Percent of
High School
Teachers
with Physics
Degrees
MAPE Requirements
Summer residence courses (~4 weeks)
PHYS 631, 632 Introductory calculus based (4,4)
PHYS 635, 636 Associated labs (3,3)
Distance learning courses
PHYS 605, 606 How Things Work I, II (3,3)
PHYS 609 Galileo to Einstein (3)
PHYS 633 Modern Physics (4)
PHYS 641 Teaching Physics Pedagogy (3)
List of Courses for MAPE
UVa Resident Physics Courses
(Summer)
– PHYS 631 Motion, Fluids, Heat (4 cr.)
– PHYS 635 Lab (3 cr.)
– PHYS 632 E/M, Waves, Optics (4 cr.)
– PHYS 636 Lab (3 cr.)
MAPE Distance Learning Courses
– PHYS 605 How Things Work I (3 cr.)
– PHYS 606 How Things Work II (3 cr.)
– PHYS 609 Galileo and Einstein (3 cr.)
– PHYS 633 Modern Physics (Relativity,
Quantum Physics) (4 cr.)
– PHYS 641 Physics Pedagogy (3 cr.)
Possible Plan of Study
• Summer 2005 (in residence)
PHYS 631 Classical & Modern Physics I ( 4 cr.)
PHYS 635 (3 cr.)
• Fall 2005
PHYS 605 How Things Work I (3 cr.)
• Spring 2006
PHYS 606 How Things Work II (3 cr.)
• Summer 2006 (in residence)
PHYS 632 Classical & Modern Physics II (4 cr.)
PHYS 636 (3 cr.)
Possible Plan of Study – 2nd year
• Fall 2006
PHYS 609 Galileo & Einstein (3cr.)
• Spring 2007
PHYS 641 Physics Pedagogy (3 cr.)
• Summer 2007
PHYS 633 Modern Physics III (4cr.)
Finish August 2007
Complete degree program in 2 1/4 years
Phys 631, 632; summer courses
• Calculus - based course.
• Textbook: Haliday, Resnick, and Walker
• 19 - 2 hour physics lecture/demonstrations.
• Use pedagogy that teachers can take into classroom.
• Numerous illustrations, overheads, notes, cartoons.
• Include JiTT with WebAssign and Physlets.
• 16 - 1 1/2 hour recitations using best high school teachers.
Live in dorms and tutor.
• Problem sets continue up to October using WebAssign.
• Four weekly quizzes in summer. Final exam in October.
• Make connections to other areas in science & real life.
Physics 633 – modern physics








Distance learning course
Use own textbook (with Andy Rex, 3rd ed.)
Homework and tests via WebAssign
Average 3 mini-lectures per chapter
Problem solving for each chapter
Links to physlets, simulations
Students must be independent
Help through email list serve
Physics 641 – physics pedagogy



Distance learning course
No lectures or exams
14 weekly assignments – Use Open Portfolio program
nature of science
laboratories (Real Time Physics)
demonstrations (PTRA)
technology in classroom
Workshop Physics, Physics by Inquiry, Active
Physics, Simulations, Physlets, Modeling
Read Knight’s Five Easy Lessons,
Arons’s Teaching Introductory Physics
Courses that require Calculus

Phys 631 Mechanics, Motion, and Heat (4 cr.)
 Phys 635 Curriculum Enhancement I / Lab( 3 cr.
 Phys 632 E/M, Waves, Optics (4 cr.)
 Phys 636 Curriculum Enhancement II / Lab (3 cr.)
 Phys 633 Modern Physics ( 4 cr.)
Other Courses for MAPE
PHYS 613 Instructional Materials Development
(3 cr.) (4 week summer session at Jefferson
Laboratory)
PHYS 640 Independent Study (3-6 cr)
Master of Arts in Physics Education
Current Status
Active candidates
Admitted, but not enrolled
Denied admission (last year)
Dropped, not successful
Retake courses
33
3
2
3
3
MAPE Graduates
10
9
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
0
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
Number of Teachers
30
25
20
15
10
5
0
Word of
Mouth
Perusing
the Web
School
Flyer
Physics
VAST
VIP Meeting
Teacher Ad Conference
NSTA
reports
How Teachers Learned of Program - Spring 2005
Future Plans
• Reduce time for administrating the proctoring of
•
•
•
•
•
exams and answering duplicative questions
by email.
Make better use of chat room. Include
audio/video.
Incorporate experiments done at home.
Double enrollment in distant learning courses.
More cost effective.
Eventually replace CDs with DVDs.
Appeal to a broader group of teachers.