East Central University Physics
Education Program
a part of
Physics Website:
http://www.ecok.edu/colleges/health_sciences/physics/default.asp
Description of ECU Teacher Preparation Program
ECU is a premier comprehensive student-centered regional university in
Oklahoma. ECU located in Ada, OK has about 4500 students.
The ECU Physics Teacher Education Program requires 30 hrs of
professional education courses, 30 hours of physics, 23 hours of other
sciences, and 16 hours of mathematics as well as a minimum of 45 hours
general education courses.
The ECU physics teacher education program is based on the ECU Education
Dept.’s Prime Model that idealizes the prescriptiveness with regard as
to what should be taught, reflectiveness regarding what was taught, and
integrativeness regarding the curriculum. Prescriptive teachers
think
about the needs and backgrounds of their students, they are familiar
with theories of learning and development, they are sensitive to
diversity, are analytical in their analyses, and adapt their teaching
methods as necessary. Reflective teachers think critically about
content, pedagogy, and the appropriateness of content; they are
committed to students in their discipline, and continually assess their
effectiveness in the classroom. Integrative teachers are aware of
relationships between concepts in their content, they are aware of the
importance of technology and how it aids in instruction.
ECU Physics Education Majors are ready to become certified as ‘highly
qualified’ in that they have the rigorous physics and science
coursework backed by the Prime Model educational philosophy. ECU
has
one of the most active Student Chapters of the National Science
Teacher’s Association. Our students made outstanding
presentations
during ITV national meetings of NSTA. Student NSTA members
include
both elementary and secondary teacher prospects which is an excellent
opportunity for our physics secondary students to teach physics to
hesitant elementary teachers. We also have an 8 time nationally
recognized Society of Physics Students chapter that does outreach in
the public schools and for the community. Students have a well
rounded
experience with physics content and teaching before student teaching.
Description of Initiatives to Improve Preservice Education
The Physics Dept. has taken the role of modeling excellence in teaching
physics. Our Physics Education majors are required to take 30
hours
of physics. The physics faculty have adopted a ‘teach physics the
way
it should be taught’ philosophy. Faculty members have been very
active
in American Association of Physics
Teachers for decades, have received
Eisenhower physics and physical science teaching grants, and bring
forth excellence in physics education based upon physics education
research to each physics course. We teach content using Modeling,
Learning Cycles, Beyond Question, active research and design of
experiments, cooperative learning and other methods. In this way
we
model the way we want our physics teacher interns to teach hoping that
our students follow our example. ECU Physics Education has
joined with PTEC (Physics Teacher
Education Coalition).
PTEC's goal is to "improve the education of future physics &
physical science teachers". Dr. Karen Williams is a member of
NSTA (National Science Teachers'
Association) and is the advisor of the ECU NSTA Student
Chapter.
Summer 2008 Activities
Dr. Karen Williams and Dr. Carl Rutledge were part of a grant
with Byng Schools to improve the physical science understanding
of the teachers in Pontotoc County. For two weeks in July we
taught physical science, earth science, and astronomy to 38 teachers in
the county
from 4th-8th grade. Improvement was found in content and PASS
skill knowledge of the participants as a whole.
3 followup days remain throughout the Fall and next Spring.
Primary
Contact:
Dr. Karen Williams, Professor Physics Dept., 1100 E. 14th St.,
PMB D-5, Ada, OK 74820-6999. (kwillims@mac.com).
580/559-5394.
Others:
Dr. Carl Rutledge, Physics Dept. Chair, Professor, Linscheid
Distinguished Teaching Professor
1100 E. 14th St. , PMB X-4, Ada, OK 74820-6999. (crutledge@mac.com)
Dr. Bruce Weems, Dean School of Mathematics and Science and Professor
in Physics Dept.,
1100 E. 14th St., PMB U-3, Ada, OK 74820-6999 (weems@cs.ecok.edu).
Dr. Rahmona Thompson, Professor Biology Dept., 1100 E. 14th. St., PMB
B-3, Ada, OK 74820-6999
teaches the Methods of Teaching Biological & Physical
Science. (rthompsn@ecok.edu)
Various Education Dept. Faculty teach Professional Courses that Physics
Teacher Interns must complete.
See Education
Dept. Information.
