MECHANICSBURG, Pennsylvania—Named for the expert wagon-makers who settled here in the 1800s, Mechanicsburg today remains a largely rural community. But although the famous mechanics have all but faded into history, excellence is still highly prized. Cumberland Valley High School sends its graduates to some of the country's most selective colleges and universities.

Physics teacher Oliver Dreon Jr., winner of the Christa McAuliffe fellowship in the state of Pennsylvania, attracts students of varying abilities and socioeconomic backgrounds to his college-prep classes. Dreon estimates that various levels of physics classes include about 200 students, or nearly a tenth of the school's 2,400 enrollment. He draws on the school's recently upgraded technology to help diverse learners make a connection between what they study in class and how physics affects them in real-life contexts.

Recently, for instance, Dreon's students used digital cameras to record objects in motion. They used software to analyze the motions of skateboarders doing tricks, bumper cars headed for intentional collisions, and golfers swinging clubs. "Students modeled the motion using interactive physics software," Dreon explains. They also created posters explaining the physics concepts derived from their analysis. The teacher explains: "I was allowing students to see the concepts of momentum, energy, and circular motion in a real-life context, outside of the classroom."

The school recently upgraded its equipment to include a wireless network. "When construction is complete," Dreon says, "a student will be able to be anywhere on the grounds of the school and stay online." His McAuliffe award helped fund the technology purchases.

Taking learning outside the classroom sometimes leads to unexpected events. "One student was recording his little brother skateboarding down their driveway," Dreon relates. "The brother was paying more attention to the recording process than to the skateboarding, and ran into a telephone pole. Luckily, the boy wasn't hurt." When his brother shared the footage in class, students "had a laugh at his expense." But as soon as the laughter subsided, they were all set to analyze what happens when an object in motion meets an immovable object.