VOL. XIII, NO. 7
FEBRUARY 11, 1972

Mr. Porter Recognized As Outstanding Physicist
The Maine West physics course taught by Mr. Rollin Porter has won national recognition. It is rated one of the top five in the country, on the basis of teaching techniques.

Mr. Porter spent near one month working on the presentation of his class for possible recognition. He wrote a 1,200 word essay on how the course is taught. Included were photos of work, tape recordings of sessions, and graphs of enrollment.

The effects the award will have on Mr. Porter is a threeday convention in San Francisco and a monetary award, and he will be asked to speak to leading physicists in the country. The effect this award will have on Maine West according to Mr. Porter is, "It can affect applications to college.

"Also this award will gain us national recognition. Other schools will be coming to Maine West to look at our program, and hopefully this will influence their work. Publishing com-panies will seek our advice and support in changes in physics education."
 Mr. Porter continued, "I hope that we can continue to receive support from public and administration sources."

In explaining the course Mr. Porter reflected, "Much of the equipment we use is designed for other purposes. We use slot cars to represent motion. We use rockets which can be launched 1,200 feet into the air. There is also a lot of optical equipment.

"This method of teaching physics allows the person to realize that physics is not only real but interesting." Mr. Porter expressed, "I feel that unless something can be interesting, exciting, and meaningful, kids won't learn it and they sure won't study it."

Some of Mr. Porter's projects have included racing cars around the room and flying kites to see how they work, and once a year he opens up the drawer which contains the Slinkys.

Mr. Porter also added, "I don't want the reward to go to me, but to reflect on the course.