Who is Teaching High School
Physics in Central Florida?
Jacquelyn J. Chini†, Kevin H. Thomas†,
Malcolm B. Butler* and Talat S. Rahman†
†Department
of Physics, University of Central Florida
*School of Teaching, Learning and Leadership, University of
Central Florida
Introduction & Context
Introduction & Context
~40 public schools
Survey Methodology

Identified:



Sampled all identified teachers (N = 48)



Schools from county websites
Physics teachers from websites or email to principals
Emailed link to survey in Qualtrics
Sent weekly reminders for two weeks
24 teachers responded (50%)
Demographics
4%
4%
Male
46%
50%
4% 4%
13%
Female
Prefer not
to answer
75%
12
# of Teachers
10
8
6
4
2
0
22-30 30-40 40-50 50-60 60-70
Age
1http://www.aip.org/statistics
70+
National Averages:
 32% female (2009– rising)1
 Median age: 46 (2009– increasing)1
 African American & Hispanic– 1.5%
each; Asian-Americans– 2% (2005)1
 In our counties, white nonHispanics make up 38.2% to
74.5% of the population2
2www.census.gov
Results– Pathways to HS Physics Teaching
8%
Intended Physics Teaching Career
21%
38%
# of Teachers
33%
16
14
12
10
8
6
4
2
0
Career Change
Switched from Teaching Other
Science
Recruited in College
Certification
UG Sci EdPhys Major
UG Sci EdNon-phys
Major
MST Sci EdPhys
MST Sci EdNon-phys
Other
Other:
 Alternative Certification: 6
 Education Courses: 4
 Working on Certification: 3
 Not specified: 1
Results– Physics Experience
16
% of Teachers
14
12
10
8
6
4
2
0
UG major
UG minor
Other:
 Physics Education Master’s: 2
 Other Science Major: 9
 Some College Courses: 3
 Minimal Experience: 1
Master's
Ph.D.
other
Nationally, 46% of HS physics
teachers were physics or physics
education majors or minors
# of Teachers
Results– Physics Teaching Experience
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
0
Nationwide, >70% of teachers
have been teaching physics for
more than 4 years
Avg: 7.5
1
2-5
6-10
11-15 15-20
21+
Years Teaching HS Physics
Other
Other:
 Multiple Useful
Experiences: 2
 Personal Experience: 2
Minimal Experience; Struggling
Minimal Experience; School Support
Useful Workshops
Useful College Courses
0
5
10
15
# of Teachers
20
Results– PER-based Pedagogy
With which are you familiar?
LivePhoto Physics
Real Time Physics Labs
Just in Time Teaching
Invest. Sci. Lrn Environ.
UW Tutorials
Inter. Lect. Demos
Peer Instruction
PhET Sims
Modeling Physics
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
LivePhoto Physics For which have you received training?
Real Time Physics Labs
Training Description:
Just in Time Teaching
 AAPT Workshop: 3
Invest. Sci. Lrn Environ.
 Modelling
UW Tutorials
Workshop: 3
Inter. Lect. Demos
 Optics Conference
Peer Instruction
PhET Sims
Workshop: 1
Modeling Physics
0%
10%
20%
30%
40% 50% 60%
% of Teachers
70%
80%
90%
100%
Results– Available Resources
No exps or demos
None, use misc
Computers
Lab equipment
Probes/Sensors
Lab software
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
Other:
 physicsclassroom: 17%
 prettygoodphysics.wikispaces.com: 8%
 Teacher Websites: 13%
 General Internet Searches: 17%
 Peers/Mentors: 8%
 Other– AAPT, NSTA, NASA. Modeling
Website, Textbook, aplusphysics.com
Compadre
PER User's Guide
PASCO Instructor Guides
Vernier Instructor Guides
Other
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
Results– Areas of Improvement
Content timing
Physics content
Student motivation
Demos
Labs
0
1
2
3
4
5
# of Teachers
6
7
8
Discussion





Many teachers have access to equipment, but would like
new ideas about how to use it.
Several teachers have a wealth of experience we can
harness.
A few teachers request help with content– could lead to
fruitful relationships with physics majors.
All teachers knew about PhET sims– may be a good topic
for a workshop.
Teachers have not had access to much physics specific
training.

UCF TIR gave physics-specific in-service workshop for one
county
Thank you!

Learn more about the UCF PhysTEC project at our
website: physics.cos.ucf.edu/phystec