AAPT.org - American Association of Physics Teachers

Committee on Teacher Preparation


Mission Statement
The role of the AAPT Committee on Teacher Preparation is to influence policy and activities within the AAPT that foster improvement of physics teacher preparation based on the research in physics learning and the physics teaching experience of the AAPT membership. The Committee will:
  1. Provide a forum and support the continued development of a strong and diverse coalition of institutions committed to using inquiry-based, problem-solving, and active-learning strategies in science courses they provide for secondary and elementary teachers of physics.
  2. Sponsor and co-sponsor sessions, workshops, and other activities to make AAPT members and the broader educational community aware of programs that produce teachers who better understand physics and how to teach it so that ALL students can experience physics as an important, engaging, and exciting activity.
  3. Offer assistance in the development of program standards and selection of curriculum for teacher preparation programs. Support AAPT sections in regional or state efforts related to certification/licensure, program requirements, and physics content tests for teachers of physics.
  4. Increase communication, collaboration, cooperation, and joint sponsorship of interactions with other national organizations that have improving teacher preparation as part of their organization's stated mission to share findings and experiences and to exchange constructive critical examination of the physics teacher preparation process.
  5. Develop a strong, working committee with wide representation from other area AAPT committees and liaisons from other organizations to expand and share the work of the committee in AAPT and beyond.

Reports
2012 Annual Committee Report
2011 Annual Committee Report
2010 Annual Committee Report
2009 Annual Committee Report
2008 Annual Committee Report
2007 Annual Committee Report
2006 Annual Committee Report
2005 Annual Committee Report

 

Connie Wells, Chair (2014)
Pembroke Hill School
Physics-Ward Parkway Campus
5121 State Line Road
Kansas City, MO United States 64112
Phone: (816) 936-1466
cwells@pembrokehill.org

Steven J. Maier, Vice Chair (2014)
Northwestern Oklahoma State University
709 Oklahoma Blvd
Science Bldg 107-B
Alva, OK United States 73717-2799
Phone: (580) 327-8562; Fax: (580) 327-8556
sjmaier@nwosu.edu

Wendy K. Adams (2016)
University of Northern Colorado
501 20th St
Greeley, CO United States 80639-6900
Phone: (970) 539-6154; Fax: (970) 352-3506
wendy.adams@colorado.edu

Cathy Mariotti Ezrailson (2016)
University of South Dakota
1301 Over Drive
Vermillion, SD United States 57069
Phone: (605) 677-5832; Fax: (605) 677-3201
cathy.ezrailson@usd.edu

Luanna S. Gomez (2016)
SUNY College At Buffalo
112 Mariner St
Buffalo, NY United States 14201
Phone: (716) 878-5639
gomezls@buffalostate.edu

Paula Heron (2014)
University of Washington
Dept of Physics
Box 351560
Seattle, WA United States 98195-1560
Phone: (206) 543-3894; Fax: (206) 543-9702
pheron@phys.washington.edu

David G. Schuster (2015)
Western Michigan Univ
Dept of Physics
1903 W Michigan Ave
Kalamazoo, MI United States 49008-5252
Phone: (269) 387-5844; Fax: (269) 387-4998
david.schuster@wmich.edu

Robert C. Hilborn, Ex Officio
AAPT
Office of the Executive Officer
One Physics Ellipse
College Park, MD United States 20740-3845
Phone: (301) 209-3311; Fax: (301) 209-0845
rhilborn@aapt.org

Susannah Hicks, Staff Liaison
American Association of Physics Teachers
Office of the Executive Officer
One Physics Ellipse
College Park, MD United States 20740-3845
Phone: (301) 209-3311; Fax: (301) 209-0845
shicks@aapt.org