Learning Objectives
The physics teaching degrees are the BS in Physics Teaching and the BS in Composite Teaching-Physical Science. Typically the number of students enrolled in these programs is less than 10% of our physics majors. The two degrees require a relatively small number of physics courses in conjunction with the requirements from the Secondary Teacher Education Program (STEP). The principal goal of our program relative to these degrees is to give students a scientific background adequate to prepare them to teach science.
Objective 1
Utah Core Curriculum Standards - High School
AP Physics Learning Objectives
Utah Core Curriculum Standards - Grades 6
Utah Core Curriculum Standards - Grades 7
Utah Core Curriculum Standards - Grades 8
Utah Core Curriculum Standards - Grades 9
Objective 2
Students will construct sufficient knowledge of physics to satisfy Utah educational standards for a highly qualified secondary science teacher.
Assessment Plan
- The physics teaching degree learning objectives have a physics component and a teaching component, with the latter provided by the College of Education. Consequently, we have two summative assessments - one from Physics one from Education. They are as follows.
- Physics assessment: (i) Did students take the required physics courses and get acceptable grades? This will be measured via the physics and total GPAs of each of the majors. (ii) At what level(s) did students take advantage of mentored physics teaching opportunities? This will be measured via comparison of total number of teaching experiences (e.g., labs, UTFs) versus total number of matriculated semesters for each of the majors.
- Teaching assessment: The student teaching evaluation used in our teacher preparation programs is officially known as the Performance Assessment and Evaluation System or PAES. This instrument was developed by a consortium of university-based teacher preparation programs in Utah. It is aligned with the Utah Effective Teaching Standards, which are a version of the InTASC standards. The instrument has a total possible score of 66, and the criteria for success is 80% of 66, or 53.
- External Reviews: Periodically the department's programs are reviewed by physicists from other institutions. The most recent review took place in 2024.
Outcomes Data
2024 External Review Results
Departmental Response
Education data (PAES):
Fall 2021 – Spring 2024
Physics: 65
Physical Science: 64
Data-based Decisions
The assessment plan and data collection are new as of academic year 2024. The data will be discussed and acted upon (if appropriate) in academic year 2025.