Teacher Candidate Teacher Candidate PerspectivesPerspectives

Kenneth MellendorfKenneth Mellendorf

Illinois Central CollegeIllinois Central College

Survey of Illinois State Survey of Illinois State University PTE MajorsUniversity PTE Majors

Conducted by Carl Wenning, ISU PhysicsConducted by Carl Wenning, ISU PhysicsSurvey responses from 24 of 33 PTE Survey responses from 24 of 33 PTE majorsmajors73 questions about influences on decision:73 questions about influences on decision:– to become a teacher in general (24)to become a teacher in general (24)– to become a physics teacher in particular (20)to become a physics teacher in particular (20)– to attend Illinois State University (29)to attend Illinois State University (29)

Will not address reasons for attending ISUWill not address reasons for attending ISU

Possible ResponsesPossible Responses

+2 = Strong positive influence+2 = Strong positive influence

+1 = weak positive influence+1 = weak positive influence

0 = no influence or not applicable0 = no influence or not applicable

-1 = weak negative influence-1 = weak negative influence

-2 = strong negative influence-2 = strong negative influence

Interpreting an ExampleInterpreting an Example

Data reported as: Factor (Influence)Data reported as: Factor (Influence)

Good overall grade point average (0.12)Good overall grade point average (0.12)

Factor = Good overall grade point averageFactor = Good overall grade point average

Influence = 0.12 (very slight, almost non-Influence = 0.12 (very slight, almost non-existent positive influence)existent positive influence)

Note that all pertinent data are available Note that all pertinent data are available on a handout to be provided.on a handout to be provided.

Top Ten Reasons for Becoming Top Ten Reasons for Becoming a Teacher in Generala Teacher in General

1.1. experiences with teaching others (1.71)experiences with teaching others (1.71)

2.2. experiences with good teachers (1.62)experiences with good teachers (1.62)

3.3. chance to make difference in world chance to make difference in world (1.42)(1.42)

4.4. ready job mobility (1.37)ready job mobility (1.37)

5.5. nine-month work schedule with summer nine-month work schedule with summer vacation (1.37)vacation (1.37)

Top Ten Reasons for Becoming a Top Ten Reasons for Becoming a Teacher in General Continued…Teacher in General Continued…

6.6. my desire to good for others (1.37)my desire to good for others (1.37)

7.7. opportunity to be creative (1.33)opportunity to be creative (1.33)

8.8. the high esteem that I hold for teachers the high esteem that I hold for teachers (1.29)(1.29)

9.9. the growing need for teachers (1.25)the growing need for teachers (1.25)

10.10. consistent with my natural abilities (1.21)consistent with my natural abilities (1.21)

Only Negative Influences on Only Negative Influences on Becoming a Teacher in GeneralBecoming a Teacher in General24. teacher salaries (-.38)24. teacher salaries (-.38)

23. recommendation of a school counselor 23. recommendation of a school counselor (-.25)(-.25)

Top Ten Reasons for Becoming Top Ten Reasons for Becoming a Physics Teacher in Particulara Physics Teacher in Particular

1.1. experiences with a high school physics experiences with a high school physics teacher (1.71)teacher (1.71)

2.2. my interest in physics in particular (1.67)my interest in physics in particular (1.67)

3.3. experience with a high school physics experience with a high school physics course (1.50)course (1.50)

4.4. applicability of physics to every-day life applicability of physics to every-day life (1.21)(1.21)

5.5. interest in science in general (1.08)interest in science in general (1.08)

Top Ten Reasons for Becoming Top Ten Reasons for Becoming a Physics Teacher Continued…a Physics Teacher Continued…6.6. my experiences with physics my experiences with physics

demonstrations (1.08)demonstrations (1.08)

7.7. my experiences with physics labs (1.08)my experiences with physics labs (1.08)

8.8. ability to apply my good math skills (1.00)ability to apply my good math skills (1.00)

9.9. good grades in physics (0.96)good grades in physics (0.96)

10.10. my experiences with technology (0.71)my experiences with technology (0.71)

Surprisingly Low Reasons for Surprisingly Low Reasons for Becoming a Physics TeachersBecoming a Physics Teachers

11.11. recommendation of a high school recommendation of a high school physics teacher (0.62)physics teacher (0.62)

14.14. recommendation of parent/guardian recommendation of parent/guardian (0.46)(0.46)

16.16. recommendation of friends (0.29)recommendation of friends (0.29)19.19. taking an AP physics course (0.21)taking an AP physics course (0.21)20.20. recommendation of a school counselor recommendation of a school counselor

(0.00)(0.00)

Conclusions 1Conclusions 1

Good experiences with physics & physics Good experiences with physics & physics teachers are the #1 reasons for becoming a teachers are the #1 reasons for becoming a physics teacherphysics teacherWorking with others has a strong positive Working with others has a strong positive influenceinfluenceTeacher candidates are altruisticTeacher candidates are altruisticFinding a job, having mobility and summer Finding a job, having mobility and summer vacation are key factors in employment decisionvacation are key factors in employment decisionSeeing the broad applicability of physics to real-Seeing the broad applicability of physics to real-world situations has a small positive influenceworld situations has a small positive influence

Conclusions 2Conclusions 2

Parents and friends have surprisingly small Parents and friends have surprisingly small amounts of influence on the decision.amounts of influence on the decision.Good high school physics grades only seem Good high school physics grades only seem to make a slight difference on the decision. to make a slight difference on the decision. Overall grades have essentially no effect.Overall grades have essentially no effect.Taking an AP Physics course has little Taking an AP Physics course has little positive impact.positive impact.Publicly available information (web, Publicly available information (web, magazines) has almost negligible influence magazines) has almost negligible influence on the decision.on the decision.

Implications….Implications….

High school physics teachers probably High school physics teachers probably aren’t having the positive impact they aren’t having the positive impact they could or should.could or should.

School counselors should be more School counselors should be more gainfully employed.gainfully employed.

Recommendations….Recommendations….