One of the topics we cover in Year 11 Physics is Nuclear Physics. It would be great to have a big question “Radioactivity / nuclear physics – good or bad” and then as the course is completed and we discuss nuclear physics uses in medicine and energy that the students get a number of perspectives of the pros and cons of this topic. It could be a quest that runs concurrently with the topic for the whole term during which we study the topic.
Alternative energy and global warming is a topic that is studied in Year 11 in both Physics and Chemistry. This would also be a good one to do over a longer time with a thought provoking global questions.
Medical physics is a detailed study that is one of 6 options that students can do. We are going to try and direct it towards treatment and diagnosis of sports injuries, and possibly link it up with the physics of movement. Again, it is one that lends itself to a jigsaw approach where students can become expert in specific types of medical techniques or sports injuries.
Ecology is one section in Year 8 that the students don’t enjoy – we have tried every approach possible! It would be fantastic to design a webquest that allowed them to examine even just one type of ecosystem where they could look at, for example, human impact on the ecosystem.
I really like the idea of doing a webquest with a bigger purpose at the end. For example, flight and then building paper aeroplanes, rollercoasters and then building one or even the school as an ecosystem and then suggesting management plans for looking after it and tidying up the creek area.
