Columbia University Barnard College
AAPT Teacher Professional Development Intern
American Association of Physics Teachers
Krystina Williamson_SPS Presentation 2018.pdf
Abstract:
Teachers and students can feel powerless when it comes to their capability to change physics education. However, through my internship at AAPT, I’ve seen teachers and students changing physics education in their classrooms, through local policy, and in research. I experienced, cultivated and participated in education policy, (through the AAPT/AIP Master Teacher Policy Fellows), education technology (through the Computational Modeling Workshop in Physics First), and education research (through Step Up 4 Women). During this internship, I not only learned how to become a strong teacher, but also how to better advocate for myself, my students, and my physics community. I look forward to applying the skills and knowledge I have gained through this internship towards future grant projects, future outreach programs and workshops, and future initiatives at my college to support physics students and physics faculty.
I am a rising junior at Barnard College of Columbia University. I'm pursuing a major in Physics, with a minor in Urban Teaching. I believe that education is a key component in a person’s journey to becoming the best citizen, the best thinker, and the best person that they can be. I hope to create a world where every student, regardless of background, can gain a comfortability with and an appreciation for physics. My immediate goals are to teach high school physics, but I would love to engage in educational research, educational policy, or educational technology in the future.
When I am not working on problem sets, I tutor undergraduate physics and help my peers edit their essays as a Writing Fellow. I also spend a good portion of my time missing the cuisine and weather of my home, the San Francisco Bay Area. I am beyond excited for the adventures I’ll have and people I’ll meet this summer!