That's me. My name is Mark Greenberg. I've been teaching Physics at Palos Verdes Peninsula High School since 2010. In case you want to know the details of my educational background: I have a Bachelor's Degree from the University of Illinois. I also have both a Teaching Credential and Master's Degree from the University of California, Irvine. The Chicago suburbs are my first home and I eventually made my way out to Southern California through the circuitous route of Cincinnati, Guadalajara and New York.
What you really should know is that I'm a High School Physics Teacher by choice. This is exactly what I enjoy doing for a living. When I first took AP Physics as a junior in high school, it was the first course that really sparked fireworks in my brain. It's, as if, all of the childhood questions you've had swimming in your head start to get answered. Why is the sky blue? How does a TV work? Why are magnets so fun? In physics, you begin to understand. And, perhaps more importantly, you begin to ask ever better questions.
It is not surprising to find out that students who take physics build high level reasoning and analytical skills. Those skills aren't only beneficial to future scientists and engineers, but for anyone in any profession. For that reason alone, learning physics is a worthwhile venture, regardless of your career plans. Beyond that, universities see physics as a great differentiator. And for good reason. For those of us who study education and learning, the complexity of analyzing, evaluating and creating in physics lie at the top rungs of Bloom's Taxonomy. Or, as Einstein more succinctly put it, "Any fool can know. The point is to understand."
Perhaps most importantly, I believe that learning can be fun and worthwhile. The more you put into the class, the more you'll get out of it. If you haven't taken physics before, I encourage you to take the challenge. And if you have, I encourage you to continue challenging yourself.
May the net force be with you. Always.
What you really should know is that I'm a High School Physics Teacher by choice. This is exactly what I enjoy doing for a living. When I first took AP Physics as a junior in high school, it was the first course that really sparked fireworks in my brain. It's, as if, all of the childhood questions you've had swimming in your head start to get answered. Why is the sky blue? How does a TV work? Why are magnets so fun? In physics, you begin to understand. And, perhaps more importantly, you begin to ask ever better questions.
It is not surprising to find out that students who take physics build high level reasoning and analytical skills. Those skills aren't only beneficial to future scientists and engineers, but for anyone in any profession. For that reason alone, learning physics is a worthwhile venture, regardless of your career plans. Beyond that, universities see physics as a great differentiator. And for good reason. For those of us who study education and learning, the complexity of analyzing, evaluating and creating in physics lie at the top rungs of Bloom's Taxonomy. Or, as Einstein more succinctly put it, "Any fool can know. The point is to understand."
Perhaps most importantly, I believe that learning can be fun and worthwhile. The more you put into the class, the more you'll get out of it. If you haven't taken physics before, I encourage you to take the challenge. And if you have, I encourage you to continue challenging yourself.
May the net force be with you. Always.
Some "fun" facts about Mr. Greenberg:
I put fun in quotes since you may not find them fun at all.
- I like to think of myself as a bit of a singer. In fact, I've performed the national anthem before a White Sox game at Comiskey Park and the halftime show for a Chicago Bears game at Soldier Field. On rare occasion you may even see me announce or sing at Peninsula basketball games. I also like to think that my guitar and drumming skills aren't that bad either. Outside of teaching, music is an incredibly important piece of my life.
- At the age of 15, the people at Teen Jeopardy flew me out to Omaha, Nebraska for the final round of try outs. If I had made it, my story would have begun with actually being on Teen Jeopardy.
- I spent a year in Guadalajara, Mexico teaching English. If you have the opportunity, I highly recommend spending some time abroad.
- In 2014, Mr. Greenberg received the MIT Inspirational Teacher Award. Each year, the award is given to 30 high school teachers across the nation.
- I am an International Rock Paper Scissors competitor. No joke. I competed (and made a deep run) in the World Rock Paper Scissors Championships in Toronto, Canada. Yes, it exists. Yes, there is strategy. No, I will not RoShamBo with you.
I put fun in quotes since you may not find them fun at all.
- I like to think of myself as a bit of a singer. In fact, I've performed the national anthem before a White Sox game at Comiskey Park and the halftime show for a Chicago Bears game at Soldier Field. On rare occasion you may even see me announce or sing at Peninsula basketball games. I also like to think that my guitar and drumming skills aren't that bad either. Outside of teaching, music is an incredibly important piece of my life.
- At the age of 15, the people at Teen Jeopardy flew me out to Omaha, Nebraska for the final round of try outs. If I had made it, my story would have begun with actually being on Teen Jeopardy.
- I spent a year in Guadalajara, Mexico teaching English. If you have the opportunity, I highly recommend spending some time abroad.
- In 2014, Mr. Greenberg received the MIT Inspirational Teacher Award. Each year, the award is given to 30 high school teachers across the nation.
- I am an International Rock Paper Scissors competitor. No joke. I competed (and made a deep run) in the World Rock Paper Scissors Championships in Toronto, Canada. Yes, it exists. Yes, there is strategy. No, I will not RoShamBo with you.
