87-51730 Enrichment in Modern Physics is a two year program for 24 high school physics teachers from the Central New York region. This project is designed to provide concentrated study in modern physics for underprepared teachers from rural school districts. In addition, teachers will receive training in pedagogical techniques that will permit them to introduce modern physics topics in their high school courses. During the first three-week summer workshop participants will receive training in atomic physics, solid-state theory, conductivity and semiconductor physics. During the second summer they will cover topics in gravitational physics, astronomy, nuclear physics, and quantum phenomena. Both summer workshops include laboratory components aimed at providing the participants with a number of inexpensive demonstrations and hands-on activities in modern physics which can be used in high school physics courses. Participants will become part of the SUNY, Cortland Physics Sharing Group which provides continuing in-service support for physics teachers in the central New York region. This project has been designed as a model to address the urgent need to train teachers to include modern physics in the high school physics course. The State University of New York at Cortland and several School Districts of Central New York have contributed an amount equal to 40% of the NSF award.
