[Ike] NSF Physics Prep Program

[Weinand, Stacey]

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NSF FUNDS NEW PHYSICS TEACHER PREPARATION PROGRAM

A five-year, $5.76 million grant has been awarded by the National Science 
Foundation to the American Physical Society (APS), in partnership with the 
American Association of Physics Teachers (AAPT) and the American Institute
of 
Physics (AIP). These professional societies will create a nationwide 
initiative, the Physics Teacher Coalition (PhysTEC), to dramatically improve

the science preparation and teaching skills of future secondary and 
elementary teachers and to establish an Induction/Mentor program for new 
teachers.  "PhysTEC will be established with an initial set of six primary 
institutions and more than twenty-five universities and colleges that share
a 
strong commitment to revise their teacher preparation programs," according
to 
PhysTEC principal investigator Fredrick Stein.  "This includes improving the

preparation of both elementary and secondary science teachers."

The program incorporates exemplary components of past NSF-supported projects

that have proven to be successful in making long-term positive changes in 
teacher preparation. These include:
* A Teacher-in-Residence program that provides for a local K-12 science 
teacher to become a full-time participant in assisting faculty with both 
team-teaching and course revisions
* A long-term, active collaboration between the physics department, the 
education department, and the local school community 
* The redesign of content and pedagogy of targeted physics courses based on 
results from physics education research as well as utilization of
appropriate 
interactive technologies
* The redesign of content and pedagogy for elementary and secondary science 
methods courses with an emphasis on inquiry-based, hands-on approaches to 
teaching and learning
* The participation of physics faculty in increasing and improving 
field-based experiences of prospective teachers and in establishing an 
induction program and a mentor program for novice PhysTEC teachers 

In addition to assisting colleges and universities with improving the 
preparation of future teachers of physical science and physics at all
levels, 
APS/AAPT/AIP will broadly disseminate the best practices developed through 
these efforts. For additional information, contact Dr. Fredrick M. Stein, 
Director of Education and Outreach, American Physical Society, at 
301-209-3263 or via e-mail to stein at aps.org.