Our local group was organized several years ago using start up money from
the NSF. Most popular meetings are make and take. We are fortunate enough
to have one member who is good at fabrication. He seems to be able to come
up with some excellent projects. Biggest bomb was the last attempt - Metric
Madness. Idea was to share ways of introducing metrics. Most university and
two year people don't do much of this anymore because the students we get
already know the basics thanks to the public school teachers. Most public
school teachers said they already had tons of material on the subject. So
we ate pizza and talked shop.
We have not tried to get funding at least in the way you envision. For
speakers we have always found people who will do a presentation for free.
(Some are worth hearing others are charging way too much). So far The
University of Tulsa Physics department has paid for the mailings (Much
thanks) and Tulsa Community College has supplied coppier service -
(actually that means I walk down the hall and run off stuff on the machine)
Definitely involve local universities and community colleges. At some
meetings we often have more members from these institutes than from public
schools. They are also a great source of speakers etc.
Don Mathieson
Tulsa Community College
dmathies@tulsa.cc.ok.us
Hi There,
I am interested in starting a special-interest group for physics teaching
in my area. I would like to attract local high school physics teachers and
middle school science teachers, seek funding for special speakers and
donuts, and maybe run a quarterly newsletter. If you have been down this
road before, can you give me any suggestions? Do you know of physics
teaching sigs in your area? What made the meetings successful?