Physics First continues to build excitement

On May 10, 2007 Nobel Laureate Dr. Leon Lederman visited Rhode Island.  He was the featured speaker at a breakfast meeting at the Marriott Hotel in Providence.   Participants  included Governor Donald Carcieri,  Providence legislators, the Commissioners of Elementary and Higher Education, School district Superintendents, school committee representatives, representatives of the Governor’s PK-16 Council, RI Department of Education members, teachers, students and parents.  Dr. Lederman, the national leader of Physics First, has taken a personal interest in this state’s pilot initiative involving 6 high schools.  The East Bay Educational Collaborative – which manages and supports the initiative with teacher training, on-site mentoring, equipment and material -- hosted the event.

Reflections on the progress of the initiative, now completing its first year, were presented by Governor Carcieri; Ron DeFronzo, Science Specialist at EBEC; Jeff Schoonover, Portsmouth HS Physics First Teacher and Department Chair; Louis DiPalma, of the Raytheon Corporation; and Jerry Kowalczyk, Executive Director of EBEC.

Among the highlights of the meeting were the personal stories presented by two students in Physics First at Portsmouth High School, Samantha Augustine and Justin Booth.  The students described how they have found Physics First to be fun, engaging, team oriented and even supportive of their math learning.

Dr. Lederman’s commentary stressed the urgency for the nation to embrace instructional change in high school science.  He noted that Physics First is an exemplary model based on research and successful experience in over 1,000 schools nationwide.  He emphasized that many people across the country are watching this Rhode Island initiative in as a national model of how all stakeholders can, with the collaborative leadership, reform science education.  He emphasized our nation’s critical shortage of scientists and engineers – and discussed the risk this poses to the security and future of our country