This document discusses opportunities for professional development for physics teachers. It questions whether a more organized national approach is needed compared to the current local and regional arrangements. It raises issues about supporting teachers entering from other careers or returning to teaching, as well as teachers from other subjects teaching physics. If a need is established, it discusses how professional development should be organized, run, and paid for. Key points from the discussion include that there is a need for enhanced professional development, that a local or regional level may be easier to organize and fund, and that national opportunities could be provided along with existing conferences, with further exploration involving relevant organizations.

1. Physics
Teachers'
Picnics
Professional
development
opportunities
for
physics
teachers.
Is
there
a
need
for
PD
on
a
wider
national
basis
than
the
seemingly
haphazard
local
or
regional
arrangements
prevalent
during
the
last
twenty
years?
What
about
people
coming
into
teaching
from
other
careers
or
returning
to
teaching,
for
example,
after
raising
a
family?
What
about
biology
teachers,
or,
worse,
maths
teachers
being
asked
to
teach
physics?
What
about
confident,
expert
physics
teachers
needing
to
spark
off
others?
If
we
decide
there
is
such
a
need,
how
should
the
PD
be
organised,
run
and
paid
for?
Key
points
arising
from
discussion:
1.
Yes,
there
is
a
need
for
enhanced
PD.
2.
Perhaps
easier
to
organise
and
fund
on
a
local
/
regional
level.
3.
National
opportunities
suggested
in
conjunction
with
future
Physikos
or
SciCon
events
4.
Further
exploration
needed
with
NZIP
and
Teacher
Refresher
Course
Committee