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Repairing the Illinois HS Physics Teacher Pipeline. Carl J. Wenning, Coordinator Physics Teacher Education Program Illinois State University 1994 - 2006. ISAAPT Pipeline Project. Created in 2004 with $500 AAPT Grant
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Repairing the Illinois HS Physics Teacher Pipeline Carl J. Wenning, Coordinator Physics Teacher Education Program Illinois State University 1994 - 2006
ISAAPT Pipeline Project • Created in 2004 with $500 AAPT Grant • Ad Hoc Committee charged with improving recruitment, preparation, and retention of HS physics teachers • Focused early efforts on review of the literature, survey research, and documentation of findings
Pipeline Wksp Oct ‘04 • Reported on findings from all areas of recruitment, preparation, and retention • Culminated in: • Illinois Physics Teacher Pipeline website: http://phy.ilstu.edu/pipeline/ • Executive Summary • Full Report (published in JPTEO) http://phy.ilstu.edu/jpteo/
Committee Efforts • Brochure - Become a High School Physics Teacher: Think about it! • Guidelines - Recruiting the Next Generation of HS Science Teachers • Webpage - A Career in Physics Teaching? Think about it!
ISU Efforts • Physics Teacher Education Program: • Physics Teacher Education Courses • Development of PTE program at ISU • Recent Publications • Brochure and Bookmark • Professional Development Activities: • PTRA Rural Institutes ‘01-‘05 • Chicago ITQ Science Project ‘05-‘07
Effort Effectiveness • ISU’s retention rate >90% for those who graduated 5 - 12 years ago • Nearly every graduate during past 5 years is still teaching HS physics • PTE graduation rate at all time high • PTE enrollment at an all time high...
Pending Activities • ISAAPT working with other Illinois science associations to publish and disseminate Pipeline publications • ISU seeking $5 million earmark - Illinois Institute for Science & Math Teacher Education
Remaining Challenges • Recruiting: inspiration, identification, & solicitation of good teacher candidates • Increasing female/minority enrollments • Cultivating PTE major-friendly faculty • Building/disseminating a research base • Professionalizing teacher preparation