Alabama PhysTEC Program
J.W. Harrell, Stan Jones, Patrick LeClair, Tim Mewes, Dennis Sunal, Cynthia Sunal, Penni Wallace (TiR)
What is PhysTEC ?
• Physics Teacher Education Coalition – affiliated with AAPT, APS, and AIP. (http://phystec.org)
• Goal is to address the US high school teacher shortage problem
• More than 260 colleges and universities are PhysTEC members.
• A select number are funded each year to establish a model HS physics teacher preparation program.
UA PhysTEC
• 3-year award ($100K/yr) beginning Fall, 2012.• A collaboration with College of Education but
centered in Physics & Astronomy.• PhysTEC Faculty:
J.W. Harrell, Stan Jones, Patrick LeClair, Tim Mewes, Dennis Sunal (Ed), Cynthia Sunal (Ed).
(http://phystec.ua.edu)
Major Components of UA PhysTEC• Teacher-in-Residence (TiR). Experienced HS teacher
who spends the academic year in the department assisting with the program.
• Learning Assistants. UGTAs who take a physics pedagogy course and are mentored by physics faculty.
• Partnership with Alabama Science in Motion to provide early teaching experiences.
• Teachers Advisory Group• Curriculum development• Mentoring of new teachers
Need for HS Physics Teachers
• Number of US students taking HS physics is increasing, but there is a shortage of well-qualified teachers.
• Only a small fraction of HS physics teachers have significant training in physics. Most are teaching out of field.
• More than ¼ of Alabama students attend school where physics is not offered.
Penni Wallace, Teacher-in-Residence
• B.S. 1998, Mississippi State University, Chemistry-Physics Education
• M.A. 2001, University of Alabama, General Science• 1998-2002, Central High School– Conceptual Physics, Chemistry, Pre-IB Chemistry
• 2002-2012, Hillcrest High School– Physical Science, Chemistry, Physics, AP Physics B– Department chair, Lead Science Teacher for Tuscaloosa
County Schools, GK-12 grant, Building Alabama grant
ASIM High School Labs Course
• 22 Level 1 labs using Pasco equipment• Only site in state where pre-service teachers
are trained• Students meet 2 times per week
Mentoring New Teacher
• Tara Gernhardt, recent UA graduate, teaching at HHS on emergency certification– 2 first-year courses, AP Physics B
• Co-teaching approximately every 2 weeks• Training on ASIM labs• Class management, developing lesson plans,
pacing
Publicity
• Introducing program to classes• Talking to students• Visiting schools• Developing materials• Monthly newsletter
Challenges
• Only a relatively small fraction of students will want to teach.
• Certification process needs to be made clear (good advising) and eventually improved.
Opportunities
• Number of PH majors is rapidly increasing.
• Science in Motion• Scholarship support
(APEX)
APEX(Alliance for Physics Excellence)
(http://apex.aamu.edu/)
• NSF-MSP award to AAMU with UA as a partner. $8M/5yrs beginning fall, 2012
• Primary goal is to provide in-service training to ~ ¼ of HS physics teachers in Alabama (77 teachers + 11 ASIM specialists).
• 2-wk summer institutes + three 1.5 day in-service workshops for 3 years.
• Significant financial support for participants.
UA’s Role in APEX
• Extensive assessment of program effectiveness (led by D. Sunal, COE)
• Scholarships for pre-service teacher training- Ten 2-yr scholarships (junior/senior or masters
alt-cert). $16K/yr.- Must teach in high needs district in Alabama (1
year for each year of scholarship)- Will complement PhysTEC in recruiting future
physics teachers.
Thank you!
• Any questions?• Contact information:– [email protected]– [email protected]– [email protected]
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