Reforming the professional preparation of teachers of physics and physical science at Seattle Pacific University

Increasing the number and improving the in-depth preparation of precollege teachers to teach physics and physical science as a process of inquiry are major goals of the Physics Department at Seattle Pacific University. In close collaboration with the School of Education and partner school districts, we have embarked on a multi-pronged effort to recruit undergraduates into teaching through the SPU Learning Assistant program, to provide coherent and extensive professional development for teachers who teach physics out-of-field, to deepen the preparation in physical science of prospective and practicing elementary teachers, and to reform our content and methods courses for prospective teachers. Alignment of the program with regional and national projects has been extremely beneficial to our efforts. In this talk, the salient programmatic reforms will be outlined and results will be discussed.