Physics Teacher Education Coalition (PhysTEC)

Current Project

The Physics Teacher Education Coalition (PhysTEC) project is a nationwide project that has the mission of improving and promoting the education of future physics teachers. At each of the PhysTEC sites around the United States, physics faculty, education faculty, and a full-time teacher-in-residence (TIR) work together to improve secondary physics education programs.

Left to right: Cody Sandifer, Lisa Rainey and Ron Hermann

Towson University¹s current PhysTEC project will run from 2010-2013. The project team consists of Dr. Ronald Hermann and Dr. Cody Sandifer, two full-time science education faculty in the Department of Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences (PAGS), and a full-time TIR. The 2012-2013 TIR is Lisa Rainey, a former Baltimore County physics teacher and Harford County Community College administrator.

The following is a brief description of the ways in which Towson's PhysTEC project will enhance and restructure existing efforts in physics education recruitment, retention, and induction and mentoring.

• The PhysTEC project team is making a concerted effort to expose physics majors early in their academic career to (a) the possibility of teaching as a career and (b) actual teaching experiences at both the K-12 and university levels. This is being done through general advertising (posters, open meetings, classroom visits), school- and outreach-based early teaching courses (SCIE 170), and the STEM-TC learning assistant program.
  • See more information on Towson University's STEM-TC Program.


• Active learning improvements are being made to the courses in the lower division physics sequence and the secondary science teaching methods course. The host teachers for physics education student teachers are now also being more carefully selected, oriented, and supported.


• Other efforts are geared towards helping our education majors develop a greater sense of belonging to an educational community. These efforts include the creation of a comprehensive physics education web site, the establishment of a new secondary STEM education club, formal and informal discussions with the physics TIR, and the funding of small grants that allow education majors to attend and present at NSTA and AAPT meetings.

More information may be found on the

• National PhysTEC website.
• Project Report for Towson's original elementary PhysTEC project (2004-2008).
• Towson University Elementary PhysTEC web page (2004-2008).

The Jess and Mildred Fisher
College of Science and Mathematics
Smith Hall, Room 312 (campus map)
Phone: 410-704-2121
Fax: 410-704-2604
E-mail: fcsm@towson.edu