A Time for Physics First

Updates

May 9, 2013

Check out our new Math Connections page! Dorina Mitrea continues to refine this document, which discusses the math skills needed for Physics First, and provides great pointers for collaborations between math and physics teachers.

The April 2013 newsletter has also been posted. We are all getting ready to welcome C2 Fellows to the June 2013 summer academy.

April 20, 2013

Follow-up meeting in Columbia. Prof. David Hestenes, founder of the Modeling method will be visiting us. He will present a talk at the Saturday Morning Science series from 10:30-11:30 at Monsanto Auditorium entitled An Engine for STEM Education Reform. After lunch with the Physics First group, he will spend about 90 min with each PF cohort.

For those of you who can be here on Friday April 19, he will also speak at the College of Education's Conversations on Science Teaching series on Naive Beliefs about Physics and Education at Townsend Hall, Room 223 (11:30 am to 1 pm); and at the Physics Colloquium Series on Reforming the mathematical language of physics at the Physics Building, Room 120 (4-5 pm)

February 9, 2013

Follow-up meeting in Columbia.

January 18, 2013

Thanks to all of you who signed up to attend the NGSS draft review meeting on Jan 19 (in Columbia, St. Louis and Springfield) and Jan 26 (in Marceline. Sarah has sent you more detailed infomation, but here's the outline:

Meeting times: 8:30a –4:30p;
The St. Louis meeting is hosted by Jack Wiegers and Glenn Owens. Your meeting site is the Busch Lab at Washington University.
The Springfield meeting is hosted by Gloria Gammel, held at Parkview High School .
The Columbia meeting is the main site, hosted by MeeraC, and will be held in Physics 127. Parking is available in the Virginia Avenue garage.
N/NE/Marceline group – hosted by Meagan Wyatt, held in Marceline on the 26th.

Check out our December 2012 newsletter!

August 4, 2012

This year's follow-up meetings will be held on September 29, 2012, Feb 9, 2013 and April 20, 2013. Prof. David Hestenes is scheduled to visit us during the April meeting. All meetings will be held in Columbia.

June 2012 Summer Academy

We are looking forward to having all our C1 and C2 participants at the summer academy in June. Be sure to check the newsletter for various details, and to read Sarah Hill's email VERY carefully. There's preference forms and other info that you need to submit.

April 21, 2012

The third follow-up meeting of this academic year for all Physics First participants will take place on April 21, 2012, as scheduled. Be sure to submit your share-a-thon ideas on SAKAI.

February 18, 2012

The second follow-up meeting for all Physics First participants will take place on Feb 18, 2012, as scheduled. Be sure to submit your share-a-thon ideas on SAKAI

November 1, 2011

Information on Physics Praxis tests: The Physics Praxis is a paper-delivered test, and can be taken at several testing centers across the state. The summer testing date immediately after our 2012 academy is July 21, 2012. Fees: $80 for the test, $50 registration.Registration deadline without additional fees: June 21. More information at http://www.ets.org/praxis/ or call 1-800-772-9476.

See the COOL online versions of our Physics First newsletters.

September 15, 2011

Follow-up dates for the 2011-12 academic year (all in Columbia):

October 8, 2011 (in conjunction with STOM), at Lange Middle School in Columbia
February 18, 2012 (snow date Feb 25) at MU Physics Building
April 21, 2012 at MU Physics Building

These dates have been entered on the Physics First website calendar and on SAKAI

September 10, 2011

The August version of the newsletter has been posted.

January 27, 2011

Several project staff have been to conferences over the winter break, where they presented information on the Physics First project. Abstracts and powerpoint slides have been posted.

December 27, 2010

The December 2010 Physics First Newsletter has been posted. This issue has great articles on whiteboarding and absent students. Do send it to your administrators, and contact the project if you would like a hard copy.

November 12, 2010, updated January 2011

Please note revised dates for meetings scheduled during Winter/Spring 2011 (in Columbia):
Follow-up meeting 2 will be held on Feb 19, 2011 (snow date Feb 26). Cohort 1 Fellows, coaches and instructors are required to attend.
Follow-up meeting 3 will be held on April 9, 2011 Cohort 1 Fellows, coaches and instructors are required to attend..
Pre-academy meeting for Cohort 2 will be held on April 9, 2011. Cohort 2 Fellows, mentors and instructors are required to attend.

Sample course descriptions have now been included on the Administrator page.

October 7, 2010

An updated file with Math info has been added to the website. Go to Participants>MathFAQs

September 15, 2010

The August 2010 newsletter has been posted. Do send it to math teachers and administrators in your building and district - there's some neat advice from the math teachers and admins who attended the Physics First Summer Academy. You may download .pdf versions and distribute them freely.

September 10, 2010

Infomation on the October 30 follow-up meeting has been posted.

July 12, 2010

The first summer academy was a blast! Everyone worked very hard, and it was a very productive time. Curriculum CDs were mailed to all Fellows and Coaches on July 8, 2010 (sent to your home addresses). As you work through the files on the CD, please post edits on the Sakai site.

June 11, 2010

The first summer academy for Cohort 1 participants started on June 7, 2010. We've all been learning a lot and having a lot of fun.
The latest version of the materials list (June 4, 2010 version) has been posted in the ProjectDocs section. Your District Liaison has the password.

May 3, 2010

Cognitive Coaching for Coahes and Mentors will be held on the following dates in Columbia (exact times and locations TBD; all sessions meet on Fridays and Saturdays): September 17-18, 2010, November 5-6, 2010, January 7-8, 2010, and February 4-5, 2011.

April 28, 2010

Dates for the follow-up meetings for the 2010-11 academic year:

Meeting 1: Saturday, October 30, 2010 in conjuction with the NSTA convention in Kansas City. Cohort 1 Fellows, Coaches and Instructors are required to attend. The project will pay stipend and travel.
If Cohort 1 Fellows wish to attend the NSTA conference, the project will also cover early-bird registration fees (deadline Sep. 17, 2010), upto $50 for one night's room (shared). The project encourages participants to obtain additional resources if they wish to stay longer at the conference.
If Cohort 2 Fellows wish to attend the NSTA conference, the project will cover registration fees at the early-bird member rate.

Meeting 2: February 12, 2011 (snow date Feb 19, 2011) in Columbia. For Cohort 1 Fellows, Coaches and Instructors. The project will pay stipend and travel.

Meeting 3: April 16, 2011, in Columbia. For Cohort 1 and 2 Fellows, Coaches, Mentors, and Instructors. The project will pay stipend and travel.

April 20, 2010

It was wonderful to meet all Physics First Fellows and project staff on April 17. Thank you all for attending in force!

Wondering what your stipend will be in a specific year? Check out the table on the benefits page. All stipends are based on your attending all activities and completing the program. Summer stipends will be paid after you attend the summer academy, and academic year stipends at the end of the academic year. Please allow time for processing the paperwork.

April 10, 2010

The first meeting of all participants, project staff, instructors, coaches, mentors will take place in a day-long meeting at the Physics Building at MU on April 17, 2010. Participants will get to mingle with others, and take their pre-tests.

March 17, 2010

Math teachers and Administrators from partner districts are invited to apply to attend the summer academy for one week (June 14-18) and two days (June 17-18), respectively. Applications are posted on the website. Forms can be accessed using the password sent to your District Liaison.

The first draft of the materials list has also been placed in the ProjectDocs section. Your District Liaison has the password.

Feb 20, 2010

Cohort assignments were sent out last week.

Coach-Mentor job descriptions and application information are available at this time.

December 4, 2009

Due to a large number of requests, the Management Team for A TIME for Physics First has extended the deadline for submitting applications to this project.

All completed applications, including signed commitment forms, must be submitted by 5PM Jan. 8, 2010.

October 1, 2009

Welcome to our new Physics First website. Application forms are now available. Application is a two-step process: Submit the Interest form first. Sarah Hill will then send you a password in order to access the Application Form. Complete the Application form. This form has several pages, and will send information by email to your administrators in order to obtain thier commitment.

We will have information about the program available at serveral sites around the state:

• Science Teachers of Missouri Conference, Jefferson City, Oct 2-3, 2009
  
• Missouri Association of Secondary School Principals Conference, Columbia, Oct 4-6, 2009
  
• Missouri Partnership for Education Renewal Meeting, Columbia, Oct 27, 2009
  
• St. Louis Science Coordinators' Meeting, St. Louis, Oct 29, 2009
  

Contact Sarah Hill (hillsar @ missouri.edu) if you wish to obtain printed brochures or to set up a meeting with your group.

July 15, 2009

We are happy to announce that our NSF grant "A TIME for Freshman Physics in Missouri" has been funded! The grant will run from Sep 1, 2009 to August 31, 2014.