UW Department of Physics

NSF SUMMER INSTITUTE
IN PHYSICS AND PHYSICAL SCIENCE
FOR INSERVICE K-12 TEACHERS

Dept. of Physics, University of Washington,
June 27–July 27, 2012*

*If these start and end dates conflict with your academic calendar, please contact us prior to applying.

The Physics Education Group in the Physics Department at the University of Washington offers an intensive five-week summer program in physics and physical science for inservice teachers.  Directed by Dr. Lillian C. McDermott, Professor of Physics, the Summer Institute is supported by the National Science Foundation.  The program is tuition-free and carries ten upper-division credits in physics.  Teachers may participate for up to three years.  Participants receive a stipend.  Funds may be available to help defray lodging costs for out-of-area participants.  Transportation, meals, and other incidentals are the responsibility of the participant.  

The curriculum for the course, Physics by Inquiry (John Wiley & Sons, Inc.), has been especially developed by the Physics Education Group to be used in classes for precollege teachers.  The curriculum is designed to strengthen subject matter background.  The development of fundamental concepts and reasoning skills is emphasized.  The hands-on, inquiry-oriented method of instruction used in the Institute helps prepare teachers to teach science as a process of inquiry.  The course meets the needs of teachers with varying levels of preparation in science and mathematics.

The Summer Institute is divided into two sections, one for elementary and middle school teachers or teachers who may have little or no background in physics, and one for middle and high school teachers of physics, physical science, and mathematics.  The subject matter for the Summer Institute is selected from such topics as properties of matter, electric circuits, heat and temperature, light and optics, kinematics and dynamics, and observational astronomy.

The 2012 Summer Institute is scheduled for June 25-July 27.  Classes meet from 9 a.m. to 3:45 p.m., Monday-Thursday, except for two Fridays for the midterm and final exams.  The Summer Institute is a full-time, five-week commitment.  In addition, there will also be several 'brown bag' lunchtime discussions.

Teachers from the greater Seattle area are expected to participate in a tuition-free Continuation Course that meets Thursday evenings during the academic year.  The after-school class is designed to help teachers apply in their classrooms what they have learned during the summer.  

Application and deadlines:

The application deadline is March 2, 2012.  Out-of-state teachers are welcome to apply.  

To apply online, click here to request an account name and password.  (The link to the online application will be sent with your account name and password.)  Alternatively, click here for a paper application. 

Cost/stipend:

The Summer Institute is tuition-free.  A stipend of $1,500 is offered upon completion of the Summer Institute.  

Funding may be available to help defray the cost of lodging for out-of-state participants, usually in a dormitory on campus.  Transportation and meals are the responsibility of the participant.  

Requirements:

The institute is open to full-time practicing teachers, grades K-12.  Although a physics background is not necessary for the elementary-middle school section of the Summer Institute, strong arithmetic skills are required.  

The institute is a full-time, five-week commitment.  Classes meet from 9 a.m. to 3:45 p.m., Monday-Thursday (with exceptions on the two Fridays set aside for the exams).  Attendance is required during class hours.  Homework and papers are assigned, and two exams are given.  These components of the course provide an opportunity for you to synthesize and articulate your understanding of the concepts developed during the Institute.  Papers will be based on your work in class and should not require outside research.  During exams you will be able to refer to Physics by Inquiry and your notebook.  

Credit:

High school teachers will be enrolled in Physics 407 (5 credits), Physics 427 (3 credits), and Physics 401 (2 credits).  All may be used in partial fulfillment of requirements for endorsement to teach high school physics.

Elementary and middle school teachers will be enrolled in Physics 405 (5 credits), Physics 427 (3 credits), and Physics 401 (2 credits).

These courses are upper-division courses.  If the participant is enrolled in a graduate program at the University of Washington, the credits may be applied to graduate study. 

Admission to the University of Washington and registration are coordinated by the department. 

Continuation Course:

The Continuation Course carries two upper-division physics credits each quarter, is tuition-free, and is accompanied by a stipend of $125/quarter.  

For additional information contact: