Teacher Feature: Darren Fix of Science Fix

Last week I introduced you to Krissy Venosdale of Venspired.  I feel incredibly lucky to be able to introduce to another fabulous teacher this week – Darren Fix of Science Fix!

Here are a couple of reasons why Science Fix will help with your science addiction:

1. Science videos like “Fire Hand” and “7 Inertia Demos” are must sees! (Of course you can easily see them all on the Science Fix Channel at YouTube.)
2. Free Science Worksheets and Resources!
   
3. Science Fix is active on Twitter (I am appreciative of lifelong learners, because I am one!)

Of course what is a teacher feature without some input from the featured teacher? (Try saying that three times fast!)

Question: How do you manage creating so many original science videos and demos?

When I was a student, the most effective ways that I understood concepts involved some sort of visualizations. Bill Nye and Tik Liem, author of “Invitations to Science Inquiry” were major influences when I first started teaching. When I started teaching, it was the dawn of the world wide web and teachers had to rely on VHS tapes for any kind of videos, which usually weren’t that good.  I always wished there were videos on the web that I could use in my teaching and in the mid to late 1990’s there weren’t much. So I decided to start making my own. Making videos serves as a creative outlet  that adds to my love of teaching, so even though it’s hard work making those videos, it’s also very fulfilling.

More recently, Derek Muller of Veritasium, has shifted my view of demos from just thinking of demos as an easier way for students to visualize a concept, to more of a way of forcing students into confronting their misconceptions of a concept and trying to break through them.

Question: What are some of your favorite, go to science demos that you think every science teacher should do for their students?

I don’t think there are any “go to” demos. I think it’s important that for any demo, students should have an opportunity to express verbally (in groups) or in writing of how they perceive the concept, then use the demo to either confirm or confront their misunderstanding. When students have a chance to communicate their thinking to others it forces them to use different parts of their brain. Only through some mental struggles can they really learn.

Question: What do you currently use to take and edit your videos? Do you have any suggestions for free (or cheap) alternatives?

For the longest time I used Sony Vegas Movie Studio ($50) to edit my videos. Since I got a new MacBook Pro I have been trying to teach myself to edit in Final Cut Pro X ($300).  Needless to say there is no one perfect solution. Editing video is a very time consuming affair and the important thing is just to get started and to produce something, and not worry so much about making a video perfect. I often struggle with that.

A huge thanks to Darren for agreeing to participate as the featured teacher!

P.S. If you didn’t click on the link for Veritasium, you need to go there now!