A Greater Impact on Physics Education

The American Association of Physics Teachers A Greater Impact on Physics Education

Across 75 years of leadership and AAPT is a valued AAPT is an advocacy service, AAPT has aimed to advance membership society. movement of value. physics through teaching at all levels. With a current membership nearing Through representation and public forums, Building on our many successes, 10,500, we are the leading resource and we play a leading role in the arena of public advocate for physics educators. Through policy on behalf of our members and all we are expanding the reach and our publications, we facilitate a dialogue physics practitioners—and in support of effectiveness of our programs and and the dissemination of new ideas about the cause of physics education. the teaching of physics, general practices AAPT reaches across the spectrum services within the global community. and happenings in physics education, and of physics education, from kindergarten conditions that influence our practice as through research universities. Among physics educators. our members are pre-college teachers We are first and Through our two annual national at various levels; students and faculty at meetings, we bring together physics two-year colleges, liberal arts colleges, and foremost a community faculty and students from high schools, comprehensive and research universities; of professionals. colleges and universities to share the latest and foundations and national labs. Our members share a great passion techniques in physics teaching. We also Our programs serve diverse for physics and a strong commitment to hold workshops and symposia on a variety constituencies. We are proud of these teaching. We embrace the broadest, most of topics for diverse audiences. communities and we look for ways to create inclusive definition of teaching, which Our signature programs cover all facets stronger synergy among its members and includes undergraduate research. We of physics education. They include in- energize interactions among them. AAPT share the perspective that effective physics service teacher programs, collaborative is uniquely positioned to address their teaching is the ability to inform, engage, efforts in teacher education, digital diverse needs and speak on their behalf. and inspire students of diverse backgrounds resource development, and professional Our members are involved through and interests in the study of physics. development workshops. meaningful committee work and We support physics for the love of it, content development in shaping physics for its ability to stretch our minds and our Advancing physics education nationally. appreciation of the world around us, and for its inherent value as a basic science that through teaching supports advanced career preparation and is our mission. Fulfilling it the greater good. is our obligation. PUBLICATIONS SERVICES A Greater American Journal of Physics—A peer-reviewed AAPT-PTRA—A comprehensive in-service ImpactImpact journal on the teaching and cultural aspects of teaching program led by specially certified physical science. master teachers, the Physics Teaching Resource NEW Interactions Across Physics and Education— Agents—funded in part by NSF. onPhysicsPhysics A general-interest magazine on physics education. STUDENT OUTREACH The Physics Teacher—A peer-reviewed journal/ Education The U.S. Physics Contests and International magazine on introductory physics at the Olympiad Team—Administered by AAPT on pre-college and university levels. behalf of the American Institute of Physics and AAPT NEWS—A monthly, web-based digest of its member societies. the latest physics and education news of interest Sponsorship of the Intel International Science to the AAPT community. and Engineering Fair, Team America Rocketry RESOURCES Challenge, and the Science Talent Show. Physical Science Resource Center— NATIONAL MEETINGS A comprehensive electronic collection of Winter and Summer meetings with plenary and teaching materials and ideas. award lectures, invited and contributed sessions, ComPADRE—Digital library resources exhibits, workshops, and more. for physics and astronomy education (in Topical conferences on the teaching of specific collaboration with APS, AAS, and AIP)— physics curricula—Introductory calculus-based funded in part by the National Science physics, general relativity, and computational Foundation (NSF). physics, among others. Study Reports: SPIN-UP/SPIN-UP-TYC— NEW Symposium on Physics Education A series of guidelines for physics departments at (at AAPT winter meetings). high schools, colleges, and universities. Photo courtesy: Dick Peterson, Physics Department, Bethel University. PROGRAMS www.aapt.org PhysTEC—Physics Teacher Education Coalition (in collaboration with APS and AIP)—funded in part by NSF and the U.S. Department of Education. Passion for Physics Commitment to Teaching Workshops for New Faculty in Physics & Astronomy—Workshops in collaboration with APS and AAS; funded in part by NSF. One Physics Ellipse American Association of InterAmerican Conference—A conference College Park, MD 20740-3845 Physics Teachers for physics educators in North, Central, and (301) 209-3311 • fax: (301) 209-0845