Physics Teacher Education ~ Problems and Solutions

1. Physics Teacher Education~Problems and Solutions Dr. Carl J. Wenning Department of Physics Illinois State University cwenning@ilstu.edu

2. National Problems • Nationwide… • 1.1M students are taking physics with 23k teachers. • there are 1,200 “new hire” physics teachers annually. • only about 1/3 of new hires have a degree in physics or physics teaching. • Nationally there are not enough… • high school physics teachers. • physics teacher education majors. • quality teacher preparation programs. OSU Seminar

3. Local Problems • Ultimately all problems are local. • How do we do a better job of recruiting, preparing, and retaining high school physics teachers? • Several successful PTE models exist: • PhysTEC/PTEC • UTeach • Other university models: • Rutgers University • SUNY College at Buffalo • Western Michigan University • Illinois State University OSU Seminar

4. Classification of Problems • Recruitment– How do we entice high school students into physics teaching careers? • Preparation – How do we best educate our candidates so that they know and are able to do the work of the physics teacher? • Retention– How do we keep recently certified physics teachers working in the classroom? OSU Seminar

5. Illinois Pipeline Project • Using a $500 AAPT mini grant, the ISAAPT started the Illinois Pipeline Project in 2004. • Our first step was to examine the existing situation in Illinois. • Our second step was to initiate marketing. We decided to: • identify the appeal of physics teaching, • communicate availability of programs, and • promote superior quality products. OSU Seminar

6. Recruitment Recommendations • Direct practices: • Student brochure/teacher booklet/web sites • Campus visits, mailings, phone calls • Departmental scholarship program • Solicitation of non-PTE majors/advising • Indirect practices: • Program graduates • Workshops for in-service teachers • PTE programs with significant Web presence • Learning and outreach assistants OSU Seminar

7. ISAAPT Recruitment Resources • Brochure and booklet published jointly by three state science teacher associations in 2007. • Illinois Science Teaching Web site • ISAAPT.org/teach Web site • Detailed recommendations in a JPTEO report OSU Seminar

8. Preparation: A conundrum… • How does one develop a large body of PTE majors unless one has a program of quality? • How does one develop a program of quality unless one has a large body of PTE majors? • Illinois State University appears to have solved the conundrum. OSU Seminar

9. ISU PTE Majors by Year OSU Seminar

10. ISU PTE Grads by Year OSU Seminar

11. Evolution of PTE@ISU • “Development of the physics teacher educ- ation program at Illinois State University (an APS Forum on Education article) • “Change principles for departmentally-based physics teacher education program” (a JPTEO article). Change predicated on: • a commitment to programmatic change • an understanding of how to initiate change • adequate release time to make changes • modeling of appropriate teaching practices • a faculty that supports change efforts OSU Seminar

12. PTE Major Preparation @ ISU • Begins early and is prolonged. • Supported with good advisement. • Consists of six required undergraduate physics teaching methods courses, and includes independent study for those interested in: • Modeling Mechanics • Models of Light • CASTLE • Other 2nd semester topics from Modeling • Amusement Park Physics • Physics by Inquiry OSU Seminar

13. Physics Teaching Courses • Required undergraduate courses: • PHY 209 - Introduction to Teaching HS Physics • PHY 302 - Computer Applications in HS Physics • PHY 310 - Readings for Teaching HS Physics • PHY 311 - Teaching HS Physics • PHY 312 - Inquiry Methods for HS Physics • PHY 353 - Student Teaching Seminar • STT399.72 - Student Teaching in Physics • Numerous graduate courses available. OSU Seminar

14. Other Notable Aspects • Service Learning Project (209) • Urban Studies Field Trip (209) • Capstone Research Project (302) • Case Studies in Tutoring (310) • Diagnostic Learning Environment Project (311) • Lesson Study Project (311) • Theory-into-Practice Project (311) • NOS Case Studies (311, 312) • Social Context Project (353) • STT Effectiveness Reporting System (353) OSU Seminar

15. PTE@ISU Web Site • Program overview • Goals of teacher preparation • Philosophy of preparation • Student knowledge base • Course syllabi • Objectives • Activities • Assessments OSU Seminar

16. Retention in Physics Teaching • 54 PTE graduates since 1995 (including 2 alternative certification candidates) • 87% are still in the teaching field • It is our belief that quality preparation leads to retention in teaching • Now initiating an e-mentoring program for graduates to promote and sustain quality teaching, and retain teachers OSU Seminar

17. Current Retention Practices • ISAAPT guidebook program • Professional development workshops: • Modeling Method of Instruction • Problem-based Learning • Summer on-campus and on-line graduate courses for in-service teachers • PTE@ISU alumni group: • Listserv news & updates • Regional reunions OSU Seminar

18. Initiatives for 2009 • New/crossover teacher workshops • Applying for a $2,000 AAPT mini grant • Joint venture of ISAAPT and CS-AAPT • Teaching High School Physics, a new textbook • National Institute for Physics Teacher Educators • 5-year NSF proposal, targeted MSP • Development of PTE resources • Development of three levels of PTE curricula • Profession development for 96 PTE coordinators • Possibly working with AAPT and PTRA • If interested, contact cwenning@ilstu.edu OSU Seminar