The AP Physics B Summer Institute will introduce participants to the breadth and depth of the Physics B curriculum as described in the Course Description booklet published by the College Board (http://apcentral.collegeboard.com/apc/public/repository/05824apcoursdescphysi_4325.pdf).  The primary focus of this week-long institute will be to prepare participants new to the curriculum to successfully teach the AP Physics B course.  Participants should expect to review all of the mechanics , waves, thermo and fluids, electricity & magnetism, and contemporary physics topics identified on pp. 15-18 of the course description booklet relevant to the B-level course.  Critical components of starting and growing an AP Physics program, appropriate use of labs with and without technology, and the use of online homework resources such as WebAssign and the UT Homework service will also be discussed.  Participants will view sample syllabi that satisfy the requirements of the AP Audit and discuss ways to use a program based approach to include sufficient lab experiences to attain the minimum twelve lab requirement inherent in the audit stipulations.  Participants should bring a TI-83/84 style graphing calculator for use throughout the week of the institute as well as an electronic version of a favorite lab or activity to share with other participants.  Each participant will leave the institute with a compilation CD including over 30 years worth of released free response questions from both the B and C level courses, all five released multiple choice tests from each course, and all activities contributed by participants.

Jeff Funkhouser has taught Physics I, Pre-AP Physics, and both AP Physics B and C at Northwest High School near Justin TX since 2001.  He began his teaching career at Plano Sr High in 1988 teaching Pre-AP Physics and began teaching AP Physics C there in 1992.  Jeff has been a consultant for the College Board since 1999 with experience providing week-long summer institutes in Pre-AP Physics, AP Physics B, Physics C, and AP Physics Advanced Topics/Labs. He first began participating in the annual AP Physics Reading in the summer of 2002 and is currently a Question Leader at the Reading.  He has been active in the American Association of Physics Teachers (AAPT) since 1989 and now serves as the high school representative of the AAPT–Texas Section Executive Council.

Updated 1/4/08