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Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech) is Virginia’s land-grant institution and a comprehensive, innovative research university with the largest number of degree offerings in Virginia. Their vision is to establish a vibrant hub for physics teacher education in Virginia, with significant impact on neighboring states and the nation.

The VT PhysTEC Project – a strong and committed collaboration between the Department of Physics and the School of Education – will encompass a vigorous recruitment effort, well coordinated course transformation initiatives, closely mentored early teaching experiences and a learning assistant program, a Teacher in Residence (TIR), and a supportive network for program alumni. Excellent, long-standing interactions with experienced physics teachers and schools across Virginia will help with placing students and provide feedback and advice for the project.

Virgina Tech has established the following project goals:

• Significantly increase the number of MAED graduates with undergraduate physics degrees (BA or BS), with licensure in Physics. The goal is to be graduating 6-8 highly qualified physics teachers per year by 2017.
• Build a model program in learner-centered introductory physics and astronomy, in collaboration with and supportive of other STEM efforts at Virginia Tech.
• Provide future teachers with early and realistic teaching experiences that are tightly connected to science methods courses on inquiry-based and learner-centered pedagogy.
• Create a professional development network of program alumni, offering physical and online meeting space, in collaboration with and supportive of existing mentoring programs.
• Create a culture of accountability to all partners and participants, through constant attention to improvement, assessment, and dissemination of program activities.

To achieve these goals, Virgina Tech will implement significant project activities which include:

• Enhancing recruitment efforts, with two major emphases: (1) increasing the number of incoming physics freshmen; and (2) advertising the VT PhysTEC Project to the large pool of students enrolled in introductory courses.
• Transforming several pilot sections of the calculus-based introductory physics courses from a traditional lecture format to the SCALE-UP framework, using the recently created SCALE-UP classrooms on campus. Learning Assistants (LAs) will become a key component of this transformation. The course transformation efforts will also include (i) the creation of a new physics pedagogy and methods course, to support the LA program and the early field experiences, (ii) the inclusion of physics-specific content in the existing science methods courses in the School of Education, and (iii) the development of a pre-engineering course for PhysTEC and other MAED candidates.

Additional activities include expanding existing programs, namely the Physics Outreach Team and the Robotics Program, to create two early field experiences for PhysTEC students; developing an alumni support program; and widely advertising PhysTEC activities.

Project Recruitment and Publicity

APS Forum on Education Article: The PhysTEC Program at Virginia Tech

Teachers In Residence

Alma Robinson 2011-2013