Alabama PhysTEC Program

J.W. Harrell, Stan Jones, Patrick LeClair, Tim Mewes, Dennis Sunal, Cynthia Sunal, Penni Wallace (TiR)

What is PhysTEC ?

• Physics Teacher Education Coalition – affiliated with AAPT, APS, and AIP. (http://phystec.org)

• Goal is to address the US high school teacher shortage problem

• More than 260 colleges and universities are PhysTEC members.

• A select number are funded each year to establish a model HS physics teacher preparation program.

UA PhysTEC

• 3-year award ($100K/yr) beginning Fall, 2012.• A collaboration with College of Education but

centered in Physics & Astronomy.• PhysTEC Faculty:

J.W. Harrell, Stan Jones, Patrick LeClair, Tim Mewes, Dennis Sunal (Ed), Cynthia Sunal (Ed).

(http://phystec.ua.edu)

Major Components of UA PhysTEC• Teacher-in-Residence (TiR). Experienced HS teacher

who spends the academic year in the department assisting with the program.

• Learning Assistants. UGTAs who take a physics pedagogy course and are mentored by physics faculty.

• Partnership with Alabama Science in Motion to provide early teaching experiences.

• Teachers Advisory Group• Curriculum development• Mentoring of new teachers

Need for HS Physics Teachers

• Number of US students taking HS physics is increasing, but there is a shortage of well-qualified teachers.

• Only a small fraction of HS physics teachers have significant training in physics. Most are teaching out of field.

• More than ¼ of Alabama students attend school where physics is not offered.

Penni Wallace, Teacher-in-Residence

• B.S. 1998, Mississippi State University, Chemistry-Physics Education

• M.A. 2001, University of Alabama, General Science• 1998-2002, Central High School– Conceptual Physics, Chemistry, Pre-IB Chemistry

• 2002-2012, Hillcrest High School– Physical Science, Chemistry, Physics, AP Physics B– Department chair, Lead Science Teacher for Tuscaloosa

County Schools, GK-12 grant, Building Alabama grant

ASIM High School Labs Course

• 22 Level 1 labs using Pasco equipment• Only site in state where pre-service teachers

are trained• Students meet 2 times per week

Mentoring New Teacher

• Tara Gernhardt, recent UA graduate, teaching at HHS on emergency certification– 2 first-year courses, AP Physics B

• Co-teaching approximately every 2 weeks• Training on ASIM labs• Class management, developing lesson plans,

pacing

Publicity

• Introducing program to classes• Talking to students• Visiting schools• Developing materials• Monthly newsletter

Challenges

• Only a relatively small fraction of students will want to teach.

• Certification process needs to be made clear (good advising) and eventually improved.

Opportunities

• Number of PH majors is rapidly increasing.

• Science in Motion• Scholarship support

(APEX)

APEX(Alliance for Physics Excellence)

(http://apex.aamu.edu/)

• NSF-MSP award to AAMU with UA as a partner. $8M/5yrs beginning fall, 2012

• Primary goal is to provide in-service training to ~ ¼ of HS physics teachers in Alabama (77 teachers + 11 ASIM specialists).

• 2-wk summer institutes + three 1.5 day in-service workshops for 3 years.

• Significant financial support for participants.

UA’s Role in APEX

• Extensive assessment of program effectiveness (led by D. Sunal, COE)

• Scholarships for pre-service teacher training- Ten 2-yr scholarships (junior/senior or masters

alt-cert). $16K/yr.- Must teach in high needs district in Alabama (1

year for each year of scholarship)- Will complement PhysTEC in recruiting future

physics teachers.

Thank you!

• Any questions?• Contact information:– jharrell@bama.ua.edu– dwsunal@bama.ua.edu– pwallace@tcss.net