Changes

APEX is comprised of three interrelated components (Figure 1):

APEX is comprised of three interrelated components (Figure 1):

[[File:APEX_Pyramid.png|frame|Figure 1]]

[[File:APEX_Pyramid_sm.png|frame|Figure 1]]

The '''Alabama Physics Education Center (APEC)''': APEC is comprised of two components. The first component is the Physics Teacher Institute (PTI). PTI is a multi-year experience that offers participants a coherent program of study to deepen their physics Discipline Content Knowledge (DCK)[1], Pedagogical Content Knowledge (PCK)[2] and increase their Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge (TPACK)[3,4], based on physics education research, and develop leadership skills using the American Association of Physics Teachers/ Physics Teaching Resource Agents (AAPT/PTRA[5]) Professional Development model. Teachers will be exposed to instructional strategies in DCK based on physics education research, and an approach based on the latest teaching methodologies that emphasize an integrated, three-dimensional model consisting of conceptual understanding[6,7] (CU), problem-solving methods[8,9] (PS), and hands-on exploration[10.11] (EX). PTI includes a pre-service element designed to inspire minority and female undergraduates to become tomorrow’s physics teachers. The second component of APEC is the Physics Resource Enhancement Program (PREP), a central clearinghouse for dissemination of best teaching practices. A Wiki[12] will facilitate communication among faculty, PTRA leaders, teachers and students by enabling sharing of questions, ideas, best practices, and lessons learned. Lecture podcasts[13] will allow retrieval of exemplary teaching methodologies. PREP will also supply physics laboratory equipment to local education agencies (LEAs) through AMSTI/ASIM).

The '''Alabama Physics Education Center (APEC)''': APEC is comprised of two components. The first component is the Physics Teacher Institute (PTI). PTI is a multi-year experience that offers participants a coherent program of study to deepen their physics Discipline Content Knowledge (DCK)[1], Pedagogical Content Knowledge (PCK)[2] and increase their Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge (TPACK)[3,4], based on physics education research, and develop leadership skills using the American Association of Physics Teachers/ Physics Teaching Resource Agents (AAPT/PTRA[5]) Professional Development model. Teachers will be exposed to instructional strategies in DCK based on physics education research, and an approach based on the latest teaching methodologies that emphasize an integrated, three-dimensional model consisting of conceptual understanding[6,7] (CU), problem-solving methods[8,9] (PS), and hands-on exploration[10.11] (EX). PTI includes a pre-service element designed to inspire minority and female undergraduates to become tomorrow’s physics teachers. The second component of APEC is the Physics Resource Enhancement Program (PREP), a central clearinghouse for dissemination of best teaching practices. A Wiki[12] will facilitate communication among faculty, PTRA leaders, teachers and students by enabling sharing of questions, ideas, best practices, and lessons learned. Lecture podcasts[13] will allow retrieval of exemplary teaching methodologies. PREP will also supply physics laboratory equipment to local education agencies (LEAs) through AMSTI/ASIM).