher 
  • lots of work for one day
  • Maintaining a notebook
  • Making up assignments. If we missed a day of class because we were sick, we could log on to the Physics lab from home and either submit our worksheets from home or see that we had a quiz the next day. I never felt like I was getting behind that way. It takes a load of stress off ;)
  • mechanics and circular motion
  • Metric conversions and significant digits.
  • Mirror equation: 1/do + 1/di = 1/f
  • Mirror images and reflections
  • mirrors
  • Most quizzes were good reviews of the material we were taught, if we reviewed together in class with the teacher answering questions. The quizzes were a good way to see if the students were really learning the material.
  • navigating the active classroom website
  • Note taking was made easy thanks to the whiteboard and NetMeeting.
  • nothing
    online worksheets
  • Physics Olympics
  • physlets
  • practicing the Physics Olympics
  • preparing for the Physics Olympics
  • Review from Physics Honors
  • school was hard for me this year so nothing was 'least difficult', unless you include lunch
    significant figures
  • staying focused
  • Staying organized and on the ball.
  • Staying up to date with daily assignments and due work as result of the ActiveClassroom. 
  • sva graphs
  • Taking notes and learning the material
  • taking quizzes
  • Taking quizzes with more than one person
  • taking tests
  • The actual work
  • the classwork in-class
  • The fact that I could access any thing I need right in front of my face on the computer any time of the day. I loved the ActiveClassroom and I used it all the time. Especially with my busy schedule with winning queen this year.
  • The Kinematics Equations.
  • the lab work
  • the labs
  • The labs and web-based work
  • the Labs were fun and easy but they got the point across
  • The least difficult aspect of the class this year was staying organized.
  • The least difficult aspect of the class this year was that you could still keep up with your work even though you didn't go to class because you could get your assignments off of the active classroom website etc.
  • The least difficult aspect of the class this year was the scientific notation because you learn that when you were in middle school so it was just like more practice.
  • The least difficult aspect of the class this year was understanding the online worksheets and labs. It was very easy to understand the labs and sheets because everything was explained very well.
  • The least difficult aspect of this class was the fact that when we were absent we could access missed assignments or resource lessons at home. We had sufficient time to access it in class
  • The least difficult aspect of this course were the quizzes and keeping track of homework.
  • The least difficult aspect of this year was finding out your homework and other worksheets that needed to be done
  • The least difficult aspect of this year was when we were reviewing the metric system with conversions.
  • the least difficult aspect of this year would have to have been the worksheets
  • The least difficult aspect was completing my work.
  • The least difficult aspect was knowing what stuff was due at what time.
  • The least difficult aspect was the time spent on Physics Olympics
  • The least difficult was keeping up in my homework. I found it very easy to be always caught up with my work, mainly because it was my responsibility to make sure my work was done and I didn't have an excuse on "the teacher didn't give me my homework"
  • The least would have to be the internet worksheet with the "View Correct Answers"
  • The online quizzes which were done in groups and gave students the ability to combine their knowledge to complete a quiz
  • The Online worksheets
  • the Physics Olympics and the whiteboard was nice and easy to comprehend, also it being on active classroom
  • The Physics Olympics practice
  • the Physics Olympics, it was easy and really fun
  • The practice drills were least difficult for me because upon finishing the work I could easily check my answers to find out if I properly grasped the concept
  • the work
  • The worksheets
  • To me the least difficult aspect of this class would have to be the Kinematics equations... I love those, they're really easy... if you try...
  • trying to find motivation to learn
  • Undecided
  • understanding the instructions
  • understanding the material
  • Understanding.
  • uniform acceleration
  • Uniform Acceleration unit
  • using the computer. . .which I'm not really that good at
  • using the PhysicsLAB website
  • Using the web-based network made the curriculum so much easier. I had access to everything at home and in the classroom. So I would have to say that using the Internet was the least difficult aspect of the class, due to its simple, self-explanatory, format.
  • Vocab
  • walking in to class every day and learning something new each day
  • was the Physics Olympics
  • Working in a group and using the computer. Having a partner working with you is better because 2 heads are better than one.
  • working in groups
  • Working on the computer
  • working with partners made the class a lot easier and it was fairly educational. for the real world.
  • worksheets

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

  • 3rd nine weeks and the test 
  • A few of the concepts were difficult and somewhat complicated.
  • After checking our completed work in the web submissions page we couldn't back arrow out. Maybe my group just never caught on but every time we had to open a new browser.
  • AP essays
  • Attempting to do online assignments when power was out.
  • becoming accustomed to the amount of math required to comprehend the coursework. This was mainland because math is a weak point for me.
  • Bookwork..ugh
  • Completing some worksheets individually and the tests.
  • everything else, like lenses, reflecting stuff
  • For me to digest the idea of how we would be using all of the equations. The information was always given, either in class lectures or on worksheets, but it helps for me to have in personally explained to.
  • Freefall
  • getting all my work done
  • Getting all the work done and/or keeping up with homework
  • getting assignments in on time
  • having time to do the assignments outside of school
  • having to keep and then redo a notebook full of useless work since I understood the material
  • Having to keep paper accounts of the assignments that we did on the computer.
    having to make myself do the work when I didn't want to so I would understand it. 
  • Having too many students in the class and Mrs. Colwell not being able to get around to everyone in one class period.
  • homework
  • I didn't think anything was that hard to do. The only thing that sometimes difficult to me was the Test
  • I didn't understand one of the areas on waves.
  • I think wave phenomena and reflections were most difficult for me..
  • I think that sometimes we moved to fast in class over certain subjects but I knew I could always talk to Mrs. Colwell about them and she could give me a "little" review over what she had said earlier.
  • I think there should have been more student/teacher interaction during all lessons. At times we were left to do work on our own and we didn't understand.
  • I would say it was hard/difficult working from the computer to the book. Like you are so used to working on the computer that when you say work in the book it's weird.
  • Independent paper quizzes
  • it was not having a computer after the cord to my monitor broke and I had to cancel my internet access so I couldn't use PhysicsLAB.
  • it would have to be the semester exam that was really difficult
  • just getting the information to stick in my head
  • just the concept of the lesson
  • Keeping track of both a notebook and web-submissions. Sometimes you have one on paper, but not in the computer, or did one on the computer but didn't write it. 
  • keeping up on notebook
  • Keeping up with my work
  • keeping up with the resource lessons are the jargon that i was unfamiliar with at first
    kinematics
  • labs
  • Learning all of the information in time for the AP test.
  • learning Physics
  • Learning the lesson the first time she taught it
  • Learning the new stuff
  • learning to take tests alone .. and getting enough study for the tests
  • leaving this class
    lenses, waves
  • losing track
  • Making it for tests/quizzes.
  • Making myself review for the AP exam.
  • making up work
  • Memorizing all the different equations and learning when and how to apply them to Physics.
  • Memorizing and making sense of all the different ray diagrams and relating them to equations/types/etc.
  • mirrors
  • My algebra
  • not having some of the material more thoroughly explained
  • Nothing
  • Nothing seemed to difficult, tests were often challenging, but it was very helpful having a second opinion when working with a partner.
  • Organizing a notebook because of the different forms that the content was in, some was on paper and others were online and it was quite confusing to organize a correct notebook
  • paper tests
  • passing paper tests
  • position-time graphs
  • Probably the most difficult part was the equations that were necessary to memorize.
    Quarterly exams.
  • quizzes
  • Refraction, double lenses
  • refraction, normals, Snell's Law
  • refraction, Snell's Law
  • Remembering formulas and keeping myself organized but with access to what was supposed to be in the notebook through the Internet helped me get organized to turn the materials in.
  • remembering what you have learned from the starting of the school year.
  • Reviewing (and knowing) all of the curriculum taught over the span of 2 years
  • Snell's Law
  • some of the overall concepts were hard for me to remember although eventually I would understand it.
  • Some quizzes were worded differently from the worksheets given to us. This confused me and my partner on the quiz.
  • Starting most of the AP essays and getting help on them when I fell behind.
  • Studying for the hard test
  • studying on my own time
  • SVA
  • taking paper test because you would be use to always taking a quiz and doing all of the work on worksheets with a partner, then when time came for a test, you were alone and on paper. 
  • Taking the paper tests
  • Taking the paper tests, and doing some of the harder labs
  • Test and quizzes
  • Test and some quizzes, paper worksheets and independent work
  • Test that were paper when all other work was on the computer
  • Tests
  • The AP essays
  • the AP free response questions
  • the class material
  • the classwork at home
  • The concave and convex mirrors because when we got to lenses, everything was backwards from what we had learned before.
  • The course content.
  • the cp workbook pages
  • the exams
  • the labs
  • the lenses
  • the math
  • the mathematic part of it all....
  • The most difficult aspect of class this year was passing the quizzes. (The online quizzes are just as hard as paper quizzes.)
  • The most difficult aspect of the class this year was having to remember so many equations, but there was enough time to know them it was just the fact of not wanting to.
  • The most difficult aspect of the class this year was keeping focused.
  • The most difficult aspect of the class this year was leaving the class when it was over, I really enjoyed the class everyday.
  • The most difficult aspect of the class this year was the sva graphs. They weren't too bad but you really had to learn the material and practice it to understand. 
  • The most difficult aspect of the class was the sva graphs and figuring out how the graphs were suppose to flow according to the situation given.
  • The most difficult aspect of the class, in my opinion, was not having the teacher at home to instruct me, as I did in the classroom.
  • The most difficult aspect of this class was when we had to take quizzes but we were not able to link it because we could not find where the quiz was.
  • The most difficult aspect of this class were the paper tests.
  • The most difficult aspect of this year was assigned bookwork
  • The most difficult aspect of this year was when I had to understand equations. Certain equations that we used this year could have been explained a little bit easier. It was extremely frustrating to me when I keep trying to figure out a problem and I keep getting the wrong answers because I really can't comprehend the work.
  • The most difficult for me was that I worked in groups. I am a more independent person and like to work alone. Mainly because I can't trust anyone else to get the work done except myself and then I can only blame myself if something didn't get done.
  • The most difficult part for me would have to be nothing really, I'm pretty sure that if I applied myself more I wouldn't be at the state that I am in... The work is precisely easily... I just need to work at it a little more... 
  • The most difficult part was making a B on a quiz because Mrs. Colwell is so genuinely concerned about our individual learning!
  • The most difficult was trying to get my notebook together before time to turn it in.
  • The most difficult was simply the work it self, I had it hard putting many formulas together to solve one problem.
  • The paper tests because we had gotten used to the intr@net quizzes. I also think that the intr@net quizzes were easier because we were allowed to work in groups so if we weren't sure of an answer then your partner could help better explain it to you or the other way around so there is more of a cooperative learning effort.
  • The paper tests they were the hardest part of the year
  • the quizzes and the tests 
  • The quizzes. I am in Physics 1 and I felt that a lot of the quiz's we took, we were unprepared for. I am always an A student and I was finding myself scoring from 40-70% on the quizzes. Sometimes I think the computer graded my quiz wrong. I don't think you should be relying on the computer to give me the proper grade. Quizzes should be taken on paper. I don't think we should be forced to work with a lab partner either.
  • The quizzes
  • The tests
  • the test on paper, most of the questions were really hard.
  • The tests and sometimes understanding the resource lessons and the way the lessons were sometimes taught.
  • The wave equations.
  • The written tests. Also, if we were absent on a day of learning material, the quizzes were difficult. The resource lesson didn't really help me, it was the teacher teaching it to the classes that helped.
  • there were a lot of equations we had to memorize
  • there weren't any really hard aspects of the class this year but if i had to say it would just be learning some of the different laws presented to us.
  • thermodynamics
  • thermodynamics
  • Trying to keep an up to date notebook
  • Undecided
  • understanding fast enough
  • Uniformly accelerated motion.
  • using the computer for our assignments. Some times our labs or quizzes wouldn't open up.
  • Wave forms and the equations
  • waves
  • web-based quizzes
  • When I was first getting used to doing all my assignments online, it was kind of hard. But once I have been doing it for about a week, it was a normal thing for me and I actually prefer doing work on the web than I do on paper.
  • when missing things having to learn the lesson on my own because Mrs. Colwell thoroughly explains the lesson on the resources lesson wonderfully.
  • working with waves
  • worksheets on paper as well as online

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

  •  I really don't have one, remember I'm a new student.
  • Again I would have to say that I did not like the group projects or labs.
  • a lot of the Physics this year, I did not learn because a lot of it we were supposed to learn just from reading the resource lesson, and when you know nothing about Physics, it looks like greek to you. Luckily I have 2 friends in Physics honors (where I was supposed to be!) Erin R. and Elizabeth G. that would help me out when my teacher couldnt.
  • Because we could work together on the worksheets and the teacher was always there to answer questions the least difficult aspect would be the worksheets.
  • Being given work I didn't understand. And then not getting any further instruction until it was time for tests and quizzes.
  • can't think of one, I enjoyed the whole year in here
  • coming to class in the middle of two lunches, I was not able to skip class because Physics is important
  • Completing this survey.
  • current carrying wires
  • Doing all the homework
  • doing homework
  • doing notebooks
  • don't really have one
  • electricity
  • Everything was good.
  • getting our teacher's help on particular problems sometimes and the paper tests
  • Having bookwork
  • Having the class 5th period after lunch. It's just not a good time for me to have to concentrate on such a difficult subject.
  • having to keep a notebook that i never used to study
  • Having to keep a notebook, simply because I am a little disorganized.
  • having to sometimes be separated because of talking which I should have not been doing anyways 
  • Having to sometimes work alone.
  • homework
  • How hard the quizzes and tests were
  • I did not have any aspect that was my least favorite from this class.
  • I did not like how much Mrs. Colwell was gone.
  • I didn't like the way [our teacher] taught us, she just made us read the resource lessons w/o teaching us. I can't learn that way
  • I didn't understand enough to enjoy it.
  • I guess it would be that I'd have to get Internet assignments done at home but I don't have Internet access so it was hard to get them done - but I found a way every time no matter how inconvenient
  • I just wish there was more time 
  • I liked it all
  • I really can't say I had a least favorite aspect, I mean I didn't like when you do some of the work and not get any credit and that's about it.
  • I really don't like the new chairs
  • if you miss the class it is easy to see what you missed on the computer but I understood it better when I was in class
  • individual quizzes
  • It was all good
  • kinematics
  • Knowing Mrs. Colwell is not going to be my instructor any longer :-(
  • labs
  • Least favorite? Having to turn in a 'real' notebook, with 'real' paper in it - but that is a personal problem. I just have horribly messy handwriting and I hate forcing people to read through its ugliness.
  • lenses
  • looking at the website and seeing a lot of work to do
  • Making notebooks because we had to make copies of all our own papers from online and wrote down a lot of notes that we could just look up online
  • mass and density
  • mathematics part of it all......
  • mirrors
  • mostly, I didn't particularly hate any particular thing, but I would have preferred the choice over picking whether or not I had to work with a partner or not
  • Mr. Mannix's help
  • My least favorite aspect of the class this year was not using the book as often as we could've. The book phrased some of the problems more difficult and it was sometimes hard to be able to use it as reinforcement. 
  • My least favorite aspect of the class this year was the test and quizzes.
  • My least favorite aspect of the class this year was the tests.
  • My least favorite aspect of the class was only when my partner forgot to study for the quizzes, do his/her share of the lab report, or little things like that, but other than that, I didn't really have a least favorite aspect of the class that has anything
  • my least favorite aspect of the year would have to be the fact that all the quizzes that we took were made for Mrs. Colwell's classes and we didn't get to learn all the stuff that her classes did  - not to any fault of the teachers but her lack of knowledge
  • My least favorite aspect of this class would have to be the lack of explanation. The computer does an ok job at explaining an equation but sometimes it is easier to hear it from a human being-such as the teacher. And sometimes the teacher explains it the same way that the computer does which doesn't really help me out very much because I can read the computer screen and still not understand the concept fully.
  • My least favorite aspect of this year was all the homework that we had, but it was good for me.
  • My least favorite aspect was having to do test corrections. It took a lot of time, didn't really raise my test scores any, and didn't get a chance to fully understand the stuff because I couldn't ask questions.
  • My least favorite aspect was taking notes, but that is a must!
  • my least favorite aspect was that there wasn't one because Physics is fun if you give it a chance and how it is set up it makes it easier to learn the material that was taught.
  • My least favorite was getting bad grades on the test that cost a lot.
  • My own lack of ambition...?
  • none
  • Not having enough time to complete all the assignments, making it harder to start harder ones.
  • not having to much time at home to do my work online
  • not sure
  • not understanding the work despite looking on the resource lessons and attempting to get help from the instructor
  • note taking and vocabulary. the note book is kind of annoying too.
  • Notebooks
  • Nothing
  • nothing, really
  • One of the most difficult classes ive ever taken.
  • Paper tests! they were hard and probably could have studied more and not done much better
  • Physics Olympics for non-participants
  • quizzes
  • Ray Diagrams and their images
  • refraction
  • refraction, snells law
  • sitting through long notes
  • sometimes there were just too many worksheets and resource lessons and things to keep up with. Oo; it boggles the mind.
  • Sound Waves
  • Springs
  • taking a test by my self. Having another brain would have been easier.
  • taking notes
  • taking quizzes with students who didn't really worry about their grade in the class. However, there were only a handful in the class.
  • Taking tests
  • taking tests by my self
  • Test and quizzes
  • tests
  • tests of course
  • Textbook assignments
  • the adverse affect of istf on grades
  • The algebraic problems were poorly explained.
  • The amount of work, with two other AP classes and three extra classes, it was hard to keep up with all the work from all my classes.
  • The book work
  • The bullseye problem.
  • The concave and convex lens CP workbooks that never ended. Using the book for word problems. 
  • the fact that it had to end
  • the fact that Mrs. Colwell talked the whole period and we had to go home and do homework off what she had just taught in class, but because she talked the whole period, we didn't have time to ask questions.
  • the labs
  • The least favorite aspect of this class is taking test. They seem harder.
  • The least favorite aspect was that we moved a little to fast. I think that we should have stayed on an assignment longer.
  • The little bit of work that we did out of the Physics book.
  • The long worksheets and how many that we had to do. It became very boring. Also I think if we did more labs it would be a lot better.
  • The notes that were really really long they made you want to fall asleep. The ones that were thorough, to the point, short, and we didn't have to write a lot were the best.
  • The only online based teaching which was mostly reading and not as kinesthetic as I would have preferred, but it wasn't a very bad thing
  • The paper test only because I hate tests. They stress me out
    the sva graphs
  • the tests
  • The TESTS and so many things to remember throughout the year (formulas and concepts).
  • The tests and some of the labs.
  • THE TESTS! They were crucial! It was all on paper and by ourselves so we didn't have a partner to compare answers and strategies with. The tests were also too long for the short period of time. By the end of the test we end up rushing because we have to turn them in when the bell rings and Mrs. Colwell's questions are so difficult you have to read them three times to make sure you fully understand it. It seems as if she purposely tries to trick you.
  • the topic of sound.
  • The written tests. It seemed like none of the material I learned was on them.
  • There was a time during the year when we kept learning new things and didn't do any labs for them, and that was kind of got old.
  • there was none because I love my class and teachers
  • Thermodynamics
  • Vectors and Scalars.
  • wave behavior
  • well I have none
  • well sometimes it seemed rushed
  • When we weren't ready for the quizzes
  • Working out of the textbook
  • working with waves
  • worksheets

What was your favorite aspect of the class this year?

  • All of the demonstrations and examples that Mrs. Colwell showed.

  • all the interaction and demonstrations

  • Attending the Physics Olympics. Although it was a required option, I was very happy with the result. I didn't really want to go, mostly because I didn't know what to expect, or how the day would go. In the end, it turned out to be a fun learning experience

  • Being able to access all of the work at home

  • Being able to interact with classmates while working and still getting to know other students and do classmates.

  • being able to work in groups on everything because the class was so large that Mrs. Colwell was always running around not able to give you the individual help that you needed. But you had your friends/peers there to help you instead.

  • Class work days, when we were allowed to catch up on assignments and work together. Also the Physics Olympics

  • classroom interaction

  • DC Circuits

  • doing all the labs

  • Doing the ray diagrams of converging and diverging lenses.

  • Electromagnetism and Thermodynamics

  • going to the Physics Olympics, it was very competitive

  • graphs

  • group quizzes

  • group work

  • Having access to class assignments and when things are supposed to be due anytime I wanted to. And our teacher's way of teaching, i.e., using physlets, resource lessons, using herself and another student for examples. 

  • I enjoyed all the labs in class this year, though they required hard and accurate work with difficult calculations they were enjoyable and educational.

  • I enjoyed the lab activities, physlets, and Physics Olympics activities.

  • I had fun overall. It was a new experience for me and I loved it.

  • I have no four favorite aspects of this class

  • I liked it all

  • I liked the whole group deal, you get to know some people make a few friends, its great

  • I liked working on things for the Physics Olympics.

  • I loved the labs! I can't think of one lab I didn't like. I especially loved the Physics Olympics labs. I wish we would have spent more time on them.

  • I prefer to type over writing and I also enjoyed being able to go back and view my web submissions instead of asking the teacher constantly what I missed

  • I really enjoyed being able to submit labs and worksheets online and I honestly feel that features PhysicsLAB included helped me learn more and at a faster rate.

  • I really like the way Mrs. Colwell runs her class. It is very laid back but there is still enough organization in the class for learning to be done.

  • I think training for Physics Olympics was pretty fun.

  • I would say Physics Olympics, that was so fun and challenging. To see people from different schools participating in stuff that you would do in elementary school was fun/funny and I had a blast!

  • If I missed then I can access the web and get what work i missed.

  • ISTF

  • it was all fun

  • it would have to be the fact that everything was so easy to access

  • Kinematics

  • Kinematics. Its just fun.

  • Knowing how all of the formulas that were once in "japanese" so to speak are all inter-related, and came together to form a in-depth and conceptual knowledge base of Physics

  • lab, Physics Olympics

  • labs

  • labs that we did and the Physics Olympics

  • learning all the complex things that apparently didn't seem to complex

  • learning everything

  • learning new Physics concepts

  • learning new stuff

  • Learning something new

  • Lens lesson

  • Lenses.

  • Mirrors

  • Mrs. Colwell's teaching

  • Mrs. Colwell

  • Mrs. Colwell is a great teacher and I really enjoyed being able to participate in the Physics Olympics

  • Mrs. Colwell made it easy to understand the concepts because she often related the material to real-world interactions. 

  • Mrs. Colwell was my favorite aspect of the class this year.

  • Mrs. Colwell, she made the class fun, took time to explain things, and never acted like she was going out of her way

  • Mrs. Colwell... AND computers

  • Mrs. Colwell's lectures!!!!!!

  • Mrs. Hornilla's help

  • My favorite aspect of the class this year was learning how to do the lens diagrams. I found that enjoyable because I previously had no knowledge of hoe lenses worked.

  • My favorite aspect of the class this year was the fact that I can find out my classwork, homework, assignments I did, and assignments I needed to do.

  • My favorite aspect of the class this year was when we participated in Physics Olympics. It was very fun and instructional, and made me want to learn more about Physics and take the class again.

  • My favorite aspect of this class was the fact that we were able to work in groups to finish worksheets, quizzes, labs My most favorite aspect of this class was the fact that I had a chance to participate in a prestigious event like Physics Olympics.

  • My favorite aspect of this class would have to be the Physics Olympics because it allowed me and other students to feel less dependent on others plus there wasn't the constant strain of deadlines and worksheets.

  • My favorite aspect this year was the fact that I was able to look at what was submitted and what wasn't so I was able to keep up on everything I missed.

  • My favorite aspect this year was the freedom that we got. I like being able to work at my own pace because usually I am a fast worker. After I finished my current assignment I could focus on what homework I had for my other core classes.

  • My favorite aspect was being able to go on the computers and just start working. In my other classes you have to wait for the teacher to start talking and for all of the kids to sit down and listen. In her class we just started right away and your always doing something

  • My favorite aspect was the freedom to experiment during Physics Olympics

  • My favorite aspect was when we were doing the nodes and the waves.

  • My favorite aspect were the labs and demos where you don't have have to turn in anything with them. Whenever you have to actually turn stupid paper work in for a grade my mind shuts of and gets robotic. Whenever there were labs and demonstrations that served to further knowledge after I had read up on stuff I felt I had a better understanding afterwards

  • My favorite aspect would have to be practicing and participating in the Physics Olympics.

  • My favorite part of this class was all the labs we had to do. The labs were interesting and fun at the same time. It helped me to under stand some of the material.

  • my most favorite aspect of this year is doing the Physics Olympics because it was an event the I really liked and Mainland dominated it except for a few events

  • online work and group quizzes

  • Physics Olympics

  • Physics Olympics and labs.

  • Physics Olympics and Mrs. Colwell

  • Physics Olympics and seeing Mrs. Colwell 3 times a day :-)

  • Physics Olympics was a really fun learning experience

  • Physics Olympics was much enjoyed on my part and should continue to be mixed in the course.

  • Physics Olympics, and the teacher :)

  • Preparing and participating in Physics Olympics

  • reflection

  • remembering all the crazy numbers

  • The environment, the fun and lively mood that Mrs. Colwell made for us everyday and the help of PhysicsLAB made it very relaxing and interesting.

  • The group activities it made the class interesting.

  • the hands on lessons

  • The high-energy level of both my classmates and the teacher, it kept things moving, and made the over-all mood positive.

  • The IBID program was my favorite because we really had the chance of actually seeing everything that was written down and be able to listen to our teacher at the same time.
    The in class demos that we did, which created the best understanding of the material
    The labs

  • the labs and being able to work with who I likes and felt comfortable

  • The labs and on-line capability of the class.

  • The labs and Physics Olympics

  • The labs that we get to do and the Physics Olympics were the best part

  • the labs were fun and taught me a lot

  • The labs.

  • The lens equations

  • the online experience

  • The overall online setup of the course, most of my other teachers do not participate in ActiveClassroom.

  • The people and having everything available online so I can keep track of things I'm missing easily

  • The Physics Olympics and all visual demonstrations Mrs. Colwell did for the class to make it more interesting.

  • The Physics Olympics and Mrs. Colwell in general, she is the #1 teacher at this school.

  • The Physics Olympics labs were cool. Need more labs.

  • The Physics Olympics practice

  • The Physics Olympics! It was a lot of fun, and I learn a lot participating in it to. I had a lot of fun. 

  • The Physics Olympics. It tested how creative we were and it was fun.

  • The teacher

  • The work on the computers.

  • the worksheets on the computer and working with partners

  • There were many high points during my experience in this class. Preparing for the Physics Olympics, completing labs, using an interactive database, and working with others in a hands-on environment were some of the more recognizable aspects of this class

  • to be honest I don't have a favorite aspect of this class.

  • uniform acceleration

  • Vectors and Scalars

  • web based assignments/linked reviews/lessons and online agenda

  • white board

  • Working in a group

  • Working on the computer

  • working together in groups

  • working together on quizzes

  • working together with a partner of my own choice who i trusted to study and prepare for upcoming quizes and worksheets

  • Working with partners

  • working with people, and especially on quizzes, and most of all working with Mrs Colwell

  • worksheets

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

  • . . . although notebooks may be a pain, keep on top of it. Do not scramble and do it at the last second. 
  • Always do your work and you should have fun
    Always go to class and frequently check the website to see if you have fallen behind or see what you can get ahead on.
  • Always, always, always keep a paper copy of your notes so that you can look back to verify submissions and for your notebook. You never know what she'll ask for in it. Also before a paper test work problems backwards and forwards for review. Chances are she'll ask for something and the answer will be some where in the middle.
  • Be here everyday and do all your work
  • Be prepared for a computer-based learning course.
  • be ready to do a lot of hard work but don't worry because it will be fun
  • Be secure in your math skills, take good notes, and never get overwhelmed, everything eventually falls into place. Besides that, Ms. Colwell is always willing to help and assist as soon as she has a free moment.
  • Be sure to ask questions. Takes good notes.
  • Come to and pay attention in class. Do your work and don't rely on your partner because he can't help you on the tests.
  • Come to class every single day, do all of your work on time, pay attention in class, ask as many questions as you possibly can, don't cheat, study hard, keep up a good notebook, don't put off anything until the last minute, print all worksheets the day before they are do so that you won't have to waste time writing down all of the problems.
  • come to class, keep an organized notebook, try to keep your grade up as much as possible, and find a great partner who can pick up your weaknesses and vice versa
    complete all the assignments
  • copy everything you do on to paper
  • do all your AP essays!
  • Do all your assignments and keep up with your work
  • Do get frustrated with your computer. You will learn it.
  • Do not slack off toward the end of the year and keep a good notebook and good notes and you will do fine
  • Do the homework and pay attention in class
  • do the work cause both the tests and quizzes mean almost nothing compared to your notebook
  • do well in the labs
  • do your homework and class work
  • do your homework and you must use the Internet
  • don't cheat on the worksheets by typing in phony answers , you just hurt yourself and fail all the quizzes
  • Don't hesitate to ask Mrs. Colwell if you need help, she is very understanding and has a sincere desire for you to learn the subject's entirety. She will help you.
  • don't procrastinate...check the online agenda all the time that you can...realize that it takes work for the teacher to do this for you, and do not criticize destructively or complain. you are lucky to take this course
  • Don't sit at the tables near the whiteboard because she never sees you. Also whenever she would have a lesson she tends to talk to the back of the class and forgets the front people.
  • Don't slack off! Do your assignments as soon as they're given and listen to the teacher's lessons. Also read the resource lessons online... they help a lot! Don't skip class either unless it's necessary!
  • don't take other hard classes at the same time as AP Physics because if you want to do really well in it, you must devote a lot of time to it.
  • enjoy it, it is a valuable experience
  • get a computer and choose a lab partner well not by friends
  • get a computer with internet access or work very quickly
  • Get Mrs. Colwell as your teacher for Physics. 99.9% of the time, she will go beyond the call of duty to make you understand the curriculum. She is super friendly and is very helpful when it comes to learning.
  • go into regular because honors is too hard unless you like doing a lot of work
  • have taken algebra 2 and have a computer with online access
  • I made a good choice in choosing this class, you'll learn a lot and will enjoy many of the activities this class has to offer, and not to worry when things might seem confusing for Mrs. Colwell does a wonderful job making sure everyone understands the material.
  • I would advise them to never give up and to make time for school. My biggest mistake was moving away from home into a place with no computer. Not having access to a computer could really make the work much harder to understand. Make time for school I had to get a job to support myself when moving away from home and that does not give me much time to study of have time to get to a library. So my advice to a person who wants to enroll in Physics is Give it time and never give up.
  • I would have to tell them that they need to pay attention an d participate in class because one day gone without a computer at home will put you behind. Ms. Colwell in and excellent teacher and she will help you to do anything so be nice to her.
  • I would tell someone that Physics is the best course and the teachers are very good. I would also tell them that working together in groups will help you understand the content better
  • I would tell someone who is going to enroll in Physics next year to always make sure they know the material well. To make sure that they understand a concept well. Also to make sure to find a compatible partner you work well with. Not just you're friend but someone who wants to get work done
  • I would tell them that it's a fun class, and it's not very hard. It is also a great experience getting to work with Mrs. Colwell, other students, and the PhysicsLAB database.
  • I would tell them to come to class and pay attention, and try, or they won't get an A.
  • I would tell them to hope that they get Mrs. Colwell and work hard. Sometimes it will feel like you can't do the work, but don't give up.
  • If it seems to you that your teacher is not teaching be sure to ask questions early or just get in another class where you better understand the information.
  • If you can't explain what you know to someone, then you truly don't know it. Kind of knowing it isn't good because that means your knowledge is built on a poor foundation. Stop every once in a while and think so that everything gets mapped out in your head correctly. Concepts are more important than number crunching and people who score higher on tests don't necessarily know more Physics than you.
  • Just keep up with your online assignments and don't miss too many days.
  • Just make sure that they know their material and get the work done
  • Just make sure you do the work sheets and not just type in some phony answers and then submit them for the right ones because you may get credit for the worksheet but you really don't learn anything that way and that's how you fail quizzes
  • Just to stay on track and keep up with their work.
  • Just work hard and never give up.
  • Keep a great note book and do labs and ask for help and you will do fine.
  • keep a notebook
  • keep a really good notebook.
  • Keep a well organized notebook that had everything labeled because it will come in handy when you have to turn in a notebook for a notebook check. Also make sure to complete all your papers on time so that you have the extra points added onto your notebook grade.
  • Keep an organized notebook because you will always need to look back on past notes.
  • Keep an organized notebook, and don't ever skip
  • keep up with the online assignments because most of the test questions come from those pages.
  • Keep up with the work, stay organizes, pay attention to class lectures, and study
  • keep up with your assignments....the test and quizzes make a whole lot more sense after you do the homework and worksheets.
  • Keep up with your work and don't fall behind
  • keep up your notebook and study for the tests.
  • Keep your notebook in order and complete all of the assignments.
  • Keep your notebook up! Even though your online binder is up to date, you still need to keep your "real life" binder up to date as well
  • Keep track of your papers in your notebook.
  • LEARN the equations
  • Listen
  • listen and except Mrs. Colwell's words as wisdom
  • listen and write down EVERYTHING!
  • Listen in class, or you wont do that well. I went from a D average to an A/B average just because I started listening.
  • Make sure keep up your notebook, get everything signed, and pay attention to class discussions.
  • make sure that you ask plenty of questions if you don't understand and make sure you go onto the website once you get home to refresh the information in your head because it can get so easily forgotten by the time you get home
  • Make sure that you stay organized and stay focus on your work. Physics isn't something you can pass with a breeze, maybe at first but not for long. You have to work and earn your grades; they are never given.
  • Make sure that you take enough time to study equations needed for tests and quizzes. Also, even though its online, pay attention to Mrs. Colwell because she may say something that might make the work a little easier to understand.
  • Make sure they get a great teacher like Mrs. Colwell. One who is willing to do her absolute best in helping you learn and mature in knowledge. Thanks a lot Mrs. Colwell! :)
  • Make sure this is the class you want to enroll in and try to get in Mrs. Colwell's class
  • Make sure to take notes in class and print out needed information beforehand.
  • make sure you do the labs
  • Make sure you are un class everyday because you learn a lot on a daily basis and if you're absent al the time you will get behind.
  • Make sure you ask your teacher questions even though the resource lesson is there because some students have to be showed how to do certain things, and make your teacher explain out loud how to do problems that you don't understand. Always stay focused.
  • make sure you do your notebook
  • Make sure you get all your web submissions in on time. If you wait to get them done, you'll have a lot of work to do to get caught up again.
  • Make sure you keep a good notebook
  • make sure you pay attention to Mrs. Colwell
  • make sure you understand how waves work and don't fall behind and keep up with your work
  • Make sure you're good in algebra
  • Miss class as little as possible, because, although you CAN look on the website at home, Mrs. Colwell explains it much better than any computer screen could.
  • none
  • None is really needed.
  • only do it if you like to be challenged and like to understand things on a fast rate, this class is a very fun and informative class to take I would recommend it to all of my friends because of how it was taught.
  • Only if you really enjoy science take the course don't take it just to look smarter.
  • only take it if you really want to work and will do the work and understand it
  • pay attention
  • Pay attention and ask questions (even if they think they know the answer).
  • Pay attention and don't let Mrs. Colwell catch you e-mailing
  • pay attention and try to keep an organized notebook
  • pay attention and you will do well
  • Pay attention everyday, if you don't, you won't pass this class
  • pay attention go to class and request Mrs. Colwell she is the Best!
  • Pay attention in class and keep up with web assignments and homework
  • Pay attention to every detail, attend class as often as possible and take good notes.
  • pay attention to Mrs. Colwell, she knows what she is doing
  • pay attention to resource lessons
  • Pay attention while taking notes because I have learned from experience that the material is a lot harder to understand if you didn't pay full attention to the whiteboard notes.
  • print out everything and write out everything that is done online and put in your notebook
  • Read all resource lessons prior to day taught, and concentrate on the conceptual side, not just equations.
  • Read all the resource lessons and take notes on them. If you don't understand something, ask about it right away but it doesn't go away. Everything piles up and if you don't know how to do the previous lesson, than you will collapse. otherwise, have a great time!
  • read and reread
  • really stay focus and ask all the stupid questions you want
  • Show up, just because you can get the work online you should still be there otherwise you will miss explanations and class taught by a great teacher, and ask Mrs. Colwell if you have problems with something
  • stay after if they need help, and always ask questions, no matter how dumb they may sound.
  • Stay focused and complete all the online assignments.
  • stay on top of assignments of at the end if you don't you're in trouble
  • Stay on top of your assignments and use the online binder to help keep you organized. Do well on your quizzes with partners that stay on task.
  • study
  • Study everyday! Make sure you do all your classwork and homework and ask for help if you don't understand! 
  • study for tests
  • study hard, and make sure if you don't understand to stay after school to get extra help.
  • Study your notes
  • Study, keep a good notebook, and use your mind.
  • take good notes and study
  • Take good notes, take chemistry prior to Physics, and always keep up because one thing is based upon the last and if you don't understand the previous thing you'll have troubles with everything that follows.
  • take notes
  • take notes, keep all your work, and print out the worksheets.... keep a notebook too
  • Take very good notes and pay attention. Do all your homework and keep your notebook in order. It's pretty much a breeze after all that.
  • That you have to stay focused when taking this class, because you can get completely lost.
  • This is the best way to take Physics & to make sure you keep your notebook together.
  • The advice I would give them would basically be: you will go far if you apply yourself an don't fool around...also study! study! study!
  • the advice that I would give someone to enroll in Physics is that it is a very good learning experience for anybody that wanted to join the Physics class
  • The advice that I would give them would be try to be in class as much as possible. If you need help go and ask you teacher because you don't want to get behind on anything because everything goes together at the end its almost like a chain. 
  • the work is not that hard don't be afraid.
  • To go to class everyday.
  • to got to class, pay attention, and get a tutor if you need help
  • To keep a good attendance in her class and to listen when she explains the lessons off the whiteboard.
  • To listen and pay attention, it helps 
  • To make sure that they always get clarity on something that they don't understand and to make sure that they access the PhysicsLAB site from home
  • to pay attention during lectures
  • to study a lot and be prepared for the quizzes and understand how to do al the homework 
  • Try and get access to a computer, and keep your notebook straight so you won't have to do it all at the last minute
  • Try your best and make sure that you have basic Algebra skills down pat, because that will help you out a lot in Physics all throughout the year.
  • Use the website and keep track of all the work you do and write it on paper for your notebook.
  • who must can use computer whenever they want to use even after school
  • Write down equations.
  • You will love it, to sit down and work on a computer for 30-45 min. and get a grade (if you don't like that then this isn't the right class for you).
  • You will love Mrs. Colwell, you'll actually learn something!

Recommendations and improvements - What additional features would you like to see included in ActiveClassroom or PhysicsLAB?

  • I would like to see other classes have access to the amount of technology that is used in PhysicsLAB and that other courses become as interactive as this one. I would like to see teacher's notes included on the website and also questions from the book.
  • I would like to see the grades off of the worksheets that counted as grades that were only turned in once.
  • I would simply like to thank Mrs. Colwell for all she's done for me!
  • I'd like to see maybe an index of formulas and maybe a better glossary of terms. Other Comments: Mrs. Colwell is the Best!!!
  • I'm happy with the ActiveClassroom - I don't see a need for improvements...
  • improve the labs
  • Instant GPA teller.
  • It is absolutely, positively, completely aggravating how the AP essays are IP restricted. Whenever you log in, you should also be able to access the ap essays. Also, solutions would be more conducive to learning than just simply seeing the answers. I would have learned so much if that were available but instead got frustrated and slacked off on them.
  • It was a great learning experience, I liked the opportunity to have access to the site whenever needed.
  • It was fun taking this class (sometimes it got a little hard for me but it still was okay) and I enjoyed having Mrs. Colwell as my teacher. She taught me a lot. Thank you.
  • it was so well organized class. I enjoyed to come to class. thank to Mrs. Colwell
  • let the worksheets in the "view binder" section be linked to your grading system, there have been several I have filled out there that haven't gotten to your database
  • Make sure all students have EASY access to a computer. For example, I got put with a "Lab Partner" that I didn't know because I was late to class the first day, and he almost never tried to include me in online worksheets, etc. It almost seemed like I was inconveniencing him any time I wanted to use the computer. Because of this, I didn't get most of the online assignments done in class time, and ended up having to do them at home.
  • maybe have a calendar on the agenda so rather than having to click back through a weeks worth of daily agendas you can just click on the day you want.
  • more diagrams, and pictures. I like the new computers
  • more info that deeply describes the lesson
  • Mrs. Colwell is perhaps the greatest teacher of all time for blending so smoothly the use of technology with the old-fashioned teaching practices to express/convey a lesson as effectively as she does
  • Mrs. Colwell is the best science teacher I've ever had so all newcomers need to have patience and try to understand her even though it will be extremely difficult.
  • Never let Mrs. Colwell go...the class is nothing without her
  • No your class was wonderful and I liked the web-based part. 
  • No, ActiveClassroom is great
  • No, I belive that ActiveClassroom was very helpful and complete. It was also very organized and self-explanatory.
  • None
  • none, it's perfecto
  • nope, I think that's about it
  • notebook grade should be reduced and quiz/test grade magnified
  • overall I liked the web-based program
  • Physics was the most fun class at Mainland High School and it is easier to learn.
  • PhysicsLAB + Mrs. Colwell = Awesome learning! 
  • please improve the labs
  • read the amusing problems, they're good
  • Something that keeps an on-going grade, that way you can monitor your grade throughout the year. I also want to say that I don't think I would have made it through Physics 1 Honors last year or APB Physics this year if it were not for PhysicsLAB and Mrs. C
  • Take out the Physics book work. The same work can be done over the net and learned a lot easier. Too boring.
  • Thank you for a great year Mrs. Colwell I have learned so much from you and this program and I think that it should be applied to other classes at Mainland.
  • thanks
  • The ActiveClassroom was great. I personally liked a lot because of the fact that we were able to access our worksheets and missed assignments at home or at school.
  • There is nothing else I can think of to add to ActiveClassroom, there is already an incredible amount of information available. Thank you Mrs. Colwell for all your help. You have definitely been one of my favorite teachers by far, continue to shine and it will always be a joy to take part in your classes.
  • there should be a automatic grader so you can view your grade as you complete assignments
  • There should be a solar power lab.
  • There's not much that I would like to change about ActiveClassroom. I used it in both Physics and Spanish; I was successful in both. It was very helpful to me.
  • This has been a tight year and past for years at Seabreeze and Physics is phun....yumsy
  • This was a fun, hard but made easy class.
  • updated grade every time you submit something your grade will change automatically
  • we have a a lot of subjects to work with
  • You should get some games that deal with Physics on ActiveClassroom/PhysicsLAB



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Catharine H. Colwell
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Mainland High School
Daytona Beach, FL 32114