Seattle Pacific University Project Report 2007
Recruitment
Successes
- Members of our TAG group presented their experience as teachers to all graduating science majors. One student followed up with a classroom visit to the TAG teacher’s classroom and has now decided to pursue teaching.
- A physics major from the University of Washington, after learning about the Noyce Scholarship at SPU for students seeking teaching certification and Master’s Degree in Education, started the Alternate Routes to Certification (ARC) program at SPU this summer.
- The physics faculty presented K12 physics teaching as a career option in each of the introductory physics courses. We encouraged students to consider the LA program if they were interested in teaching physics. This and other recruiting efforts produced a good turnout (~20) students interested in serving as LA’s for the upcoming year.
- We recruited two non-science majors to serve as Learning Assistants in science courses. We see this as a first step toward recruiting students with a strong aptitude for teaching and physics to consider science teaching as a career.
Challenges
- Physics students who have served as Learning Assistants develop a fairly sophisticated level of pedagogical content knowledge. When these students enter introductory education courses, they may not be sufficiently challenged.
Sustainability
- We plan to expand our recruitment efforts through our partnerships with local physics teachers at the high school and community college levels.
- We intend to institutionalize an annual TAG presentation to all senior science majors. This presentation will be an integral part of a senior capstone course which is taken by all science majors.
- We will continue to enhance the prestige and reach of our Learning Assistant program.
Lessons Learned
- At the end of the day, recruitment is about relationships. There is no substitute for letting someone know you think they would be a good physics teacher.
Activity Summary
- SPU is partnering with local two year colleges to identify and advise prospective physics teachers.
- The physics faculty presented K12 physics teaching as a career option in each of the introductory physics courses.
- Three TAG members presented their stories to all senior science majors.
- Members of our TAG group presented on their experience as teachers to all graduating science majors.
