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Subject/Content Area:
Physics and/or Integrated Biology, Chemistry and Physics
Target Audience:
This project primarily targets grades 9-12. The relevant curricular guidelines include electrical forces and interactions, the spectrum and energy of electromagnetic radiation, a basic understanding of the Standard Model, conservation of mass/energy, effects of radiation on living cells, etc. Students will primarily be physics students or integrated lab science students who are involved in an analysis of an open-ended study of the application of physics to radiation therapy. Skills that are required include a basic background in the language of science and the ability to perform independent research (including searching with the Internet), evaluate obtained information and apply that information to their own learning while being responsible for that learning. Students also need to gather information, interact with other learners and experts such as scientists, perform analysis of information, and develop conclusions about the effectiveness of neutron therapy on a tumor that follow logically from information.
Project Goals:
The project will involve engaged learning. The project directs student learning toward the problem while extending their learning during the formulation of the solution of that problem. Students will post their project on the Web. This Web page will summarize their research (with pros and cons defined) and will include their well-substantiated conclusion.
Learner Outcomes: Students will demonstrate their ability to:
- Use the scientific process.
- Demonstrate understanding of physical concepts.
- Apply those concepts to this problem.
- Predict effects of electric fields on charged particles.
- Apply principles of electrical forces on charged particles to general physics problems and to cancer therapy.
- Describe the effects of high-energy collisions between particles for general collisions and for cancer therapy.
- Determine the energy for different frequencies of the electromagnetic spectrum using the equation E = hf, and conclude effects of that energy on a human being.
- Apply principles of waves to general problems and to electromagnetic radiation therapy.
- Research different options for treatment of the given cancer; communicate with experts and other schools to gather information.
- Evaluate the reliability of gathered information.
- Evaluate pros and cons of different cancer treatment options by analyzing them using physics principles and effectiveness of data.
- Form, communicate and defend a conclusion for their "best" choice of treatment that follows logically from their research.
Alignment with National Standards and State Goals:
Alignment with National Standards Goals:
This project demonstrates some elements of:
- Science Teaching Standards A, B, C, D, E, F.
- Science Assessment Standards A, B, C, D, E.
- Science Content Standards A, B, C, E, F, G.
- Science Program Standards A, B, C, D, E, F.
Alignment with State Goals:
This project demonstrates some elements of:
- State Goal 11 (A, B, C, D).
- State Goal 12 (A, B, C, D).
- State Goal 13 (A, B, C).
Assessment of Students:
Students will be assessed with rubrics for their information summary, their conclusions and Web posting, their presentation and will be summarized on a student information sheet which also includes observations of students which will include things like demonstration of mastery in conversation, group work and interactions with experts and other schools. Each rubric will be assessed at three levels. The first level will be the group assessing itself, the second level will be another group assessing the group's work, and the third level will be an assessment by the teacher.