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.
PhysTEC Library
PhysTEC Videos
PhysTEC Website
PhysTEC eBook: Teacher Education in Physics (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.
National Task Force on Teacher Education in Physics Website

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!
Joint Statement on the Education of Future Teachers and List of Endorsers

National Programs Preparing Physics Teachers

Intro to Noyce Video

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.
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.
UTeach Website
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.
Colorado Learning Assistant Program
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.
Science and Math Teacher Imperative

National Reports

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

Rising Above the Gathering Storm
National Academy of Sciences, National Academy of Engineering, and Institute of Medicine, 2005.
“Eight Questions on Teacher Preparation. What Does the Research Say?”
Education Commission of the States, 2003.
"Educating Teachers of Science, Mathematics, and Technology: New Practices for the New Millennium"
National Academy of Sciences/National Research Council, 2000.
"Teacher Quality: A Report on the Preparation and Qualifications of Public School Teachers"
National Center for Education Statistics. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Education, 1999.
"To Touch the Future: Transforming the Way Teachers are Taught. An Action Agenda for College and University Presidents "
American Council on Education, 1999.
“A Call for Teacher Education Reform: A Report of the AASCU Task Force on Teacher Education”
American Association of State Colleges and Universities, 1999.