PhysTEC
Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo

Cal Poly site leader Chance Hoellwarth and Teacher-in-Residence Nancy Staugh review the day-by-day plan, which describes interactive learning activities and promotes sustainability of course reforms.

PhysTEC Project Contact
Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo

Chance Hoellwarth
Physics Department
California Polytechnic State University
Building 52, D37
San Luis Obispo, CA 93407
Tel: 805-756-1665

Demographics at other PhysTEC Sites

Ball State University
Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo
Cornell University
Florida International University
Seattle Pacific University
Towson University
University of Arizona
University of Arkansas
University of Colorado at Boulder
University of Minnesota
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Western Michigan University

Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo Project Report 2009

Demographics

PhysTEC Definitions

PhysTEC Graduates
Grade Band Baseline Project
PhysTEC Teachers Year 1
2000-
2001
Year 2
2001-
2002
Year 3
2002-
2003
Year 1
2003-
2004
Year 2
2004-
2005
Year 3
2005-
2006
Year 4
2006-
2007
Year 5
2007-
2008
Year 6
2008-
2009
Secondary 0 1 0 0 1 3 1 1 4

Secondary graduates are certified to teach physics.

Commentary on PhysTEC graduates data:

  • High school PhysTEC graduates took the reformed methods course (PSC 424), were mentored by one of our TIRs, and received their credential. The taking of the course and the mentoring occur the year before they become certified to teach physics.
PhysTEC Enrollment
Course Type Baseline Project
Yr 1
2000-
2001
Yr 2
2001-
2002
Yr 3
2006-
2007
Yr 1
2003-
2004
Yr 2
2004-
2005
Yr 3
2005-
2006
Yr 4
2006-
2007
Yr 5
2007-
2008
Yr 6
2008-
2009
1st quarter Physics for Elementary Teachers 235 236   172 194 160 224   172 212  
2nd quarter Physics for Elementary Teachers 121 81 28 62 17 10 28 70  

Commentary on enrollment data:

Physics for Elementary Teachers

  • The first quarter course consists of students from all non-science majors. The second quarter course consists of Liberal Studies majors only-- non-science majors who are on track to become elementary teachers.
  • The number of Liberal Studies majors the second quarter course is declining, which can be seen in the baseline data. The number of Liberal Studies majors is increasing, so we think that this is due to more students coming to college with credit in chemistry, which corresponds to this course.
  • The numbers of students taking the second quarter course are very low for year 2, year 3, and year 4 of the project. This is because we are not double-counting students, so any student who took the 1st quarter course is not counted. This is not true for the baseline numbers.
Mentors and Mentees
  Baseline Project
Yr 1
2000-
2001
Yr 2
2001-
2002
Yr 1
2003-
2004
Yr 2
2004-
2005
Yr 3
2005-
2006
Yr 4
2006-
2007
Yr 5
2007-
2008
Yr 6
2008-
2009
PhysTEC Mentors Current and Prior TIRs) 0 0 1 1 2 2 1 1
Mentored PhysTEC Teachers       0 0 0 0 0
Mentored Non-PhysTEC Teachers 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Commentary on mentors and mentees data:

  • The mentoring numbers are low, because we have done very little mentoring of our students after they graduate with their credential.

Notes on counting:

  • We counted a student as a High School PhysTEC teacher if they took the reformed PSC 424 course and they received their credential (usually the preceding year) certified to teach physics. Since there is only one course, we couldn’t double count. We counted a student as a pre-High School PhysTEC teacher if they took either of the reformed physical science courses (PSC 101 or PSC 102) and they received their credential.
  • We have started a Database with all of the names of students who have taken our courses. At the end of each quarter this list is updated. Once a year we match the names of people who were awarded credentials with the students who have been in our classes.