Professional Development
There are many opportunities for professional development available here in the Houston area, as well as many that are available across the US. There are also some excellent books that can be used to help you achieve much higher level results in teaching. This is a biased selection from among possible materials. The main bias is that the materials must have a documented research base, and be reasonably accessible. The author has read most of these materials, and can personally recommend them. Most of the books can be ordered from Amazon.
Books on Education/ Teaching
Science Teaching and the Development of Thinking, A. Lawson, Wadsworth - This very readable book shows how the learning cycle can be applied to help develop critical thinking in science. It comes complete with some lesson plans.
Really Raising Standards, P. Adey, M. Shayer, Routledge - This is a complete survey of methods used to enhance student thinking, often called "cognitive enhancement". This book is designed to be read by parents as well as educators.
How People Learn: Brain, Mind, Experience, and School, M. Donovan, J. Bransford, J. Pellegrino, National Academy Press - This is a very readable book that shows how both children and adults learn. It includes examples of learning in history, math, and science. It is available online from: www.nap.edu
Workshops in the Houston area
MATS sponsors 2 meetings each year. These are a good opportunity to interact with other science teachers, and to get some new ideas. Each meeting is 6 hours of professional development.
HAPT - Houston Area Physics Teachers, part of the AAPT American Association of Physics Teachers. Several meetings are sponsored each year. Each meeting is 6 hours of development, and teachers may receive a stipend for attendance. For more information see: http://tsaapt.org/ptra/hapt/hapt.html
Out of State Workshops
There are many opportunities for workshops, which can help teachers, learn better ways of teaching. The best of these workshops spend an extended time working with research based curriculum material. Studies have shown that short-term workshops are usually very ineffective, but concentrated extended workshops can result in improved student learning gain.
Physics - Modeling Method, Hestenes - This method has produced dramatic gains in student understanding of physics. Various workshops are available around the country during the summer. See: modeling.la.asu.edu
Physics - Activity-Based Physics Institutes, Laws, Sokoloff, Thornton - Trains teachers to use Real Time Physics, Workshop Physics, and Tools for Scientific Thinking. These curricula all produce good gains. 2 weeks in June, and short courses at various locations. Contact: Gail Oliver oliver@dickinson.edu
Physical Science/IPC - Workshops on using Introductory Physical Science text. This is a 2-week workshop, using hands on materials. These workshops help teachers implement inquiry methods with the text. See: http://www.sci-ips.com/
Educational material available on the Web
NARST - National Association for Research in Science Teaching - Their website has many good papers presented at their meetings. See: www.narst.org
Project Galileo - Has research based material and links for physics, chemistry, and biology.
Articles on the Web
The science of thinking, and science for thinking: a description of Cognitive Acceleration through Science Education (CASE). , P. Adey, 1999. 40 p. , INNODATA monograph. - Gives details and results of Thinking Science. This set of science supplements is very successful in raising student thinking as measured on Piagetian tests. In addition student achievement is increased in a variety of subjects.
Various articles and papers are available at the Rice University Education Department website including the latest TAAS Accountability Results. An article on "The Harmful Impact of the TAAS System of Testing in Texas: Beneath the Accountability Rhetoric," L. McNeil and A. Valenzuela
Many papers on the subject of critical thinking are posted for the 7th International Conference on Thinking.
NAEP - The Nation’s Report Card. - The various NAEP reports and results that show progress or the lack of it in our nation's schools.
TIMSS report - The Third International Math. and Science Study - results and analysis of the TIMSS tests which compare students in all countries.
Professional Magazines on the Web
These would be classified as magazines. This means that the information presented has not been peer reviewed for accuracy, and sensation may be emphasized over scientific accuracy. The information is more timely, and some of these journals provide a forum where you can reply to articles.
Conservaton Ecology - Peer reviewed journal of current research. The journal seeks papers that are novel, integrative and written in a way that is accessible to a wide audience that includes an array of disciplines (biology, ecology, economics, and the social sciences) concerned with an array of issues (conservation, sustainability, development, and ecological policy).
Education Policy Analysis - A peer reviewed electronic journal published at University of Arizona.
Education Week - A magazine devoted to current issues in education.
EJSE - Electronic Journal of Science Education - An online peer reviewed journal published quarterly.
The Scientist - A news journal for the life scientist.
N.Y. Times Science Section - Every Tuesday the NY Times publishes an excellent review of current scientific topics. In addition to the print version, you can access the articles online. If you buy the print version some articles make good posters.
Professional Organizations
AAPT - American Association of Physics Teachers - publishes "The Physics Teacher" and "American Journal of Physics". TPT is a combination journal/magazine that is aimed at High School and introductory course teachers, while AJP is aimed at the college teachers, and physics education researchers.
NSTA - National Science Teachers association - publishes "The Science Teacher". Authors who wish to publish articles for the science teacher should be warned that you may not mention commercially available curriculum material in the article. Commercially available material is only mentioned in the reviews column.
STAT- Science Teachers association of Texas - publishes "The Texas Science Teacher".