Undergraduate Education Committee
Physics Education and Teaching Resources
| Scroll down or skip to
|
 |
Disclaimer:
The following resources are maintained as a courtesy to the physics
community. This list is not meant to be comprehensive or exhaustive but
representative of the resources available both on the Web and in
traditional printed formats.
Physics Teaching Resources
One of the most comprehensive resources for those looking into the
resources for teaching physics is
"Resource Letter EPGA-1:The education of physics graduate assistants",
E. Leonard Jossem, Am. J. Phys. 68 (6), 502-512, 2000
Though Jossem was writing primarily for the teaching education of
physics graduate assistants anyone teaching in physics should have this
resource letter near at hand. It provides a comprehensive list of teaching
resources, instructional strategies, conference proceedings and a formidable
bibliography on all aspects of teaching physics.
Two books which are worth the time to study for anyone, new or experienced,
teaching introductory physics are
Teaching Introductory Physics:A Sourcebook
Clifford E. Swartz and Thomas Miner, (Springer-Verlag, New
York,1998)
Teaching Introductory Physics
Arnold B. Arons (Wiley, New York, 1997)
The book by Swartz and Miner (both former editors of The Physics
Teacher) contains practical advice on teaching the topics of the
introductory physics curriculum. The book by Arons (which contains his
previous book A Guide to Introductory Physics Teaching) is a
marvelous introduction to the nature of the misconceptions students possess
and the conceptual barriers they encounter as they study physics.
Two other books which have useful and practical teaching suggestions based on PER outcomes are
Teaching Physics with the Physics Suite
Edward F. Redish, (John Wiley and Sons, New
York, 2003)
Five Easy Lessons: Strategies for Successful Physics Teaching
Randall D. Knight, (Addison-Wesley, New
York, 2002)
Once the mechanics of teaching are in hand, teachers should turn to the
results of the physics education
research community or to the various curricular
innovations to explore how to help
their students learn physics more effectively.
Also the resources listed below might be useful.
Students
"On the problem of making science attractive for women and Minorities: An
annotated bibliography",
J.M. Yarrison-Rice, Am. J. Phys. 63 (3), 203-211, 1995
"Student expectations in introductory physics",
E. F. Redish, J.M. Saul, and R.N. Steinberg, Am. J. Phys. 66 (3),
221-224, 1998
"Guest comment: Why undergraduates leave the sciences",
E. Seymour, Am. J. Phys. 63 (3), 199-202, 1995
"Learning physics vs. passing courses",
H. Lin, Phys. Teach. 20 (3), 151-157, 1982
Some of these sites may be useful to your students. But warn them not confuse an hour
browsing the WEB for an hour of study.
Demonstrations
"Resource Letter PhD-1:Physics Demonstrations",
J.A. Davis and B. G. Eaton, Am. J. Phys. 47 (6), 835-840, 1979
Some useful demo sites for physics teachers.
Back to TOP
Physics Education Research
A recent very authoratative resource for those looking into the
extent, nature, and results of research in physics education is
"Resource Letter PER-1:Physics Education Research",
Lillian C. McDermott and Edward F. Redish, Am. J. Phys. 67 (9),
755-767, 1999
The resource letter has a formidable bibliography on the objectives,
methods of study, content, and results of the physics education research
community.
Recent books looking at the challenges and promise of combining the
results of physics education research and teacher education are
Connecting Research in Physics Education with Teacher Education
edited by Anree Tiberghien, E. Leonard Jossem, and Jorge Barojas
(ICPE Book,1998,1999)
http://www.physics.ohio-state.edu/~jossem/ICPE/BOOKS.html
Physics By Inquiry V.1, V.2
Lillian C. McDermott and the Physics Education Group at the University
of Washington
(Wiley, New York, 1996)
Three articles which capture the method and spirit of research in
physics education.
"Research on conceptual understanding in physics",
L.C. McDermott, Phys Today 37 (7), 24-32, 1984
"Learning to think like a physicist: A review of research-based
instructional strategies",
A. Van Heuvelen, Am. J. Phys. 59 (10),
891-897, 1991
"Scientific approaches to science education",
F. Reif, Phys. Today 39 (11), 48-54, 1986
There are now so many groups pursuing physics education research that
listing them all poses a formidable task. A partial list can be found below, at
the Educational Resource page of the American Physical Society,
http://www.aps.org/educ/resources/education.cfm, or in
Resource Letter EPGA-1:The Education of Physics Graduate Assistants
by Leonard Jossem mentioned above.
The sites listed below are representative of the many sites available. Most
of these sites list the programs they are pursuing, the people involved,
and a
bibliography of their work. Most also have links to other PER groups and several
have their papers online. It would be worth while to visit a selection of
sites to find the one(s) which is(are) most informative to you.
Back to TOP
Curricular Innovations
The physics community undergoes aperiodic self-evaluations where we look
at the way we teach physics. Normally we are unhappy with the results.
What is new about the present wave of reforms is the depth to which the
physics education research community is adding to our understanding of what we are
doing wrong and what we are doing right.
This educational reform wave is beginning to be felt as viable education resources
in curricular materials. The IUPP was one broad effort of the physics
community to look at developing alternative educational materials.
"The Introductory University Physics Project 1987-1995: What has it accomplished?"
L.A. Coleman, D.F. Holcomb, and John S. Rigden
Am. J. Phys. 66, (2), 124-137 (1998)
Some of the most persistent reforms already have a substantial resource
base.
- National Task Force on Undergraduate Physics An effort
to extend and maintain the revitilization of physics educational
reform.
- Project Galileo -
an NSF sponsored site which is serving as a clearing house for innovative
curricular programs in the sciences.
- Activity Based Physics information on the Activity Based Physics project, a joint program by a number of groups to integrate a number of curricular innovations into a Physics Suite.
- WorkShop Physics - an activity-based curriculum. The page contains information on the Project.
-
Tutorials in Introductory Physics - A page on the site of the Physics
Education Group at Washington University which describes the text
by L.C. McDermott, P.S Shaffer and the PEG. The text contains much of their
ground-breaking results researching physics education.
- WEB
Physics - a site devoted to using WEB technology to teach and learn
undergraduate physics, primarily at the intro level. The page contains
links to course syllabi, physlets, student work etc.
- Just in Time
Teaching - a program devoted to using WEB technology to teach and learn
intro level physics.
Back to TOP
General Teaching Resources
The number of books and articles on teaching and teaching techniques
are almost innumerable (or at least too many to try). A visit to your
library will most likely yield a substantial list. Or you may check in
with Jossem's resource letter EGPA listed above.
Three books which are worth perusing are
Science Teaching Reconsidered: A Handbook
NAS/NRC Committee on Undergraduate Science Education
(National Academy, Washington DC, 1997)
How People Learn: Brain, Mind, Experience, and School
Edited by John D. Bransford, Ann L. Brown, and Rodney R. Cocking
NRC Committee on Developments on the Science of Learning
(National Academy, Washington DC, 1999)
Evaluating and Improving Undergraduate Teaching in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics
NAS/NRC Committee on Undergraduate Science Education
(National Academy, Washington DC, 2003)
There are now numerous centers promoting teaching excellence which
maintain substantial resources available online. Most of these listed have
short articles on teaching, teaching handbooks, and bibliographies on teaching and learning. A
few have links to other centers.
Back to TOP
Resources for Departmental Review
The physics community extends beyond the classroom. And the department should periodically examine itself to insure that a healthy, dynamic and productive environment is in place for all of its members -- faculty, students and staff.
A view of the resources that a deparment can use to measure itself are
Guidelines for Self-Study and External Evaluation of Undergraduate Physics Program
American Association of Physics Teachers, 2005
A joint project of the Area Committee on Physics in Undergaduate Education and the Area Committee on Professional Concerns of the AAPT. The pamphlet is indended to assist departments in a reflective evaluation of the undergraduate experience. Endorsed by the Committee on Education of the APS.
Strategic Programs for Innovations in Undergraduate Physics: Project Report
Robert Hilborn, Ruth H. Howes, Kenneth S. Krane, Editors
The SPIN-UP report on NTFUP's visits to successful physics programs.
Strategic Programs for Innovations in Undergraduate Physics at Two-year Colleges
Mary Beth Monroe, Thomas L. O'Kuma, Warren Hein
The SPIN-UP/TYC report on NTFUP's visits to successful physics programs at two-year colleges.
Why Many Undergraduate Programs Are Good, But Few Are Great
Robert C. Howes and Ruth H. Howes
Physics Today, September 2003
A summary of the SPIN-UP report.
What Works for Women in Undergraduate Physics?
Barbara L. Whitten, Suzanne R. Foster and Margaret L. Duncombe
Physics Today, September 2003
Report on a series of visits to undegraduate physics programs.
Back to TOP
Other Organizations
This resource list is hardly unique or comprehensive. A few of the sites
maintained by organizations similar to ours are listed below.
Back to TOP
Back to the Homepage of the Committee
AAPT
Last updated 30 August 2005