Summer PTRA Workshop for High School Physics Teachers

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Summer PTRA Workshop for High School Physics
Teachers

• Teresa Burns
• Coastal Carolina University
• AAPT Spring 2003

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Also Starring

• Louis Keiner
• Jim Nelson
• Richard Borst
• Nina Morley-Daye
• Don Franklin
• Larry Badar

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Physics Teachers Resource Agents

• TO DEVELOP WORKSHOP LEADER'S MANUALS.These
  manuals are designed to serve as a resource for
  the workshop leader and for the practicing
  teachers who attend PTRA workshops.
• TO DO OUTREACH WORKSHOPSat local or regional
  sites. This is the PTRA way of spreading the
  excitement of teaching and learning physics.
• TO ESTABLISH A SYSTEM FOR THE LONG TERM
  CONTINUATIONof the PTRA workshops without
  relying on a continuing infusion of direct
  federal funding.

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Coastal chosen as Rural Initiative Site

• Centrally located to many rural school districts

Co PIs Larry Badar, Northwestern University
Jim Nelson, Seminole County School
District, Florida
Continuing Funding from the National Science
Foundation.
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Logistics

• Identify and contact school districts
• Room and board for the participants PTRA pays
• Provide logistical support during the workshop

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Workshop Goals

• Teach participants physics concepts in a PTRA
  workshop environment
• Forge connections between teachers in the rural
  school districts
• Identify potential future PTRAs

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Workshop Organization

• 3 sets of workshops over a 4 day period
• Organized around Threads of Knowledge
• Lead by PTRAs
• Remain constant at a site

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• Extensive written take home materials
• Make and Take demo equipment
• Professional development credits several ways
• Graduate credit through CCU,
• Prof. Dev. credits through the AAPT
• Through school district directly

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• Connections between participants
• Participants were encouraged to eat lunch
  together on campus
• Organized Social evening
• Snacks during breaks
• Ample time to hang out and talk

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43 participants from 11 South Carolina counties

• Horry
• Georgetown
• Marion
• Dillon
• Williamsburg
• Florence (rural sds)
• Berkeley
• Charleston
• Darlington
• Orangeburg
• Lexington

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How did the participants like the workshop?

• - Time was well-used
• -  Activities were relevant and appropriate
• - Instructors were great
• - Nice materials that will be helpful in my
  classroom
• - Pace was good

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• I was surprised at what I discovered after having
  experienced what my students experience when
  working with different personalities in your
  group! Probably something we all should realize!

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Our Challenges

• Three-year cycle
• Only very limited number of repeaters
• Two workshops during the school year
• Teachers find it hard to participate
• Interest low in national PTRA program

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Our Offer!

• Stipend that grows with hours in program
• Room and Board
• Travel Reimbursements
• Classroom supplies
• Calculator and Computer-based training
• Follow-ups (count toward stipend)
• Graduate Credit
• BUT
• Three-year commitment with attendance during the
  year

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Interested?

• Contact Teresa or Louis
• Pick up flyer and application at registration
  table

Visit our website http//kingfish.coastal.edu/phy
sics/
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Thank you for your attention!