Capstone Discussion
(Under development; last revised 12/03/08)
Do you know how to teach high school physics? That's a good question, and one that you should ask yourself. A series of discussions at the end of PHY 311 - approximately the midpoint of your teacher preparation as far as pedagogical practices is concerned - is one way of helping you understand whether you really do know how to teach physics. To date, the PTE program has not given you a formula or set of steps to follow for teaching; rather, the program has focused on developing within you a broad and deep understanding of the problems associated with teaching high school physics. Based upon the PTE program's philosophy of teacher preparation, you are expected to apply what you know to the many uncertain situations that you will encounter during your professional teaching career. If you do really know how to teach high school physics, you should be able to provide ready answers to the following questions.
Pedagogical Concerns
Your value system will help you to address the following tensions that exist within science teaching at the high school level. How you answer them will show what you value as a teacher, and whether you are wise enough to achieve the proper balances between the tensions listed below
Tensions in Teaching
Paul Hickman, writing on the AAPT CTP-L listserv (January 30, 2008), was the inspiration for these "tensions in teaching" ideas: