Helen Reynolds
@helenrey.bsky.social
Physics teacher, author of Activate/Oxford Revise Physics + others. Learning the foxtrot. Loves cogsci + joined up curriculum. Big fan of mini whiteboards.
Owns It's A Learning Curve LLC https://itsalearningcurve.education
All views my own.
Owns It's A Learning Curve LLC https://itsalearningcurve.education
All views my own.
Excellent thin film interference simulation - thanks Martin Kirby...
sites.google.com/a/kirbyx.com...
#iteachphysics
sites.google.com/a/kirbyx.com...
#iteachphysics
November 19, 2025 at 1:17 PM
Excellent thin film interference simulation - thanks Martin Kirby...
sites.google.com/a/kirbyx.com...
#iteachphysics
sites.google.com/a/kirbyx.com...
#iteachphysics
Highly recommend one of these for teaching rate of change of momentum... for some reason getting 'bopped' is a great privilege...
#iteachphysics
#iteachphysics
November 19, 2025 at 12:31 PM
Highly recommend one of these for teaching rate of change of momentum... for some reason getting 'bopped' is a great privilege...
#iteachphysics
#iteachphysics
The first book I read about cognitive science in the classroom back in 2009... changed my (teaching) life forever!
Very grateful to @dtwuva.bsky.social.
2nd Edition summary here + (C)PD version for you to fill in: itsalearningcurve.education/cogsci-book-...
A must-read (again)!
Very grateful to @dtwuva.bsky.social.
2nd Edition summary here + (C)PD version for you to fill in: itsalearningcurve.education/cogsci-book-...
A must-read (again)!
November 18, 2025 at 1:04 PM
The first book I read about cognitive science in the classroom back in 2009... changed my (teaching) life forever!
Very grateful to @dtwuva.bsky.social.
2nd Edition summary here + (C)PD version for you to fill in: itsalearningcurve.education/cogsci-book-...
A must-read (again)!
Very grateful to @dtwuva.bsky.social.
2nd Edition summary here + (C)PD version for you to fill in: itsalearningcurve.education/cogsci-book-...
A must-read (again)!
Delighted to make a summary of this EXCELLENT book - thought-provoking and extremely useful, and one of the BEST chapters about 'How Do We Learn' that I have read. Thanks @drcastelino.bsky.social
Summary pdfs here: itsalearningcurve.education/cogsci-book-...
Summary pdfs here: itsalearningcurve.education/cogsci-book-...
November 7, 2025 at 12:57 PM
Delighted to make a summary of this EXCELLENT book - thought-provoking and extremely useful, and one of the BEST chapters about 'How Do We Learn' that I have read. Thanks @drcastelino.bsky.social
Summary pdfs here: itsalearningcurve.education/cogsci-book-...
Summary pdfs here: itsalearningcurve.education/cogsci-book-...
Another summary! This time it's the excellent Evidence-Informed Wisdom: Making Better Decisions in Education by Bradley Busch, Edward Watson, Matthew Shaw.
A must-read for those interested in research in education! It's the wisdom part that we all need.
itsalearningcurve.education/cogsci-book-...
A must-read for those interested in research in education! It's the wisdom part that we all need.
itsalearningcurve.education/cogsci-book-...
November 3, 2025 at 9:01 PM
Another summary! This time it's the excellent Evidence-Informed Wisdom: Making Better Decisions in Education by Bradley Busch, Edward Watson, Matthew Shaw.
A must-read for those interested in research in education! It's the wisdom part that we all need.
itsalearningcurve.education/cogsci-book-...
A must-read for those interested in research in education! It's the wisdom part that we all need.
itsalearningcurve.education/cogsci-book-...
Delighted to share another summary- a profoundly thought-provoking book.
A must-read for those interested in the the bigger picture of transforming learning.
Thanks to @P_A_Kirschner for his help with the summary.
Download summary and book here:
itsalearningcurve.education/cogsci-book-...
A must-read for those interested in the the bigger picture of transforming learning.
Thanks to @P_A_Kirschner for his help with the summary.
Download summary and book here:
itsalearningcurve.education/cogsci-book-...
October 30, 2025 at 11:37 PM
Delighted to share another summary- a profoundly thought-provoking book.
A must-read for those interested in the the bigger picture of transforming learning.
Thanks to @P_A_Kirschner for his help with the summary.
Download summary and book here:
itsalearningcurve.education/cogsci-book-...
A must-read for those interested in the the bigger picture of transforming learning.
Thanks to @P_A_Kirschner for his help with the summary.
Download summary and book here:
itsalearningcurve.education/cogsci-book-...
Those were the days!
5 years ago I sent them the picture of the cup and find something that wasn't a cup and do the same.
The cat won, obvs.
Force arrows still the best way to show forces act ON objects.
#iteachphysics
5 years ago I sent them the picture of the cup and find something that wasn't a cup and do the same.
The cat won, obvs.
Force arrows still the best way to show forces act ON objects.
#iteachphysics
October 28, 2025 at 12:59 PM
Those were the days!
5 years ago I sent them the picture of the cup and find something that wasn't a cup and do the same.
The cat won, obvs.
Force arrows still the best way to show forces act ON objects.
#iteachphysics
5 years ago I sent them the picture of the cup and find something that wasn't a cup and do the same.
The cat won, obvs.
Force arrows still the best way to show forces act ON objects.
#iteachphysics
Brilliant transition from centre of mass to torque in APC Physics!
We (I) cut a wooden spoon at the centre of mass, and lo! Unequal masses!
They got another one + a ruler + made some measurements +assumptions, and lo!! Equal masses! No one has every got it spot on before.
#iteachphysics
We (I) cut a wooden spoon at the centre of mass, and lo! Unequal masses!
They got another one + a ruler + made some measurements +assumptions, and lo!! Equal masses! No one has every got it spot on before.
#iteachphysics
October 28, 2025 at 12:46 AM
Brilliant transition from centre of mass to torque in APC Physics!
We (I) cut a wooden spoon at the centre of mass, and lo! Unequal masses!
They got another one + a ruler + made some measurements +assumptions, and lo!! Equal masses! No one has every got it spot on before.
#iteachphysics
We (I) cut a wooden spoon at the centre of mass, and lo! Unequal masses!
They got another one + a ruler + made some measurements +assumptions, and lo!! Equal masses! No one has every got it spot on before.
#iteachphysics
I've started a CogSciPhysics group on LinkedIn... let me know if you're interested.
If you've replied and not had an invite my sincere apologies - please reply/message and I'll sort it out
#iteachphysics
If you've replied and not had an invite my sincere apologies - please reply/message and I'll sort it out
#iteachphysics
October 20, 2025 at 2:10 AM
I've started a CogSciPhysics group on LinkedIn... let me know if you're interested.
If you've replied and not had an invite my sincere apologies - please reply/message and I'll sort it out
#iteachphysics
If you've replied and not had an invite my sincere apologies - please reply/message and I'll sort it out
#iteachphysics
Extremely useful litmus test, not just in the context of multiple intelligences from @carlhendrick.substack.com
... and the phrase:
Comfortable Fictions: The Myth of Multiple Intelligences open.substack.com/pub/carlhend...
... and the phrase:
Comfortable Fictions: The Myth of Multiple Intelligences open.substack.com/pub/carlhend...
October 10, 2025 at 5:42 PM
Extremely useful litmus test, not just in the context of multiple intelligences from @carlhendrick.substack.com
... and the phrase:
Comfortable Fictions: The Myth of Multiple Intelligences open.substack.com/pub/carlhend...
... and the phrase:
Comfortable Fictions: The Myth of Multiple Intelligences open.substack.com/pub/carlhend...
Another summary! This time the marvellous Mental Models by Dr Jim Heal and Rebekah Berlin delving deep into developing students thinking, what it means and how to do it.
AND updated Cogsci Reading List - now up to 74 books.
itsalearningcurve.education/cogsci-book-...
AND updated Cogsci Reading List - now up to 74 books.
itsalearningcurve.education/cogsci-book-...
September 15, 2025 at 4:55 PM
Another summary! This time the marvellous Mental Models by Dr Jim Heal and Rebekah Berlin delving deep into developing students thinking, what it means and how to do it.
AND updated Cogsci Reading List - now up to 74 books.
itsalearningcurve.education/cogsci-book-...
AND updated Cogsci Reading List - now up to 74 books.
itsalearningcurve.education/cogsci-book-...
Best intro to a book about physics stuff...
So Planck should have had two constants... 🤷
#iteachphysics
So Planck should have had two constants... 🤷
#iteachphysics
August 29, 2025 at 1:55 PM
Best intro to a book about physics stuff...
So Planck should have had two constants... 🤷
#iteachphysics
So Planck should have had two constants... 🤷
#iteachphysics
When I told my classes I was leaving one student said (to general agreement) that the thing that they would miss most was how I said ....
Wonderful
@xkcd.com
Wonderful
@xkcd.com
August 25, 2025 at 12:03 AM
When I told my classes I was leaving one student said (to general agreement) that the thing that they would miss most was how I said ....
Wonderful
@xkcd.com
Wonderful
@xkcd.com
Excellent sim for dot product = parallelness.
#iteachphysics
#iteachphysics
August 23, 2025 at 10:30 PM
Excellent sim for dot product = parallelness.
#iteachphysics
#iteachphysics
Rocket found the kitchen roll, tried to move the evidence outside, then took a nap.
August 23, 2025 at 2:39 PM
Rocket found the kitchen roll, tried to move the evidence outside, then took a nap.
A nice practical application for reviewing vectors and introducing dot and vector product....
... with answers, yay!
spacemath.gsfc.nasa.gov/earth/10Page...
... with answers, yay!
spacemath.gsfc.nasa.gov/earth/10Page...
August 19, 2025 at 1:15 AM
A nice practical application for reviewing vectors and introducing dot and vector product....
... with answers, yay!
spacemath.gsfc.nasa.gov/earth/10Page...
... with answers, yay!
spacemath.gsfc.nasa.gov/earth/10Page...
There are very many reasons to have a 'physics lens' through which to view the world... and this is defo one of them!
Along with rainbows, the night sky, flowers... all that awe and wonder stuff.
arxiv.org/html/2409.05...
#iteachphysics
Along with rainbows, the night sky, flowers... all that awe and wonder stuff.
arxiv.org/html/2409.05...
#iteachphysics
August 14, 2025 at 3:19 AM
There are very many reasons to have a 'physics lens' through which to view the world... and this is defo one of them!
Along with rainbows, the night sky, flowers... all that awe and wonder stuff.
arxiv.org/html/2409.05...
#iteachphysics
Along with rainbows, the night sky, flowers... all that awe and wonder stuff.
arxiv.org/html/2409.05...
#iteachphysics
A leaving gift from a student who studied AP1 then AP2 then APC with me and made AP Physicsland!
Awesome...
#iteachphysics
Awesome...
#iteachphysics
August 12, 2025 at 5:01 PM
A leaving gift from a student who studied AP1 then AP2 then APC with me and made AP Physicsland!
Awesome...
#iteachphysics
Awesome...
#iteachphysics
I'm not into that 'fun' lesson thing - learning is actually awesomely fun, but occasionally I have to do a 20 minute intro/taster thing and we make Pringle Ringles.
Totally recommend it. And it's edible. Which is ideal for a taster lesson.
#iteachphysics
Totally recommend it. And it's edible. Which is ideal for a taster lesson.
#iteachphysics
August 10, 2025 at 8:00 PM
I'm not into that 'fun' lesson thing - learning is actually awesomely fun, but occasionally I have to do a 20 minute intro/taster thing and we make Pringle Ringles.
Totally recommend it. And it's edible. Which is ideal for a taster lesson.
#iteachphysics
Totally recommend it. And it's edible. Which is ideal for a taster lesson.
#iteachphysics
I'm trying to stay open but actually
1. AI wastes time - if you know your stuff you still have to check
2. AI wastes time - if you don't know your stuff you'll have to redo it all later when you realise it's wrong.
1. AI wastes time - if you know your stuff you still have to check
2. AI wastes time - if you don't know your stuff you'll have to redo it all later when you realise it's wrong.
August 9, 2025 at 3:40 PM
I'm trying to stay open but actually
1. AI wastes time - if you know your stuff you still have to check
2. AI wastes time - if you don't know your stuff you'll have to redo it all later when you realise it's wrong.
1. AI wastes time - if you know your stuff you still have to check
2. AI wastes time - if you don't know your stuff you'll have to redo it all later when you realise it's wrong.
I'm trying to stay open but actually
1. AI wastes time - if you know your stuff you still have to check
2. AI wastes time - if you don't know your stuff you'll have to redo it all later when you realise it's wrong.
1. AI wastes time - if you know your stuff you still have to check
2. AI wastes time - if you don't know your stuff you'll have to redo it all later when you realise it's wrong.
August 9, 2025 at 3:37 PM
I'm trying to stay open but actually
1. AI wastes time - if you know your stuff you still have to check
2. AI wastes time - if you don't know your stuff you'll have to redo it all later when you realise it's wrong.
1. AI wastes time - if you know your stuff you still have to check
2. AI wastes time - if you don't know your stuff you'll have to redo it all later when you realise it's wrong.
Just tried it with my go-to question of 'I'm 11 and I want to solve Maxwell's equations'.
It tried as usual. I pointed out this wasn't teaching or learning, but the illusion of it. You need calculus + a lot of physics.
This is AI's analogy for what AI is to teaching. I think it's quite good.
It tried as usual. I pointed out this wasn't teaching or learning, but the illusion of it. You need calculus + a lot of physics.
This is AI's analogy for what AI is to teaching. I think it's quite good.
July 30, 2025 at 12:00 AM
Just tried it with my go-to question of 'I'm 11 and I want to solve Maxwell's equations'.
It tried as usual. I pointed out this wasn't teaching or learning, but the illusion of it. You need calculus + a lot of physics.
This is AI's analogy for what AI is to teaching. I think it's quite good.
It tried as usual. I pointed out this wasn't teaching or learning, but the illusion of it. You need calculus + a lot of physics.
This is AI's analogy for what AI is to teaching. I think it's quite good.
As long as it is correct in terms of the science.
It doesn't 'know' if it's correct.
The number of jobs daily asking for physics teachers to train AI would seem to suggest that it is a big problem.
As to lesson planning... I asked it for a lesson teaching Maxwell's equations to 10 year olds.
It doesn't 'know' if it's correct.
The number of jobs daily asking for physics teachers to train AI would seem to suggest that it is a big problem.
As to lesson planning... I asked it for a lesson teaching Maxwell's equations to 10 year olds.
July 25, 2025 at 4:52 PM
As long as it is correct in terms of the science.
It doesn't 'know' if it's correct.
The number of jobs daily asking for physics teachers to train AI would seem to suggest that it is a big problem.
As to lesson planning... I asked it for a lesson teaching Maxwell's equations to 10 year olds.
It doesn't 'know' if it's correct.
The number of jobs daily asking for physics teachers to train AI would seem to suggest that it is a big problem.
As to lesson planning... I asked it for a lesson teaching Maxwell's equations to 10 year olds.
Woo hoo! Super chuffed that I'll be speaking @researchED_US @DenverMuseumNS.
My session is:
'Metacognition: What it means for students and why you need to teach it'
Hope to see you there!
My session is:
'Metacognition: What it means for students and why you need to teach it'
Hope to see you there!
July 24, 2025 at 4:11 PM
Woo hoo! Super chuffed that I'll be speaking @researchED_US @DenverMuseumNS.
My session is:
'Metacognition: What it means for students and why you need to teach it'
Hope to see you there!
My session is:
'Metacognition: What it means for students and why you need to teach it'
Hope to see you there!