Fred Goldberg

Email

Primary Email: [email protected]

Building/Location

6475 Alvarado Rd
#206
San Diego, CA 92103

Website Links

• Next Generation Physics and Everyday Thinking

Bio

For the past thirty years I have been involved in research, curriculum development, and teacher professional development in physics education, working with students and teachers throughout the entire educational spectrum, K-16. For the past several years I have focused my research and development efforts in two main areas:  (1) Developing physics and physical science curricula for preservice and in-service elementary teachers to be used in both small and large (lecture-style) classroom environments; and (2) supporting responsive teaching in science in elementary school classrooms. Work in the first area has resulted in publication of several one-semester courses that are used in colleges and universities nationwide: Physics and Everyday Thinking (PET), Physical Science and Everyday Thinking (PSET), Learning Physics (a large-enrollment adaptation of PET), and Learning Physical Science (a large-enrollment adaptation of PSET). Most recently, Next Generation PET is a curriculum that unites the previous versions of PET nad PSET, and aligns with the Next Generation Science Standards. Work in the second area has resulted in the development of a prototype website to support responsive teaching. All the work has been supported through grants from the National Science Foundation, and the results of some of the work are described in the publications.

Fred Goldberg was the recipient of the 2003 Robert A. Millikan Award from the American Association of Physics Teachers. This award is given to a teacher who has made notable and creative contributions to the teaching of physics. He was also a 2007 Fulbright Senior Specialist, visiting scholar to Israel.

In addition, Fred has been named as the 2025 recipient of the prestigious Hans Christian Oersted Medal, also presented by the AAPT. The Medal will be awarded at a Ceremonial Session of the AAPT Winter Meeting, where he will deliver a plenary lecture. The Oersted Medal recognizes Fred's outstanding, widespread, and lasting impact on the teaching of physics.

Grants

Next Gen PET: A model of educational transformation (funded by NSF; Co-PI): 9/1/16-8/31/22.

Next Generation Physics and Everyday Thinking (funded by Chevron Corporation, by way of subcontract with CSU Chancellor's as part of 100kIn10 national project; PI): 2014-2016. 

Developing a Large Enrollment Conceptual Physics Course (NSF Grant 1044172, PI): 6/1/11 – 1/31/14.

Learning Progressions for Scientific Inquiry: A Model Implementation in the Context of Energy (NSF Grant 0732233, PI): 1/1/08 – 8/31/13.

Developing a Large Enrollment Physical Science Curriculum (NSF Grant 0717791, PI): 1/1/08 – 8/31/10.

Professional Development Materials for Constructing Physics Understanding among Prospective and Practicing Elementary Teachers (NSF Grant 0096856, PI): 9/1/01 – 12/31/08.

Systems and Interactions: Constructing Ideas in Physical Science, a yearlong middle school physical science course (NSF Grant 9812299, PI): 10/1/98 – 3/31/07.

CIPS Professional Development Project (NSF Grant 0138900, PI): 9/1/02 – 8/31/07.

Using Computer Technology to Develop Constructivist-Oriented Classroom Environments (NSF Grant 9454341, PI): 1/1/95 – 12/31/00.

Publications

Price, E., Goldberg, F., Patterson, S. and Heft, P. (2012) Supporting scientific writing and evaluation in a conceptual physics course with calibrated peer review. In Engelhardt, P., Churukian, A. D. and Rebello, N. S. (Eds) Proceedings of the 2012 Physics Education Research Conference. AIP Conference Proceedings 1513, 318-321.

Goldberg, F., Price, E., Robinson, S., Boyd-Harlow, D. and McKean, M. (2012). Developing the learning physical science curriculum: Adapting a small enrollment, laboratory and discussion based physical science course for large enrollments. Phys. Rev. ST Physics Ed. Research 8, 010121.

Hammer, D., Goldberg, F. and Fargason, S. (2012). Responsive teaching and the beginnings of energy in a third grade classroom. Review of Science, Mathematics and ICT Education, 6(1), 51-72.

Goldberg, F., Robinson, S., Price, E., Harlow, D., and McKean, M. (2012). Learning Physical Science. It’s About Time, Mount Kisco, New York, 10549.

Lineback, J. E. and Goldberg, F. (2010). Using changes in framing to account for differences in a teacher's classroom behavior. In Gomez, K., Lyons, L., & Radinsky, J. (Eds.) Learning in the Disciplines: Proceedings of the 9th International Conference of the Learning Sciences (ICLS 2010) - Volume 1, Full Papers. International Society of the Learning Sciences: Chicago IL.

Goldberg, F., Price, E., Harlow, D., Robinson, S., Kruse, R. and McKean, M. (2010). Development of Large-Enrollment, Active-Learning Physical Science Curriculum. In Singh, C., Sabella, M. and Rebello, S. (Eds) Proceedings of the 2010 Physics Education Research Conference. AIP Conference Proceedings, 153-156.

Radoff, J., Goldberg, F., Hammer, D. and Fargason, S. (2010). The Beginnings of Energy in Third Graders’ Reasoning. In Singh, C., Sabella, M. and Rebello, S. (Eds) Proceedings of the 2010 Physics Education Research Conference. AIP Conference Proceedings, 269-271.

(7) Goldberg, F., Otero, V. and Robinson, S. (2010). Design principles for effective physics instruction: A case study from Physics and Everyday Thinking. Am. J. Phys. 78 (12), 1265-1277.

(8) Goldberg, F. (2010). Integrating experiments and computer; simulations to promote learning. APS Forum on Education Newsletter (Fall).

Goldberg, F., Robinson, S., Otero, V., Kruse, R. and Thompson, N. (2008). Physical Science and Everyday Thinking. Second Edition. It’s About Time, Mount Kisco, New York, 10504.

Goldberg, F., Robinson, S., Otero, V., Kruse, R. and Thompson, N. (2007). Physical Science and Everyday Thinking. First Edition. It’s About Time, Mount Kisco, New York, 10504.

Goldberg, F., Robinson, S. and Otero, V. (2007). Physics and Everyday Thinking. It’s About Time, Mount Kisco, New York, 10504.

Goldberg, F., Bendall S., Heller, P. and Poole, R. (2006) InterActions in Physical Science. It’s About Time, Mount Kisco, New York, 10504.

Goldberg, F., Robinson, S. and Otero, V. (2006). Physics for Elementary Teachers. It’s About Time, Mount Kisco, New York, 10504.

Robinson, S., Goldberg, F. and Otero, V (2005). Physics for Elementary Teachers: A New Curriculum. APS Forum on Education Newsletter (Summer).

Goldberg, F., Bendall S., Heller, P., & Poole, R.(2003). Constructing Ideas in Physical Science: Field test version. Armonk, NY: It's About Time.

Huffman, D., Goldberg, F., & Michelin, M. (2003). Using computers to create constructivist learning environments: Impact on pedagogy and achievement. Journal of Computers in Mathematics and Science Teaching 22(2),153–170.

McCullough, R., McCullough, J., Goldberg, F., & McKean, M. (2001). CPU Workbook. The Learning Team. Mount Kisco, New York, 10504.

Goldberg, F. (2000). How computer technology can be incorporated into a physics course for prospective elementary teachers. In Gayle A. Buck, Jack G. Hehn and Diandra L. Leslie-Pelecky, editors: The Role of Physics Departments in Preparing K–12 Teachers. American Institute of Physics. College Park, MD.

Otero, V., Johnson, A., & Goldberg, F. (1999). How Does the Computer Facilitate the Development of Physics Knowledge by Prospective Elementary Teachers? Journal of Education 181 (2), 57-90.