2023
The 2023 Summer Institute will be June 23-25, 2023 at Martin High School, 4501 W Pleasant Ridge Rd, Arlington, TX. The PTRA Leadership Institute is typically designed for PTRAs to be updated in technology and content to better serve their colleagues, however this summer we are inviting all secondary physics and physical science teachers to join us for a weekend of make-n-take, demos, and sharing of best lessons.
In addition, there will be a special demo show, provided by PIRA, a nationally recognized group of physics colleagues that perform demo shows all over the country. This will be something you don’t want to miss even if you can’t attend the workshop.
The TENTATIVE schedule for the Institute is as follows:
Friday June 23: Attendees are invited to join us on the last day of our Quantum for All Institute (https://quantumforall.org/quantum-opportunities/) as we learn about laser cooling! Laser cooling is a phenomena that involves momentum, atomic energy, and Doppler shift.
Saturday: June 24, 9:00AM-??. We will make launchers to be used in the classroom for both 1 and 2D motion. These launchers have been one of the all time favorite make-n-takes over the past 35 years and participants will make one to take back to their classroom. On Saturday there will also be a PIRA demo show which will be amazing! We have not decided if it will be in the afternoon or at night (may depend on the heat) but the public will be invited and teachers attending the weekend will be able to help in the demo show if they wish so they can learn the nuts and bolts of how to reproduce the demo show if wanted.There will also be a picnic either Saturday evening or Sunday. You may even learn how to play twilight golf.
Sunday: June 25, 9:00. AM-4:00 PM. There will be a solar eclipse in 2024 so we will have some activities that will help students safely learn about the eclipse, then we will share some of our favorite astronomy lessons. In addition, we will reveal our latest version of the energy conservation “tube” which is a simple experiment utilizing coke cans and water bottles. A must for all lessons on energy!
There will be a $25 registration fee since we need a headcount in order to purchase materials, but the fee will be small compared to the cost of items that teachers will take back to their classrooms (around $250). We want this to be a weekend of outreach, building of community, and just a great time to collaborate and share. CPE credit will be available upon request.
The PTRA Oversight Committee has allocated funds to provide materials and stipends (up to $750 for travel and lodging with receipt documentation and $250 stipend for the 3 days) this workshop and we are grateful for their support. The majority of the funds will be used to purchase materials for the demos and make-n-take, but there will be some funds available for travel to those who request support.
The registration/application link is open. Once the application is accepted you will be sent a link for payment. Your application will not be considered complete until payment is processed. Space will be limited due to the cost of materials and available funding.
Participants will be responsible for their own travel and lodging. When securing lodging, it is suggested you find hotels in the area near the school
2022
PTRAs had their Leadership Institute July 13-15, 2022, in Grand Rapids, MI. Two days focused on revised Perimeter Institute Resources including Climate Change, Bohr to Quantum, Black Holes, and Measuring Fields. The last day was spent learning ways to use Glowscript in the classroom. These topics can easily be transferred to K-12 classrooms in chemistry, physics, physical science, and computer science. Contact us for more information on professional development in your district.
April 2022 The regional AAPT meeting (SACS) will be held April 2. A workshop will be provided by Ann Robinson. March 2022 There are multiple sessions being given at the national NSTA meeting in Houston and the TSAAPT meeting in Abilene. TSAAPT sessions are March 10-12 and the presenters are Janie Head and Kenric Davies. NSTA sessions are March 30-April 2. PTRAs helping with the sessions include Jan Mader, Emma Smith, Kenric Davies, Janie Head, Tommi Holsenbeck, Stacy Gwartney, Cathy Barthelemy, and Karen Matsler. November 2021 November 5-MAST conference, presentation by Steven Henning November 11-12 Members of TSAAPT will be providing several sessions at the Texas Conference for Advancement of Science Teaching (CAST). Nov. 11: 2:30-3:30 PM The Golden Rules of Quantum. Session 5074 Nov 11: 4-5PM Where is the Quantum in Chemistry? Session 5073 Nov. 12: 9:30-10:30AM Malus Law and Mutual Exclusive States. Session 5075 Nov. 12: 2:30-3:30 PM Wave Particle Duality Introduction Session 5076 July 2021--NSF is funding a workshop on QIS. Since the participants will receive a stipend there will be a limited number of participants. For more information go to quantumforall.org April 24: A NES/PTRA workshop will focus on how a NSF project is providing an opportunity for educators to learn principles and applications of QIS (Quantum Information Science). The objective of the session is to strengthen background knowledge and provide some activities that can be used in the classroom. QIS Core concepts include superposition, qubits, entanglement, cryptography etc. For more information contact Steve Henning physfsh@gmail.com November 2021 November 5-MAST conference, presentation by Steven Henning November 11-12 Members of TSAAPT will be providing several sessions at the Texas Conference for Advancement of Science Teaching (CAST). Nov. 11: 2:30-3:30 PM The Golden Rules of Quantum. Session 5074 Nov 11: 4-5PM Where is the Quantum in Chemistry? Session 5073 Nov. 12: 9:30-10:30AM Malus Law and Mutual Exclusive States. Session 5075 Nov. 12: 2:30-3:30 PM Wave Particle Duality Introduction Session 5076 July 2021--NSF is funding a workshop on QIS. Since the participants will receive a stipend there will be a limited number of participants. For more information go to quantumforall.org April 24: A NES/PTRA workshop will focus on how a NSF project is providing an opportunity for educators to learn principles and applications of QIS (Quantum Information Science). The objective of the session is to strengthen background knowledge and provide some activities that can be used in the classroom. QIS Core concepts include superposition, qubits, entanglement, cryptography etc. For more information contact Steve Henning physfsh@gmail.com