There are many programs for the professional development of high school physics teachers that have proven to be effective in preparing these teachers to conduct inquiry-based activities in the classroom. In this paper, we describe a small-scale professional development program called the Physics Van Inservice Institute. During the program, teachers are engaged in inquiry-based physics modules and are then able to borrow the equipment so that they can conduct the activities in their own classes.
REFERENCES
1.
Information on these examples of established professional development programs for high school physics teachers can be found on the program web pages at: http://modeling.asu.edu/modeling-HS.html, http://www.phys.washington.edu/groups/peg, and http://www.sci.sdsu.edu/CRMSE/fgoldberg.html.
2.
For general information on mobile science instruction programs, see http://services.juniata.edu/ScienceInMotion. The site discusses the program in Pennsylvania and provides links to other programs throughout the United States. Additional information about the programs in Pennsylvania, North Carolina, and Alabama can be found in the following papers: Donald Mitchell, “Long term support for science partnerships,” Proceedings of the Conference on K-12 Outreach from University Science Departments 35 (2000); Gary L. Long, “Mobile chemistry laboratory: Outreach to high schools,” Proceedings of the Conference on K-12 Outreach from University Science Departments 50 (2004), and John Halbrooks, “Alabama science in motion,” Proceedings of the Conference on K-12 Outreach from University Science Departments 56 (2004).
3.
For more information on the Chemistry Van program at CSU see the program web page at http://www.csu.edu/ChemistryAndPhysics/projects.htm#chemvan.
4.
The University of Washington uses this approach extensively in its instructional materials. For more information on the process of elicit, confront, resolve, see
L. C.
McDermott
, Oersted Medal Lecture 2001: “Physics education research: The key to student learning,”
Am.J. Phys.
69
, 1127
(Nov. 2001
).5.
The external evaluation was conducted by Lisa M. Mehlig, Evaluation & Survey Services.
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© 2007 American Association of Physics Teachers.
2007
American Association of Physics Teachers
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