How to Teach a Teacher: Challenges and Opportunities in Physics Teacher Education in Germany and the USA

TL;DR

This paper compares physics teacher education systems in Germany and the USA, highlighting similarities, differences, and opportunities for mutual learning to improve teacher preparation quality.

Contribution

It provides a detailed comparative analysis of two distinct educational traditions, revealing common challenges and unique opportunities for enhancing physics teacher training.

Findings

Both systems face similar challenges in balancing academic and practical training.

Distinct organizational structures influence the quality assurance processes.

Opportunities exist for cross-country learning to improve teacher education practices.

Abstract

Preparing future physics teachers for the demanding nature of their profession is an important and complex endeavor. Teacher education systems must provide a structure for the coherent professional development of prospective teachers. Worldwide, physics teacher education is organized in different ways, but have to face similar challenges, like the relation between academic studies and practical preparation. To meet these challenges, it is worth taking look at different teacher education systems. In this chapter, we compare physics teacher education in two countries, representing two different educational traditions: Germany and the USA. Comparing different aspects of physics teacher education (standards, organization and institutionalization, content of teacher education, quality assurance), we describe both systems in their current state and why they are organized in the way they are. In doing so, we identify surprising commonalities but also different opportunities for both systems to learn from each other.