Preparing Future Teachers

Improving Physics Teacher Education

Physics Teacher Education Coalition (PhysTEC)
PhysTEC is a joint APS-American Association of Physics Teachers (AAPT) project to improve and promote the education of future physics and physical science teachers. The PhysTEC project includes a network of more than 200 institutions dedicated to improving physics teacher education. PhysTEC has a digital library of resources on all aspects of physics teacher preparation.
Gray arrow  PhysTEC Library
Gray arrow  PhysTEC Videos
Gray arrow  PhysTEC Website
Gray arrow  PhysTEC eBook: Teacher Education in Physics Format - PDF (200 pages/20MB)

National Task Force on Teacher Education in Physics
In 2008, APS, AAPT, and the American Institute of Physics (AIP) formed the Task Force on Teacher Education in Physics to lead the physics community in a response to pressure for improvement in pre-college science education. The Task Force released a set of findings and recommendations in 2010.
Gray arrow  National Task Force on Teacher Education in Physics Report

Joint Statement on the Education of Future Teachers
In 1999, AIP and most of its member societies, including APS and AAPT, endorsed a statement calling for the physics community to take an active role in teacher preparation. Hundreds of institutions have endorsed the statement. Check for your physics department!
Gray arrow Joint Statement on the Education of Future Teachers and List of Endorsers


National Programs Preparing Physics Teachers

Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship Program
The NSF's Noyce Scholarship Program provides funding for scholarships, stipends, and programmatic support to recruit and prepare science and math majors and professionals to become K-12 teachers.
Gray arrow Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship Program

APS has produced an inspiring two-minute video introduction to the benefits of the Noyce Scholarship, as told by two Noyce Scholars and a program coordinator.

UTeach
The University of Texas's UTeach Program is now being replicated at universities around the country.
Gray arrow UTeach Website
Gray arrow 2011 Joint PhysTEC-UTeach Conference

Colorado Learning Assistant Program
The University of Colorado's Learning Assistant Program provides talented undergraduates an strongly supported and low-stress early teaching experiences that can encourage them to pursue teaching careers.
Gray arrow Colorado Learning Assistant Program
Gray arrow 2010 PhysTEC Learning Assistant Workshop

Science and Math Teacher Imperative
The Association of Public and Land-grant Universities' Science and Math Teacher Imperative engages public research universities to transform middle and high school science and math education.
Gray arrow Science and Math Teacher Imperative


National Reports

Reports and describing the need and providing recommendations for improving science and math teacher preparation.