What happens when passionate educators, innovative faculty, and cutting-edge technology come together on one college campus? For 20 high school science teachers from across the Midwest and East Coast, the answer came during the 23rd Rickey Summer Science Institute (RSSI), held on the Marietta Collee campus July 7–11.
RSSI, a five-day professional development program hosted by Marietta College’s physics department, is more than a learning opportunity, it’s a hands-on, high-impact experience that empowers educators to transform the way they teach physics. Led by Marietta College physics faculty Dr. Ann Bragg, Dr. Craig Howald and Dr. Dennis Kuhl, the Institute equips teachers with practical tools, innovative strategies, and real-world applications that make complex science concepts more accessible and engaging for their students.
“Only about one-third of high school physics teachers set out to teach high school physics and therefore acquired a degree in physics,” Kuhl, chair of the physics department, explained. “The RSSI helps to introduce those teachers to new tools and techniques.”
“The other two-thirds not only learn about new tools and techniques but also get to enhance the depth of their mastery of the subject matter,” Kuhl added. “Thousands of students, perhaps tens of thousands, have been impacted by the hundreds of teachers that have participated.”
This year’s institute focused on Video Analysis for Physics Teaching. Attendees participated in a variety of activities, from written assignments and discussion sessions to computer-based labs and hands-on experiments designed to explore effective pedagogical approaches. The annual program is made possible through the generous support of the Rickey Endowment, which was created to expand and enhance the teaching of high school physics, physical science and mathematics.
Kuhl said this year marked the fifth time the program has used video analysis as its central theme.
“While the technology continues to change, the unchanging idea is to provide teachers with tools, instruction, and training that enhance the learning of physics concepts in a powerful way,” Kuhl explained. “In the case of video analysis, we can emphasize 2-dimensional topics such as projectile motion and collisions in a hands-on, conceptually focused way.”
RSSI reflects the physics department’s ongoing leadership in and dedication to science education outreach. Through their guidance and expertise, the department has established an institute that not only supports high school educators but also strengthens the future of science instruction in communities across the region. And although the Rickey Science Center is undergoing renovations, including updates to floors, offices, and labs, the physics department successfully hosted a first-class professional development experience for attendees from Ohio, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Tennessee, and North Carolina, with support from the physical plant team.
The Rickey Summer Science Institute has exemplified Marietta College’s commitment to academic excellence and meaningful outreach for two decades. By empowering educators to elevate science instruction in their own classrooms, the institute creates a ripple effect that extends well beyond the Marietta campus.