The physics department at California State University, Sacramento has a history of commitment to training future K-12 teachers. In 2000-2005, the department participated in the NSF-funded Sacramento Area Collaborative for Teacher Education, working closely with colleagues in the College of Education to develop a new physics course for future K-8 teachers. The course models research-based teaching strategies as well as the scientific process for future teachers. Each year, two special sections of the course are reserved for cohorts who take their science methods course in the same semester they take this physics course.

Members of the physics faculty are continuing in efforts to refine the course materials and content, study the effects of the use of technology in the class, compare and assess different methods of teaching scientific process skills, incorporate multidisciplinary topics into the coursework, and use Learning Assistants (selected from physics majors interested in high school teaching) in the course.

We have launched a "Teacher Preparation Concentration" for our physics majors, and created two new classes that provide teaching experiences with a strong mentoring component to these future physics teachers. The program is starting its second year and have three students already in the program.  The first student will be graduating this fall and has been accepted to start the credentialing program on spring 2010. We plan and hope to make a major push and expand our program.   We are looking for any and all possible funding sources to support our program.

Institution URL

http://www.csus.edu