Physics Teaching Resource Agent (PTRA)

Department of Physics www.physics.ohio-state.edu William Ploughe, Faculty Emeritus 614-292-5713 ploughe.1@osu.edu The PTRA program is a professional development opportunity for high school physics teachers, with about 25 workshops taking place across the country. PTRA leaders, who are high school teachers themselves, are trained through the American Association of Physics Teachers. Participating teachers commit to three consecutive years of attendance. The 24 teachers involved in the Ohio State program were chosen from 60 applicants. During the past three years, the program has been aimed at reaching teachers from a rural setting, who are often isolated from other physics teachers. The participating teachers are exposed to many different activities that strengthen their own knowledge of physics content and offer new ideas that they can use in their classrooms. The program is supported by a grant from the National Science Foundation. Teachers who complete the program can earn continuing education units (CEUs) or college credit. Pasco Scientific and Vernier Software loan equipment to the sites for this. Vernier Software was founded by David Vernier, alumnus of The Ohio State University Department of Physics and winner of the 2005 Distinguished Alumni Award in the department.