Teaching High School Physics:

A resource for teacher preparation and professional development

by Carl Wenning & Rebecca Wenning-Vieyra

under construction

(Last updated 4/07/2009)

 

Chapters:

Unit A: So, you want to be a teacher!

  1. A career in physics teaching
  2. Why teach physics?
  3. A physics teacher candidate knowledge base

Unit B: Scientific Literacy

  1. Scientific literacy
  2. Science teaching standards

Unit C: Scientific knowledge and the nature of science

  1. Scientific epistemology
  2. Teaching the nature of science

Unit D: Scientific inquiry

  1. Understanding scientific inquiry
  2. Levels of scientific inquiry
  3. Conducting scientific inquiry

Unit E: Student learning

  1. Conceptual and procedural knowledge
  2. Teaching critical thinking and problem solving skills
  3. Student learning difficulties in physics (diagnoser.com)
  4. Alternative conceptions in science

Unit F: Teaching and learning

  1. Teaching and its relationship to learning
  2. Requirements for effective teaching

Unit G: Curriculum development and instructional planning

  1. Curriculum development
  2. Instructional planning

Unit H: Instructional delivery

  1. Instructional practices for the high school physics classroom and laboratory
  2. Implementing inquiry-based instruction in the science classroom
  3. A generic model for inquiry-oriented labs
  4. A framework for teaching the nature of science

Unit I: Metacognition and student self-regulation

  1. Metacognitive practices for student self-regulation
  2. SAAMEE: A model of academic success for students

Unit J: Assessments - Authentic and Multiple

  1. Assessing content knowledge as a component of scientific literacy
  2. Assessing inquiry skills as a component of scientific literacy
  3. Addressing nature of science as a component of scientific literacy

Unit K: Effective classroom atmospheres

  1. Minimizing resistance to inquiry-oriented science instruction: The importance of climate setting
  2. The four centers
  3. Class management

Unit L: Classroom conversation

  1. Discussion leadership and questioning strategies
  2. Engaging students in classroom dialogues
  3. Whiteboarding and Socratic dialogues

Unit M: The relevance of science

  1. Teaching in context
  2. Including social issues

Unit N: Legal, safety, and ethical concerns of science teaching

  1. Legal, safety, and ethical considerations
  2. Diversity, gender equity, and the gifted

Unit 0: Professional development

  1. The teaching philosophy
  2. Student teaching
  3. Being a new teacher
  4. Professional growth
  5. Recruiting the next generation of physics teachers

Appendices:

    1. Clinical experiences for teacher candidates