University of Minnesota

PhysTEC Project Contacts
University of Minnesota

Cindy Cattell
School of Physics & Astronomy
University of Minnesota
116 Church St. SE
Minneapolis, MN 55455
Tel: 612-626-8918
Fax: 612-624-4578

University of Minnesota PhysTEC Website

 

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University of Minnesota Project Report 2009

Goals & Outcomes

Goals

The goal of the PhysTEC project at the University of Minnesota is to increase the number and improve the quality of physics and physical science teachers produced in the School of Physics and Astronomy and the College of Education and Human Development. This unique program at UMn has completed its first two years spanning 2007 – 2009. Undergraduate Learning Assistants (LAs) are used to transform introductory physics courses and provide students with an early teaching experience. The PhysTEC grant funds a Teacher in Residence and provides resources for reform of introductory physics courses.

Selected Outcomes

• Over the course of the first two years we have hired 60 Learning Assistants (LAs). LAs responded positively to their experience teaching in the introductory course. Several have indicated an interest in teaching and will be returning as LAs next fall.
• Our first PhysTEC graduate, the lead Teaching Assistant in 2007-2008, working with the PhysTEC team, applied for and was awarded a St. Paul Teaching Fellowship. She completed her first year of teaching in a St. Paul high school and is working on her Physics Teaching licensure.
• A second physics graduate has completed his student teaching and will be looking for a full-time physics teaching position this fall.
• A third physics graduate was recently awarded a Noyce Scholarship and will be entering the physics teaching licensure program this fall.
• LAs and instructors in the program perceive the Teachers in Residence as a valuable part of the program, as they have current expertise about the classroom.
• An article was published in Connect, a magazine from the College of Education and Human Development,describing the PhysTEC program at UMn.
• An article and subsequent editorial was published in the Daily (student newspaper) describing the PhysTEC program and advocating for its expansion into other courses.
• An article was published in APS Forum on Education (FEd) newsletter describing the first year of PhysTEC at the UMn.
• We have convinced other departments, including Mathematics and Chemistry, to pilot the use of LAs in their introductory courses.