July 13–17, 2013
Monday morning
55
Ceremonial Session: Welcome; 2013 AAPT Teaching Awards;
2013 Homer L. Dodge Citations for Distinguished Service
Location: Grand Ballroom I
Date: Monday, July 15
Time: 10:30 a.m.–12 p.m.
Presider: Gay Stewart Presenter: Jill Marshall
David Halliday and Robert Resnick Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Physics Teaching,
2013 – Michael Jackson
Michael Jackson, Department of Physics, Central Washington University, Ellensburg, WA 98926-7422;
Teaching Physics and Its Role in the Survival (and growth) of a Physics Program
The past six years has been a challenging but successful period for the faculty, staff, and students in the physics program at Central
Washington University (CWU). Despite budgetary cuts and reductions in faculty, the CWU physics program has about quadrupled the
number of majors and has achieved double digit graduation classes in physics. This can be attributed to the implementation or continu-
ation of a number of recommendations outlined in the SPIN-UP report including advising and mentoring, dual-degree programs,
and providing all majors with an undergraduate research experience. Instilling a collective ownership of the physics curriculum and a
genuine commitment to all aspects of excellent teaching has been key to creating a vibrant undergraduate physics community at CWU.
This presentation will outline some of the challenges the physics department has faced during this period and provide an overview of
what has changed and how these changes have been implemented.
Paul W. Zitzewitz Award for Excellence in Pre-College Physics Teaching, 2013 –
Thomas F. Haff
Thomas F. Haff, Issaquah High School, Issaquah, WA 98027;
Creating an Environment that Lets Learning Occur
Too many students are reluctant to take physics. Physics teachers are all too familiar with the reasons and arguments. When I have
asked colleagues what they teach, the typical answer is “physics” or “mathematics.” At Issaquah High School, I teach students physics…
not physics to students. The environment is such that the student is first and foremost. When this environment is created significant
physics learning occurs.
Homer L. Dodge Citations for Distinguished Service to AAPT
Michael Jackson
Thomas F. Haff
Daniel H. Phelps
University of British
Columbia,
St. Georges School,
and Columbia College
Bob Powell
Professor and Chair of Physics
and Director of the
Observatory,
University of West Georgia
