Task Force on Teacher Education in Physics Published
The full report of the Task Force on Teacher Education in Physics (T-TEP) is now available. A printed copy of the report will be sent to all physics departments. coalition members, and others. Except for a few excellent programs, T-TEP found that nationally, physics teacher preparation is inefficient, incoherent, and unprepared to deal with the current and future needs of the nation's students. An innovative national program is needed to develop new resources, expertise, and capacity in order to meet current and future national needs. Toward this end, T-TEP recommends establishing regional centers in physics education. These centers would be the main regional producers of well-qualified physics teachers and would be a nexus for scholarly work on physics education. In addition, the centers would help veteran science teachers at all levels deepen their knowledge and skill.
2013 PhysTEC Sites Announced
The new 2013 PhysTEC comprehensive sites (up to $300K) are University Central Florida, University of Cincinnati, Georgia State University, and James Madison University. Comprehensive sites are expected to implement the PhysTEC key components and show a substantial increase in physics teachers. The new 2013 targeted site is North Carolina State University. Targeted sites are an opportunity to explore innovative models for improving physics teacher education.
LA Video Project Complete
The Video Resource for Learning Assistant Development is a package of thematic case-based "video workshops," designed to supplement the University of Colorado's widely disseminated LA development program. In a video workshop, short, compelling video episodes are accompanied by captions, transcript, excerpts from instructional materials, and targeted discussion questions to help LAs and faculty explore the principles and values that inform instructor and student behavior.
Effective Practices in Preservice Physics Teacher Education Publication
Manuscript proposals were solicited in summer 2012 for Effective Practices in Preservice Physics Teacher Education , a peer-reviewed book co-edited by Dr. Cody Sandifer (Towson University) and Dr. Eric Brewe (Florida International University) and sponsored by the Physics Teacher Education Coalition, the American Physical Society, and the American Association of Physics Teachers. In response to the solicitation, twenty-eight manuscript proposals were submitted to the contributed sections of the book, and five manuscript proposals were submitted to the invited sections of the book. The book Effective Practices in Preservice Physics Teacher Education is scheduled for publication in 2015.
More information and the Call for Papers
PhysTEC News, Fall 2012 Edition
The Fall 2012 edition of the PhysTEC newsletter introduces the new funded sites, profiles a PhysTEC teacher and a PhysTEC Teacher in Residence, features project activities and outcomes, and provides perspectives on broader issues surrounding physics teacher preparation.
The project supports PTEC, a coalition of institutions dedicated to improving physics and physical science teacher preparation. PTEC sponsors an annual conference and a variety of workshops. How to Join PTEC