P123 Speaker Elissa Thorn

24 April 2006

Life on the Other Side of the Red Pen

My perspective on both physics and education shifted radically immediately after my Carleton graduation, when I switched over from receiving grades to granting them. In many ways, however, my life remained exactly the same. Eleven years later, I am still amazed at how parallel the paths of learner and educator are, and I am not always sure which path I am on at any given moment. In this talk, I will share my experiences teaching high school physics in the unique world of college-preparatory boarding schools, and also explain how my career facilitates my “hobby” of chasing after severe thunderstorms.