Physics Alternative Candidates' Understanding of Physics and Physics Teaching

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Physics Alternative Candidates' Understanding of
Physics and Physics Teaching

• Kathleen Falconer
• Dan MacIsaac
• Buffalo State College
• AAPT Summer 2006

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Introduction

• Teacher certification-NCLB
• Teacher Shortages in Physics
• Alternative Certification
• Attitudes and Beliefs about Science and Science
  Teaching
• Alt. Cert. Program
• lthttp//physicsed.buffalostate.edugt

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Research Questions

• What understandings do physics alternative
  certification candidates have about teaching and
  learning physics?
• 1. What are physics alternative certification
  candidates perceptions of their understanding of
  physics content?
• 2. What are their beliefs and values about
  physics content and physics teaching?
• 3. What are physics alternative certification
  candidates' perceptions of the teachers role in
  teaching physics and improving students
  understanding of physics content?
• 4. What are physics alternative certification
  candidates' understanding of the nature and
  culture of science?
• 5. How does this inform the physics alternative
  certification candidates' view of their practice?

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Literature Review

• Current reform movement in science and
  mathematics teaching
• Attitudes and Beliefs about Science and Science
  Teaching
• Teacher efficacy (Bandura, 1977) and their
  attitudes about science (Ruffell et. al., 1998)
  may have an effect on how they teach
• Mostly Elementary Education Teachers
• Alternative Certification
• Grounded Theory

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Methodology

• Participants
• Interviewed 8 of 16 Alt. Cert. Candidates
• Two in their first semester in program
• Four in middle of program
• Two almost/have completed program
• Six White Males, One Asian and One Hispanic
• Ages range from youngest to oldest in program
• Teaching

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Methodology

• Data Collection
• Semi-structured interviews
• Audio taped and transcribed
• Field Notes
• Grounded Theory
• Data Analysis
• Five Stages
• Recursive and on-going
• Diagram

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(No Transcript)
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Findings

• Themes
• Elitism vs. Egalitarianism
• The Alternative Certification Candidates in the
  program believe everyone can and should
  participate in physics courses.
• Time and Effort
• Solving Problems vs. Conceptual Understanding
• Teacher Content Knowledge
• Concepts
• PCK

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Findings

• Good Teaching and Improved Learning through
  Reformed Teaching
• Teacher as a guide and facilitator- The
  Alternative Certification Candidates view the
  teacher role as very different from the
  traditional role, many cite examples from the
  programs course instructors.
• The program helps the Alternative Certification
  Candidates develop a better understanding of
  physics.
• The Physics Alternative Certification Candidates
  viewed the traditional teaching of science,
  especially physics, as poorly done, now that they
  have seen different ways of teaching and realized
  how much introductory physics content they
  learned this way.

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Discussion and Conclusions

• Successful Physics Alternative Certification
  Candidates Prior to the Program
• dont know their own physics although they are
  well-educated (not news)
• dont know about research based instructional
  methods (very traditional views of pedagogy)
• dont know that they dont know these things
  (self image, delicate politically and challenging
  attitudinally). Arrive expecting tune-up and
  class management

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Discussion and Conclusions

• Successful Physics Alternative Certification
  Candidates After Participating in the Program
• successful candidates change quickly when they
  see student centered instruction (see a better
  way) and view and experience (via PER instruments
  and readings) research on same
• successful students quickly recognize own limited
  physics understanding after reformed courses with
  incorporated reflection (frequent shock some
  anger)
• successful candidates grow sophisticated
  vocabulary regarding reformed physics instruction
  and how students learn (discourse is a big
  feature)

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Discussion and Conclusions

• Successful Physics Alternative Certification
  Candidates After Participating in the Program
• surprisingly egalitarian view of physics learning
  (all can learn with time and adequate effort)
• surprisingly strong and insightful at real world,
  practical everyday examples and applications of
  physics, seemingly stronger with more
  professional experience