Progressive Science Initiative (PSI ) Physics Content Courses Course Catalog PHYS-601 9 credits Learning and Teaching PSI Algebra-Based Physics Teachers will learn the content, and how to teach the content, of Algebra-Based Physics using the PSI approaches towards curriculum, pedagogy, technology, and assessment. How to teach the course will be modeled for the teachers as they experience it as their future students will. All the units, and the elements that comprise them, will be downloaded and reviewed so that teachers feel comfortable both with the overall structure of the course as well as the essential elements to implementing it. PHYS-601-1: 4 credits Mechanics This course includes the topics of Kinematics, Dynamics, Uniform Circular Motion, Universal Gravitation, Energy, and Momentum. PHYS-601-2: Electricity & Magnetism This course includes the topics of Electric Charge and Force, Electric Field & Potential, Electric Current & Circuits, Magnetism, and Electromagnetic Induction. PHYS-601-3: 2 credits Waves & Modern Physics This course includes the topics of Simple Harmonic Motion, Waves & Sound Waves, EM Waves, Quantum Physics & Atomic Modeling, Nuclear Physics, and Geometric Optics. PHYS-601-4: 2 credits Learning and Teaching PSI Algebra-Based Physics Labs This course is a complement to PHYS-601-1 and PHYS-601-2. This course is designed to give the teachers the hands-on opportunity to practice the lab setups from the Mechanics and Electricity & Magnetism sections of the PSI Algebra-Based Physics course, while also performing the labs from a student perspective. *Those seeking physics certification must take PHYS-601-1, PHYS 602-2, and PHYS-601-4.
PHYS-603 Learning and Teaching PSI Advanced Physics I This course supports teachers who are currently teaching PSI Algebra-Based Physics through participating in a PLC while learning the content, and how to teach the content, of Advanced Physics. In addition to preparing teachers to teach Advanced Physics the following year, learning Advanced Physics content provides teachers a greater depth and breadth of understanding, supporting their teaching of PSI Algebra-Based Physics. Topics covered will include: Mechanics Prerequisite: PHYS-601 PHYS-605 Learning and Teaching PSI Advanced Physics II This course supports teachers who are currently teaching PSI Algebra-Based Physics through participating in a PLC while learning the content, and how to teach the content, of Advanced Physics. In addition to preparing teachers to teach Advanced Physics the following year, learning Advanced Physics content provides teachers a greater depth and breadth of understanding, supporting their teaching of PSI Algebra-Based Physics. Topics covered will include: Electricity, Magnetism, Waves, Quantum, Nuclear, and Special Topics Prerequisite: PHYS-603 PHYS-607 Learning and Teaching PSI Physics Capstone Course This course provides teachers the opportunity to reflect on their first year of teaching physics, or interning in a physics program: what worked well and what should be improved for the following year. A PLC approach will be used to review the year and see not only how their teaching could be improved, but also how the course that they taught could be improved. They will also have the opportunity to review any topics in which they require additional support, especially in preparing to take the Praxis to complete the endorsement program. Topics will include: Fluids, Geometric Optics, Thermodynamics, Rotational Motion, and Special Theory of Relativity. Prerequisite: PHYS-605 PHYS-608 Teaching Advanced Placement Physics 1 This course is for new and experienced AP Physics teachers, providing concrete strategies and practices for teaching the topics of AP Physics I including: Kinematics, Dynamics, Uniform Circular Motion, Gravitation, Energy, Momentum, Simple Harmonic Motion, Waves, Rotational Motion, and Electricity. This course will provide the opportunity to practice lab setups for both guided and inquiry labs, as well as high and low tech labs. Teachers will review a full length AP Physics 1 test with review of strategies for helping students learn to answer the various types of question formats. Teachers will also review the College Board approved PSI AP Physics 1 syllabus and how to submit syllabi for College Board approval. Prerequisite: Physics Certification
PHYS-609 Teaching Advanced Placement Physics 2 This course is for new and experienced AP Physics teachers, providing concrete strategies and practices for teaching the topics of AP Physics 2 including: Electric Force and Field, Electric Potential, Circuits, Magnetism, EM Waves, Quantum and Nuclear Physics, Fluids, Thermal Physics, and Geometric Optics. This course will provide the opportunity to practice lab setups for both guided and inquiry labs, as well as high and low tech labs. Teachers will review a full length AP Physics 2 test with review of strategies for helping students learn to answer the various types of question formats. Teachers will also review the College Board approved PSI AP Physics 2 syllabus and how to submit syllabi for College Board approval. Prerequisite: Physics Certification PHYS-701 9 credits Learning and Teaching Advanced Placement Physics C: Mechanics Physics teachers who are new to Calculus-Based Physics, or who want to learn new strategies for teaching AP Physics C, will learn the content, and how to teach the content, of Calculus Based Physics: Mechanics using the PSI approaches towards curriculum, pedagogy, technology, and assessment.. How to teach the course will be modeled for the teachers as they experience it as their future students will. All the units, and the elements from the PSI AP Physics C: Mechanics course will be reviewed so that teachers feel comfortable both with the overall structure of the course, as well as the essential elements to implementing it. Prerequisite: Physics Certification Physics Field Experience Courses PHYS-602 Field Experience in Teaching PSI Physics I Participating teachers are required to teach at least one section of PSI Algebra-Based Physics in the fall and spring in order to apply the PSI principles to classroom teaching. This field experience provides the setting for developing their PSI teaching, which they then can discuss within their cohort. Topics taught during the field experience will include: Mechanics. Co-requisite: PHYS-603 PHYS-604 Field Experience in Teaching PSI Physics II Participating teachers are required to teach at least one section of PSI Algebra-Based Physics in the fall and spring in order to apply the PSI principles to classroom teaching. This field experience provides the setting for developing their PSI teaching, which they then can discuss within their cohort. Topics taught during the field experience will include: Electricity and Magnetism, and Waves. Co-requisite: PHYS-605
Physics Internship Courses PHYS-502 PSI Internship I This internship lies at the heart of this teacher training/certification program. Candidates will learn the art and skill of teaching by working side by side with a highly successful PSI teacher. This field experience puts the candidate in the classroom with a top-level PSI instructor for the entire academic year. As the year progresses, the assistance provided by the candidate to their mentor will move increasingly towards teaching, so that an easy transition to being a first-year teacher the following year is made possible. The candidate will also spend time with their mentor teacher during non-instructional time. Topics taught during the internship will include: Mechanics. Co-requisite: PHYS-603 PHYS-504 PSI Internship II This field experience lies at the heart of this new teacher training program. Candidates will learn the art and skill of teaching by working side by side with a highly successful PSI teacher. This field experience puts the candidate in the classroom with a top-level PSI instructor for the entire academic year. As the year progresses, the assistance provided by the candidate to their mentor will move increasingly towards teaching, so that an easy transition to being a first-year teacher the following year is made possible. Topics taught during the internship will include: Electricity and Magnetism, and Waves. Co-requisite: PHYS-605 Chemistry Content Courses CHEM-601 9 credits Learning and Teaching PSI Chemistry Teachers will learn the content, and how to teach the content, of Chemistry using the PSI approaches towards curriculum, pedagogy, technology, and assessment. How to teach the course will be modeled for the teachers as they experience it as their future students will. All the units, and the elements that comprise them, will be downloaded and reviewed so that teachers feel comfortable both with the overall structure of the course, as well as the essential elements to implementing it.
CHEM-603 Learning and Teaching PSI Advanced Chemistry I This course supports teachers who are currently teaching PSI Chemistry through participating in a PLC while learning the content, and how to teach the content, of Advanced Chemistry. In addition to preparing teachers to teach Advanced Chemistry the following year, learning Advanced Chemistry content provides teachers a greater depth and breadth of understanding, supporting their teaching of PSI Chemistry. Topics include: Atomic structure, Periodic Trends, Bonding, Stoichiometry, Properties of Matter and Solutions. Prerequisite: CHEM-601 CHEM-605 Learning and Teaching PSI Advanced Chemistry II This course supports teachers who are currently teaching PSI Chemistry through participating in a PLC while learning the content, and how to teach the content, of the spring topics of PSI Advanced Chemistry. In addition to preparing teachers to teach Advanced Chemistry the following year, learning Advanced Chemistry content provides teachers a greater depth and breadth of understanding, supporting their teaching of PSI Chemistry. Topics include: Kinetics, Equilibrium, Thermochemistry, and Electrochemistry. Prerequisite: CHEM-603 CHEM-607 Learning and Teaching PSI Chemistry Capstone Course This course provides teachers the opportunity to reflect on their first year of teaching chemistry, or interning in a chemistry program: what worked well and what should be improved for the following year. A PLC approach will be used to review the year and see not only how their teaching could be improved, but also how the course that they taught could be improved. They will also have the opportunity to review any topics in which they require additional support especially in preparing to take the Praxis to complete the endorsement program. Topics will include: Advanced topics in Equilibrium, Biochemistry, and Organic Chemistry Prerequisite: CHEM-605 Chemistry Field Experience Courses CHEM-602 Field Experience in Teaching PSI Chemistry I Participating teachers are required to teach at least one section of PSI Chemistry in the fall and spring in order to apply the PSI principles to classroom teaching. This field experience provides the setting for developing their PSI teaching, which they then can discuss within their cohort. Topics taught include Atomic Structure, Periodicity, Chemical Bonding, Mole Calculations, and Chemical Reactions. Co-requisite: CHEM-603
CHEM-604 Field Experience in Teaching PSI Chemistry II Participating teachers are required to teach at least one section of PSI Chemistry in the fall and spring in order to apply the PSI principles to classroom teaching. This field experience provides the setting for developing their PSI teaching, which they then can discuss within their cohort. Topics taught include Stoichiometry, Gases, Intermolecular Forces, Chemical Energy, Matter and Solutions, and Kinetics and Equilibrium. Co-requisite: CHEM-605 Methods Courses MET-601 PSI-PMI Methods and Pedagogy This course prepares teachers to teach using research-proven methods; methods that were initially developed for the Progressive Science Initiative (PSI) and are now being successfully extended to other domains. Teachers will learn best practices for curriculum, pedagogy, technology, formative and summative assessment, grading, and pacing and how those are woven together to create a highly effective teaching and learning environment. Specific topics include: best practices for brief direct instruction - inquiry, modeling, and facilitating group discussion; social constructivism and frequent formative assessment; inquiry-based science labs; mastery-based summative assessment; appropriate use of retakes to encourage persistence and mastery. Instruction will also focus on the use of student polling devices to drive instruction through formative assessment. Theoretical and practical aspects of technology integration will be discussed.