Dr. Carl J. WenningDr. Carl J. WenningDepartment of PhysicsDepartment of PhysicsIllinois State UniversityIllinois State University

cwenning@ilstu.educwenning@ilstu.edu

Nationwide…Nationwide… 1.1M students are taking physics with 23k 1.1M students are taking physics with 23k

teachers. teachers. there are 1,200 “new hire” physics teachers there are 1,200 “new hire” physics teachers

annually.annually. only about 1/3 of new hires have a degree in only about 1/3 of new hires have a degree in

physics or physics teaching.physics or physics teaching. Nationally there are not enough…Nationally there are not enough…

high school physics teachers.high school physics teachers. physics teacher education majors.physics teacher education majors. quality teacher preparation programs.quality teacher preparation programs.

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Ultimately all problems are local.Ultimately all problems are local. How do How do wewe do a better job of recruiting, do a better job of recruiting,

preparing, and retaining high school physics preparing, and retaining high school physics teachers?teachers?

Several successful PTE models exist:Several successful PTE models exist: PhysTEC/PTECPhysTEC/PTEC UTeachUTeach Other university models:Other university models:

Rutgers UniversityRutgers University SUNY College at BuffaloSUNY College at Buffalo Western Michigan UniversityWestern Michigan University Illinois State UniversityIllinois State University

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RecruitmentRecruitment – How do we – How do we entice high school students into entice high school students into physics teaching careers? physics teaching careers?

Preparation Preparation – How do we best – How do we best educate our candidates so that educate our candidates so that they know and are able to do they know and are able to do the work of the physics teacher?the work of the physics teacher?

RetentionRetention – How do we keep – How do we keep recently certified physics recently certified physics teachers working in the teachers working in the classroom?classroom?

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Using a $500 AAPT mini grant, the Using a $500 AAPT mini grant, the ISAAPT started the ISAAPT started the Illinois Pipeline Project Illinois Pipeline Project in 2004.in 2004.

Our first step was to examine the existing Our first step was to examine the existing situation in Illinois.situation in Illinois.

Our second step was to initiate Our second step was to initiate marketing. We decided to:marketing. We decided to: identify the appeal of physics teaching,identify the appeal of physics teaching, communicate availability of programs, andcommunicate availability of programs, and promote superior quality products.promote superior quality products.

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Direct practices:Direct practices: Student brochure/teacher booklet/web sitesStudent brochure/teacher booklet/web sites Campus visits, mailings, phone callsCampus visits, mailings, phone calls Departmental scholarship programDepartmental scholarship program Solicitation of non-PTE majors/advisingSolicitation of non-PTE majors/advising

Indirect practices:Indirect practices: Program graduatesProgram graduates Workshops for in-service teachersWorkshops for in-service teachers PTE programs with significant Web presencePTE programs with significant Web presence Learning and outreach assistantsLearning and outreach assistants

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Brochure and booklet published jointly by Brochure and booklet published jointly by three state science teacher associations in three state science teacher associations in 2007.2007.

Illinois Science Teaching Web site ISAAPT.org/teach Web site Detailed recommendations in a JPTEO

report04/20/23 OSU Seminar Slide 7 of 18

How does one develop a large How does one develop a large body of PTE majors unless one body of PTE majors unless one has a program of quality?has a program of quality?

How does one develop a How does one develop a program of quality unless one program of quality unless one has a large body of PTE has a large body of PTE majors?majors?

Illinois State University Illinois State University appears to have solved the appears to have solved the conundrum.conundrum.

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““Development of the physics teacher Development of the physics teacher educ- ation program at Illinois State educ- ation program at Illinois State University University (an (an APS APS Forum on EducationForum on Education article)article)

““Change principles for departmentally-Change principles for departmentally-based physics teacher education based physics teacher education program” program” (a (a JPTEOJPTEO article). article). Change predicated on:Change predicated on: a commitment to programmatic changea commitment to programmatic change an uan understanding of how to initiate changenderstanding of how to initiate change adequate release time to make changesadequate release time to make changes modeling of appropriate teaching practicesmodeling of appropriate teaching practices a faculty that supports change effortsa faculty that supports change efforts

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Begins early and is prolonged.Begins early and is prolonged. Supported with good advisement.Supported with good advisement. Consists of six required undergraduate Consists of six required undergraduate

physics teaching methods courses, and physics teaching methods courses, and includes independent study for those includes independent study for those interested in:interested in: Modeling MechanicsModeling Mechanics Models of LightModels of Light CASTLECASTLE Other 2Other 2ndnd semester topics from Modeling semester topics from Modeling Amusement Park PhysicsAmusement Park Physics Physics by InquiryPhysics by Inquiry

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Required undergraduate courses:Required undergraduate courses: PHY 209 - PHY 209 - Introduction to Teaching HS PhysicsIntroduction to Teaching HS Physics PHY 302 - PHY 302 - Computer Applications in HS Computer Applications in HS

PhysicsPhysics PHY 310 - PHY 310 - Readings for Teaching HS PhysicsReadings for Teaching HS Physics PHY 311 - PHY 311 - Teaching HS PhysicsTeaching HS Physics PHY 312 - PHY 312 - Inquiry Methods for HS PhysicsInquiry Methods for HS Physics PHY 353 - PHY 353 - Student Teaching SeminarStudent Teaching Seminar STT399.72 - STT399.72 - Student Teaching in PhysicsStudent Teaching in Physics

Numerous graduate courses available.Numerous graduate courses available.

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Service Learning Project (209)Service Learning Project (209) Urban Studies Field Trip (209)Urban Studies Field Trip (209) Capstone Research Project (302)Capstone Research Project (302) Case Studies in Tutoring (310)Case Studies in Tutoring (310) Diagnostic Learning Environment Project Diagnostic Learning Environment Project

(311) (311) Lesson Study Project (311)Lesson Study Project (311) Theory-into-Practice Project (311)Theory-into-Practice Project (311) NOS Case Studies (311, 312)NOS Case Studies (311, 312) Social Context Project (353)Social Context Project (353) STT Effectiveness Reporting System (353)STT Effectiveness Reporting System (353)

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Program overviewProgram overview Goals of teacher preparationGoals of teacher preparation Philosophy of preparationPhilosophy of preparation Student knowledge baseStudent knowledge base

Course syllabiCourse syllabi ObjectivesObjectives ActivitiesActivities AssessmentsAssessments

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54 PTE graduates since 1995 (including 2 54 PTE graduates since 1995 (including 2 alternative certification candidates)alternative certification candidates)

87% are still in the teaching field87% are still in the teaching field It is our belief that quality preparation It is our belief that quality preparation

leads to retention in teachingleads to retention in teaching Now initiating an e-mentoring program Now initiating an e-mentoring program

for graduates to promote and sustain for graduates to promote and sustain quality teaching, and retain teachersquality teaching, and retain teachers

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ISAAPT guidebook programISAAPT guidebook program Professional development workshops:Professional development workshops:

Modeling Method of InstructionModeling Method of Instruction Problem-based LearningProblem-based Learning

Summer on-campus and on-line graduate Summer on-campus and on-line graduate courses for in-service teacherscourses for in-service teachers

PTE@ISU alumni group:PTE@ISU alumni group: Listserv news & updatesListserv news & updates Regional reunionsRegional reunions

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New/crossover teacher workshopsNew/crossover teacher workshops Applying for a $2,000 AAPT mini grantApplying for a $2,000 AAPT mini grant Joint venture of ISAAPT and CS-AAPTJoint venture of ISAAPT and CS-AAPT

Teaching High School Physics, Teaching High School Physics, a new textbooka new textbook National Institute for Physics Teacher National Institute for Physics Teacher

EducatorsEducators 5-year NSF proposal, targeted MSP5-year NSF proposal, targeted MSP Development of PTE resourcesDevelopment of PTE resources Development of three levels of PTE curriculaDevelopment of three levels of PTE curricula Profession development for 96 PTE coordinatorsProfession development for 96 PTE coordinators Possibly working with AAPT and PTRAPossibly working with AAPT and PTRA If interested, contact If interested, contact cwenning@ilstu.educwenning@ilstu.edu

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