Eric Peterson
Greetings Fellow Illini Physics Teachers,
Albuquerque provided the physical space for the
most recent National AAPT Meeting. Initiation into the organization at this
level and the process of this type of conference proved both swift and
judicious. Illinois was represented at all three required events with summaries
following in sequential order.
I. Commencing Sunday evening, the 9th of
January, was the Section Officers Exchange. The primary thrust was twofold:
- Improve attendance at national meetings with
discussion centered upon: Time & duration; cost; location. Some disgruntlement
was expressed regarding the inclusion of Alaska as a winter 2006 destination.
Positive feedback was initiated to state that Anchorage represented a good
opportunity and was followed by a representative of that University extending
a heartfelt invitation to come north and consider adding Alaska as a new AAPT
Section.
- Encourage participation in committees by all
constituents. I volunteered to join the nominating and two-year college
committees, a sub-group of the latter on NSF Teaching grants and chair a
session at this summer’s meeting in Utah.
II. Temporally juxtaposed was the Section
Representatives Meeting. Highlights:
- Member needs assessment 2001- Document
provided by Monalco, Inc. was viewed in a preliminary form to be discussed
this summer in Salt Lake City, UT.
- Physics Education Research On-line Link (Free)
to be up in the (Feb-Mar) time frame that will support up to $15000 for
on-line journal to support Physics Education Research (PRST).
- Alaska-Formally wants to be added as a
Section.
- Undergrad Upper Division Physics
Classes-recommendations to improve / rejuvenate to be published in upcoming
Announcer.
- Physics on Road Grants (Year of Physics 2005 -
started Oct’ 04) - Light Around the World for example…see National
AAPT Web site.
- Use listserv to disseminate information on
groups doing Year of Physics 2005 work.
III. AAPT Council Meeting transpired the
following day at 8:30 pm with:
- Usual call to order and reports from all the
officers, reports that may be viewed at the Web site to comply with by-laws.
- Special presentation suggesting new rural
teachers be invited to a section meeting free. Interjected the existence of
the Illinois High School Teachers
Pipeline Report available at our organization's Web site.
- Alaska petitioned for status as a new section
and was accepted.
There has been a general request for the
submission of entries to the Apparatus Competition to be held at the National
Meeting, August 6-10, in Salt Lake City. You do not need to be
present…just the apparatus. Up to 9 awards splitting $2400. Complete rules and
entry form to be found at
www.personal.pus.edu/ref7/apparatus/ or contact Richard Flarend, AAPT
Competition Director, 3000 Ivyside Park, Altoona, PA 16601, 814-949-5744, fax:
814-949-5011.
Respectfully submitted,
Eric Peterson
Highland Community College
Freeport, IL 61032
e-mail:
epeterson@highland.edu