Physics Teacher Quality

ORAL

Abstract

Physics Teacher Quality at Angelo State University (ASU) and Education Service Center Region XV is funded through a US Department of Education grant. In this program secondary science teachers from local and rural districts within Region XV learn and practice physics and principles of technology concepts emphasized in the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS), improve practice of 5E model of guided inquiry, and complete activity-based laboratories and field investigations. Investigations include field and laboratory safety, environmental responsibility, ethical practices, application of scientific methods to open-ended problems encountered in the physical sciences, and critical thinking and problem solving. Teachers are assessed through pre- and post- testing, lab practicum, and classroom observation over a two-year cycle. Assessment data from 2004 through 2008 indicates Physics Teacher Quality is changing teaching behavior in the secondary classroom.

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Authors

  • Sacha Kopp

    Texas Lutheran, Texas Lutheran University, Bastrop ISD, Lego Education, LEGO Education, South Texas Chapter, Health Physics Society, Waxahachie Early College High School, Navarro College, and Texas A\&M Commerce, PTRA/AAPT, National Instruments, Department of Physics, University of Texas at Austin, Texas A&M University - Commerce, University of Dallas, Austin Community College, Angelo State University, K-12 Science Consultant Birdville ISD, Energy Institute, University of Texas at Austin, Southern Univertisy Baton Rouge, Univ. of Arkansas, Univ. of Central Florida, JQI, NIST and Univ. of Maryland, UT Austin, Center for Ultrafast Optical Science, University of Michigan, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, University of Texas at Austin, Lockheed Martin, NASA, South Plains College, LBNL-ALS, Berkeley, Denison U., Granville, U. of Nevada, Reno, Justus-Liebig-Universitat, Giessen, Western Michigan U., Kalamazoo, University of Texas at Austin, Department of Physics, Institute for Applied Physics, University of Muenster

  • Sacha Kopp

    Texas Lutheran, Texas Lutheran University, Bastrop ISD, Lego Education, LEGO Education, South Texas Chapter, Health Physics Society, Waxahachie Early College High School, Navarro College, and Texas A\&M Commerce, PTRA/AAPT, National Instruments, Department of Physics, University of Texas at Austin, Texas A&M University - Commerce, University of Dallas, Austin Community College, Angelo State University, K-12 Science Consultant Birdville ISD, Energy Institute, University of Texas at Austin, Southern Univertisy Baton Rouge, Univ. of Arkansas, Univ. of Central Florida, JQI, NIST and Univ. of Maryland, UT Austin, Center for Ultrafast Optical Science, University of Michigan, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, University of Texas at Austin, Lockheed Martin, NASA, South Plains College, LBNL-ALS, Berkeley, Denison U., Granville, U. of Nevada, Reno, Justus-Liebig-Universitat, Giessen, Western Michigan U., Kalamazoo, University of Texas at Austin, Department of Physics, Institute for Applied Physics, University of Muenster