NAME:
Robert Goettler
SCHOOL:
San Marcos High School
EMAIL:
rgoettler@sbsdk12.org
PHONE:
(805) 967-4581 x272
Hi, my name is Robert Goettler. Let me tell you a little bit about myself.
I grew up in Ohio and Massachusetts and went to college at Penn State, where
I earned a Bachelor of Science degree, with honors, in Materials Engineering
in 1997. I then worked for a summer at IBM in Burlington, Vermont, doing
semiconductor research before starting graduate school at CalTech in
Pasadena. After earning a Masters degree in Electrical Engineering, I
entered a Ph.D. program in Materials Science at UCSB, where I was involved
in setting up a new lab for studying magnetic semiconductors. During this
time, I became strongly drawn to teaching and decided to embark on a career
as a high school science teacher. I've been teaching at San Marcos since
2000, having taught about a dozen different courses in science and math.
Physics is a laboratory science class. Topics covered include mechanics (laws of
motion, momentum, energy, and gravity), heat, waves (sound and light), and
electricity and magnetism. The course addresses the content standards
established by the state of California and adopted by our school district.
The course requires students to apply some of the skills learned in algebra
class, including solving one-variable equations and using the concept of
slope to analyze data. Some goals of the course are for students (1) to
develop an understanding of physical concepts; (2) to learn basic skills of
scientific study, including measurement, computation and data analysis; and
(3) to develop an enthusiasm for science and an appreciation for its role in
our world.
