Physics education research is showing that programs for physics educators should
look different than traditional physics programs designed for other majors, but how? In
the literature review preceding this sequential, mixed methods study, three exemplary,
research based physics programs for practicing teachers are examined with respect to
physics education research, especially the five principles for effective physics teaching
set forth by senior physicist and physics education researcher E. F. Redish. This study
provides an in depth examination of a well-established physics graduate program for
practicing teachers at a small, midwestern university that is also measured against these
same five principles: Constructivist, Context, Conceptual Change, Individuality, and
Social Learning. In this setting, information was gathered in the form of a teacher survey,
as well as through case studies of selected participants.