Physicist promotes middle school physics

DAVE MOSIER/independent editor

CONVOY — Ukrainian physicist Anatoliy Glushchenko and economic development author Mark Lautman toured Lincolnview and Crestview schools on Friday and also met with science teachers, curriculum directors and principals in the school districts to talk about the benefits of adding a middle school physics curriculum.

The program, which is designed to provide a conceptual knowledge of physics, as well as ignite students’ critical thinking skills and spur interest in science and engineering careers, was developed by See the Change, a not-for-profit organization created by Dave Csintyan, former CEO of the Greater Colorado Springs Chamber of Commerce and Glushchenko, an associate professor at the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs, who acts as the program’s academic advisor.

Developers of the middle school physics program believe introducing students to physics — the science that leads to all other sciences, according to Glushchenko — in grades 6-8 allows the deepest understanding of how the world works, while developing a foundation for strong analytical and research skills.

Glushchenko said most American schools don’t teach physics until high school, when the advanced math needed intimidates many students who may be interested otherwise. Introducing physics education in the middle school provides students with the basic concepts of the science, which, in turn, familiarizes them with the subject matter and makes it more likely they’ll take the subject in high school.

Glushchenko noted that there aren’t enough science and engineering professionals coming out of U.S. schools to sustain the level of innovation American industries demand — both today and in the future. Studies show only 16 percent of undergraduate students choose science and engineering as majors. Of those, only 40 percent of STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) students actually complete a degree.

Local instructors are provided with online support, detailed lesson plans and assessment tools by See the Change, while the physics lessons are incorporated into science standards set by the state and the cost of materials is minimal, Glushchenko said.

“In every lesson we want to create something the student will never forget,” Glushchenko said, noting that teaching the basic concepts of physics in middle school gets students .

Lincolnview, Crestview and Delphos City Schools all showed interest in bringing middle school physics to their districts during the 2015-16 school year, but cost is a factor in whether it can be implemented.

Van Wert County Economic Development Director Sarah Smith is seeking funding for the $50,000 program, which she said also has economic development ramifications for the county, since it could lead to a better-educated local workforce for companies interested in locating a facility here.

“Middle school physics moves the needle,” said Lautman, author of When the Boomers Bail: A Community Economic Survival Guide, who also noted Van Wert County has experienced four consecutive decades of decreasing population.

“This type of program provides the ability to attract talent, keeps people from leaving and the students are cognitively trained going into the local workforce,” Lautman added.

See the Change’s middle school physics curriculum is currently operating in 20 school districts in Colorado and New Mexico, although the three local districts would be the first in the Midwest to implement the course of study.  Additional information is available at http://seethechangeusa.org.