Physics Teacher SOS
NEW TEACHER WORKSHOP

Welcome to the PTSOS website. We focus on content useful for teachers new to teaching physics at the high school and community college level.
Your hosts for the workshops and the website are

Paul Robinson
Workshop Leader - Los Gatos
San Mateo High School, San Mateo (Retired)

Paul has taught high school physics since 1974. He is a long-time member of and contributor to NCN AAPT and is currently Program Chair, Historian, and Section Representative. He is the author of the Conceptual Physics lab manuals and the recipient of the Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching in 1987.

Dean05

Dean Baird
Workshop Leader - Sacramento
Rio Americano High School, Sacramento

Dean has taught high school physics since 1986. He has been a member, officer, and contributor with NCNAAPT. He has authored of several Conceptual Science lab manuals and Teachers Pay Teachers curriculum materials. He is the recipient of the Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching and an American Association of Physics Teachers Fellow.

Stephanie Finander
Outreach Coordinator
Woodside High School, Woodside

Stephanie has taught high school physics since 1990. She is a long-time member of and contributor to NCNAAPT. She is a principal founder and organizer of the PTSOS New Teacher Workshop, and moderates the PTSOS discussion group.

Dan Burns
Dan Burns
Workshop Leader - Los Gatos
Los Gatos High School, Los Gatos

Dan has been teaching high school physics since 1992. He has been a member, officer, and contributor with NCNAAPT. He works with the SETI Institute, USGS, AAPT, SJSU, and serves as the Faculty Scholar at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory.

Steve Keith
Workshop Leader - Sacramento
Casa Roble High School,
Orangevale (Retired)

Steve taught high school physics from 1982 to 2006. He is a popular and prolific presenter of workshops for science teachers in the Sacramento area. He is a recipient of the Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching.
GET ON THE LIST!
Get the latest announcements and updates on PTSOS! Send email to Stephanie Finander: sfinander@sbcglobal.net.


NEXT PTSOS WORKSHOPS
All Northern California PTSOS Workshops have been completed at this time.
Watch this space for news of future workshops.

NEXT NCNAAPT CONFERENCE
April 26-27 at Foothill College in Los Altos Hills
Highly recommended for physics teachers old and new!
PTSOS is brought to you by
The Northern California and Nevada Section of The American Association of Physics Teachers

and made possible by a grant from
The Karl L. Brown Memorial Scholarship Fund.
For more information, see our brochure.
THEMES AND DATES

Workshop 1: Mechanics
"Overcoming Inertia"
Los Gatos 9/15/12 - Sacramento 10/13/12

Workshop 2: Waves, Sound, and Heat
"Give Physics a Whirl"
Los Gatos 1/12/13 - Sacramento 1/26/13

Workshop 3: Electricity, Magnetism, and Light
"Come See the Light"
Sacramento 3/9/13 · Los Gatos 3/23/13

Photos and video from past workshops
San Mateo 2005 - 2006 - 2009 - 2011 - Sacramento 2009-10 · PTSOS3 Video · 2011

SELECTED NEW TEACHER WORKSHOP RESOURCE LINKS
The PTSOS Yahoo Group
An ongoing discussion of new physics teacher issues via listserv.
NCNAAPT
Northern California and Nevada Section of American Association of Physics Teachers, sponsor of the New Teacher Workshop.
Paul Robinson's Website
www.laserpablo.com
Dean Baird's Phyz Website
A fountain of teacher resources including The Book of Phyz Online.
Paul Robinson: Increasing Your Impact (PDF)
Words to the wise from your New Teacher Workshop organizer and leader.
Dean Baird's Advice for the Young at Phyz (PDF)
Words to the wise from your New Teacher Workshop co-leader. Questions?
Paul Robinson: Getting to Know Your Textbook (PDF)
A set of questions students answer by exploring their Conceptual Physics textbook.
The Blog of Phyz
High school physics teaching issues and whatever else Dean things is "blogworthy."
Stephanie Finander's Goodie Bag Notes (PDF)
Words to the wise from your PTSOS Outreach coordinator.
Flyers Dean uses to advertise Physics in the Spring (when students are signing up for classes). Copy these on to super bright paper and place them in optimal locations arounf campus. It lets students know you want them in your course.
Dan's Raodrunner Clips
These clips from Warner Brothers Road Runner and Coyote cartoons are intended for use by physics teachers. Suggestions for use are included next to each clip.
Dean's Post-Lab Discussion Presentations
...as seen at the workshops.
Standards, Assessments, and Accountability in Physics
California's definition of high school physics as described in the Science Content Standards. Also, STAR testing in physics. Finally, all about the API.

SUGGESTED VENDORS (based on personal experience)
PASCO
Excellent products. Lab equipment, demo equipment, probeware, etc. And a long-standing sponsor of NCNAAPT events. Pasco has a rich Educator Resource page.
Sargent-Welch
Wide variety. If they haven't got it, you probably don't want it! Sargent-Welch hosts the Cenco Physics Blog which features product demonstration videos..
Arbor Scientific
Fun, unusual, and high-interest items. Conceptual Physics resources and lab activities. They publish a Cool Stuff Newsletter, and have a growing library of product demonstration videos.
Science Kit
Excellent variety. Known for their "Teacher Developed Classroom Tested" products!
Vernier Software
Excellent computer interface and probeware. And a long-time friend of NCNAAPT. You can get their newsletter, The Caliper, online or via free email subscription.
 
 



Maintained by Dean Baird for NCNAAPT.