Quarter 1 Reflection

AP Physics Effort/Performance/Progress Matrix

Name: Nicholas Date: Oct. 12, 09

SUCCESS is the result of personal effort, patience, nightly studying, working through frustrating times, having a Socratic dialogue in class, and staying motivated to master the subject matter. You will be submitting this form electronically and creating a summary on your blog. The evaluation scheme is 6 = above and beyond; 5 = excellent (A); 4 = well done (B); 3 = good (C);
2 = poor/little effort (D); 1 = no attempt (F).


1. CORNELL NOTES for Chapters 1 through 5. 4

2. COMPUTER Notes/Tutorials Units 1 through 4 4

3. FUSION WEBSITE USE – Calendar, Section Files & Links 3

4. TEXTBOOK Chapters 1 through 5 Questions 4

5. CONCEPT DEVELOPMENT WORKBOOK USE 2

6. HICKMAN PROBLEM-SOLVING WORKBOOK USE 1
- didn’t use this yet

7. BOYLE WORKBOOK USE 1
- didn’t use this yet

8. PHYZ GUIDES Reading and Highlighting 5

9. TILLAY PROBLEM-SOLVING HANDOUT completion 4

10. BOARDWORK for Points – at least once a week required 6

11. CLASS NOTES – taken from lectures and problem-solving 5

12. VIDEO NOTES – taken carefully, reviewed, & highlighted 5

13. LABS – all seven completed, electronically completed 6

14. ONLINE GIANCOLI PRACTICE QUESTIONS – all done 5

15. ONLINE GIANCOLI PRACTICE PROBLEMS – all done 2

16. MATERIALS – brought to class every day 5

17. ATTENDANCE – on-time every day! 5

18. NOTEBOOK – everything organized, used effectively 4

19. QUIZ – see Mr. T for your average for Units 0 to 4 3

20. GRADE EARNED for the first quarter 3



BLOG Work. COMPLETE the items below on your blog. SEND your blog URL to Mr. T tonight. WRITE responses using your knowledge of Technical Writing. Use separate paragraphs for each item below.


21. DESCRIBE why YOU earned the grade listed for #20. GIVE SPECIFIC Signs of
Excellence…look at how you answer the questions above it!

I deserve a 3 out of 6 for a grade because I personally know that I didn’t try my hardest in this class. My progress throughout the first quarter can be described as hectic and frustrating. Although I have participated and done majority of the given work, I have not mastered the subject like I am supposed to. My success within this class can be viewed through my labs that I perform successfully with my group and from my participation within the weekly group presentations.

22. IDENTIFY your three areas of STRENGTH and NEED FOR IMPROVEMENT.

My three areas of strength within this class are doing labs, working in groups (collaborating), and understanding basic concepts with the use of calculus. These can be seen through my lab write-ups, group presentations, and work/notes that requires math. My three areas that need improvement are doing the practice problems online, doing better on tests/quizzes, and understanding everything that is taught. These things can all be fixed through studying and trying harder within the class – going “above and beyond.”

23. WRITE your own DEFINITION of PHYSICS based on your knowledge to date.

Based upon all that I have learned to this point, physics is the study of matter and how it behaves. It is also the observation and understanding of how matter and its behavior are related to everything throughout the world.

24. HOW can Mr. T help you become a BETTER student?

Mr. T can help me become a better student by explaining concepts to me if needed. As of now, I have to personally make progress of my own to become that “better student.” He has already made excellent progress in helping me to become who I am now and realize who I need to be, leaving it up to me to finish what he started.



25. WHAT should Mr. T consider changing to HELP you become a BETTER student?

There isn’t anything that I prefer Mr.T to change to help me become a better student. The only source of error in my learning is my individual performance within the class. I need to personally change my study habits and ways of learning things to master physics.

26. LIST who you regularly study with in this class.

On a regular basis, I mainly study with my study group, which includes Reedge Abueg and Arron Ercia. We help each other answer questions and divide work evenly, while at the same time gaining equal amounts of understanding towards the topic(s). There are also times when other students within the class ask for help, mainly certain individuals from different groups.

27. SUMMARIZE your time log: number of entries and number of hours studied.

My overall time log is slightly under the required amount of time necessary to succeed in this class. Although I put in x amount of time into studying, it is not an amount that is considered enough to master the subject of physics and all that relate to it.

28. Any other concerns or comments?

One of the main setbacks that I experienced this quarter was not having internet. This class is completely related to electronics and the internet, making it important to have a computer with internet access. My failure to have one led to part of why I have the grade I earned/deserved. I promise that I will become a better student and it will be acknowledged. Thank you for being such a great teacher/mentor. You will be the closest I can get to actually experiencing a real college class.