In January of 2019 I received the AAPT [American Association of Physics Teachers] Melba Phillips award. The award provided me the opportunity to reflect on the many programs in which I had participated and the outstanding AAPT leaders that I had the privilege to know. Those reflections are represented in the following narrative that I delivered at…

As physics teachers, we possess many items (e.g., demonstrations, online exercises, and even stories) in our pedagogical toolkits. In this paper, I propose and explore one such item that I have found particularly useful and pedagogically significant--the "integrated vocabulary boost." In what follows, I will address what I mean by such…

I am a parent first and foremost, but I am also an educator. What does one role have to do with the other? I realized that the different identities that make me who I am are not independent of each other during the process of formulating my teaching philosophy. Realizing the link between the different identities in my life influenced my teaching…

In the February 2017 issue of "The Physics Teacher," an article was presented that highlighted the importance of high school physics teachers in inspiring women in physics, particularly by recognizing them as being a "physics person." Drawing on data from over 900 female undergraduates in physics, the article showed that the…

Diversity strengthens science, but in most physics classrooms female students are disadvantaged both directly and indirectly: extensive research shows that they are undermined, viewed as less capable, and have less successful experiences both in terms of learning and identity formation. The following article was written in partnership between a…

The current vision of science education in myriad educational contexts encourages students to learn through the process of science inquiry. Science inquiry has been used to promote conceptual learning and engage learners in an active process of meaning-making and investigation to understand the world around them. The science inquiry process…

Psychology has been an avocation of mine for almost 20 years, and over the past decade I have begun integrating this knowledge into my classroom. My first introduction to psychology was through the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator®. MBTI looks at preferences in how people interact with the world around them. By recognizing how different students…

A recent "TPT" call for papers asks for "more research … about how to tear down and/or overcome the barriers to success that the world, and science, and academia, and the culture of physics put in the way of those who are not white and male." Women make up only 20% of bachelor's degree recipients in physics. Hispanic people…

Student preparation can be quite nuanced. Not only have students been exposed to a variety of preparatory classes and outside influences, but students also vary in their commitment and approach to their current classes. We asked teachers to offer their opinions on their students' preparation for physics in a number of areas. The overall…

Most introductory physics instructors administer several quizzes and/or exams each term. Instructors are willing to invest the significant time it takes to develop, administer, and grade these assessments because they believe that regular assessments help students learn. However, instructors also believe that students do not make full use of the…

Describes the teaching practices of one exemplary physics teacher. Identifies those teaching practices which can be considered exemplary and worthy of attention and analysis by physics teachers and teacher educators. Reports four assertions by the data from observations and interviews with teachers and students. (YP)

Relates various experiences that illustrate one teacher's way of dealing with teaching problems common in inner-city schools. (MLH)

Describes the philosophy of anti-science as resulting from men's technological achievements and its associated boredom in relation to job and life styles. Suggests that more attention be paid to students in science education and more efforts be made with respect to the improvement of the public's understanding of science. (CC)

A physics professor discusses how his personal view of science has changed over 20 years; includes views on the esthetic and practical aspects of science and the way science influences one's world view. (MLH)