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 On February
27-28 three representatives from The American Association of Physics
Teachers (AAPT) visited the GRCC campus. They toured the GRCC facilities
as well as interviewed GRCC faculty and administrators associated with
physics, astronomy, and Project TEACH.
Most of you will remember that it was the AAPT that chose GRCC
Foundation Board member Marv Nelson as the outstanding undergraduate
physics instructor in the country in 1999. AAPT has now honored the
college as a whole, but we still owe our many thanks to Marv for
building this program.
The following is a summary of their findings:
The American Association of Physics Teachers has chosen the physics
department of Green River Community College as one of twelve exemplary
two-year college physics programs in the country. In choosing Green
River, AAPT Secretary Mary Beth Monroe said GRCC has “a truly
outstanding program with demonstrated success.” The AAPT report commends
GRCC’s student-centered instruction saying, “Students are actively
involved in the instruction and excited about what they are learning in
physics.”
The AAPT applauds all GRCC physics and IDS classes for the use of:
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innovative inquiry-based
teaching methods,
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two microcomputer-based laboratories,
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and technology as a systematic method
of instruction.
Among GRCC’s successes, the AAPT
lists:
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a large number of science, technology,
and math majors,
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strong female and minority student
enrollments,
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and an unusually strong emphasis on
future K-12 teachers.
The AAPT report concludes: “The GRCC
physics program is a stellar program that can serve as a model for other
two-year college physics programs… The GRCC physics program, SMT
faculty, and Administration are to be commended for their dedication to
students and their clear focus on creating an innovative program.”
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