The sequence consists of ten two-credit courses that merge physics content with readings from the history of physics, the philosophy of science, and the education research literature. The courses are offered at Boston University at the graduate level through the College of Arts and Science as NS 540 – NS 549 and through the School of Education as SC 525 and SC 541 – SC 549. Instruction is in the Department of Physics at Boston University.

Upcoming courses (starting the week of September 10): NS 549 (Everyday Applications of Physics) will be offered in September/October 2007, meeting Monday and Friday evenings from 4:30-7:15. We also plan to offer the first five courses in the sequence during the 2007-08 academic year, with NS540 in September/October, NS541 in November/December, and NS542-NS544 sequentially from January through June 2008. In September/October, NS540 will meet on Tuesdays and Fridays from 4:30 - 7:30. The remaining courses will probably switch to a Monday and Friday, 4:30 - 7:30 pm, schedule.

This sequence of courses is aimed at teachers who are currently teaching high-school physics, but who do not yet have a license to teach physics. Completion of the first seven courses should prepare a teacher for the Massachusetts Teacher Education Licensure (MTEL) examination in physics.

The courses are intended to assist teachers of physics in becoming firmly grounded in the concepts of physics. By emphasizing concepts, and providing teachers an opportunity to develop a repertoire of examples, analogies, and metaphors drawn from everyday experience and history, the courses are intended to support the development of teachers’ pedagogical content knowledge.

The sequence of two-credit courses is listed in "Course Information."

For more information please contact one of the following individuals:

• Peter Garik at the School of Education at garik@bu.edu or 617-353-4735
• Andrew Duffy in the Department of Physics at aduffy@bu.edu or 617-353-9089.