Assistant Professor, Department of Physics and Astronomy
Benedikt W. Harrer is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Physics and Astronomy at San José State University. Dr. Harrer earned his Ph.D. in physics (specializing in physics education research) at the University of Maine, where he analyzed classroom video to identify disciplinary progenitors in middle school students’ ideas about energy. He also holds a graduate degree in physics and mathematics with a concentration in teaching and education (Staatsexamen Mathematik/Physik für Lehramt an Gymnasien) from the Ludwig-Maximilians-University in Munich, Germany. Before joining the Department of Physics and Astronomy at SJSU, he taught pre-service mathematics and science teachers in the Cal Teach program at UC Berkeley, where he also directed the Cal Teach Summer Research Institute and co-directed the Berkeley Engineering Research Experiences for Teachers (BERET) program.
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About Benedikt W. Harrer
Benedikt W. Harrer is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Physics and Astronomy at San José State University. Dr. Harrer earned his Ph.D. in physics (specializing in physics education research) at the University of Maine, where he analyzed classroom video to identify disciplinary progenitors in middle school students’ ideas about energy. He also holds a graduate degree in physics and mathematics with a concentration in teaching and education (Staatsexamen Mathematik/Physik für Lehramt an Gymnasien) from the Ludwig-Maximilians-University in Munich, Germany. Before joining the Department of Physics and Astronomy at SJSU, he taught pre-service mathematics and science teachers in the Cal Teach program at UC Berkeley, where he also directed the Cal Teach Summer Research Institute and co-directed the Berkeley Engineering Research Experiences for Teachers (BERET) program.
| August 2015 - Present | Assistant Professor, Department of Physics and Astronomy, San Jose State University | |
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| January 2014 - August 2015 | Lecturer, University of California, Berkeley ‐ Cal Teach & Graduate School of Education | |
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Disciplines
Research Interests
Physics education research, Learning of scientific practices, esp. in physics, Productive ideas and intuitions in physics (esp. in the context of energy), their informal assessment, and responsive teaching, Physics pre- and in-service teacher learning in formal and informal professional development settings, and Audio- and video-recording techniques for capturing interactions in natural settings
Grants
| 2018 | Using Geometric Algebra to aid physics students’ understanding of rotational motion |
| Central Research, Scholarship & Creative Activity (RSCA) Grant | |
| Role: Principal Investigator | |
| $4,950 | |
| 2016 | WaveSIPP: Waves and Synthesizers in Physics Project |
| Central Research, Scholarship & Creative Activity (RSCA) Grant | |
| Role: Principal Investigator | |
| $4,933 | |
| 2015 | Berkeley Engineering Research Experiences for Teacher + Computing |
| NSF #EEC - 1542471 | |
| Role: Co-Investigator | |
| $599,120 | |
| 2014 - 2015 | Verizon-UTeach Mobile Technology Initiative |
| Verizon-UTeach Subaward Cohort II | |
| Role: Co-Investigator | |
| $18,175 |
Professional Service and Affiliations
| 2018 - Present | Guest Editor, Physical Review Physics Education Research | 2010 - Present | Member, American Association of Physics Teachers (AAPT) | 2002 - 2017 | Member, Deutsche Physikalische Gesellschaft (DPG, German Physical Society) | 2016 | Co-Organizer, “Methodologies for Video-Based Research in PER," Physics Education Research Conference (PERC) | 2014 - 2015 | Co-Director, Berkeley Engineer- ing Research Experiences for Teachers (BERET) | 2014 - 2015 | Coordinator, Cal Teach Summer Research Institute, University of California, Berkeley | 2014 | Reviewer, Next Generation Science Standards Curriculum Alignment Tool (CAT) | 2012 | Moderator, “Cultural Influences on Physics Teaching: Identifying Factors, Implementing Change," PERC | Reviewer, Physical Review Physics Education Research | Reviewer, The Physics Teacher | Reviewer, the American Journal of Physics |
Honors and Awards
- RSCA (RESEARCH, SCHOLARSHIP & CREATIVE ACTIVITY) SPRING 2016 PROPOSAL: WAVESIPP – WAVES AND SYNTHESIZERS IN PHYSICS PROJECT
- NSF EEC #1542471: BERKELEY ENGINEERING RESEARCH EXPERIENCES FOR TEACHERS + COMPUTING (BERET+C) PROGRAM (CO-PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR)
- VERIZON-UTEACH SUBAWARD COHORT II 2014/2015
Courses
| 2013 | Ph.D., University of Maine ‐ Physics | |
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| 2009 | Staatsexamen LAG, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität ‐ Physics/Mathematics | |
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Links
Contact Information
Benedikt W. Harrer
Assistant Professor, Department of Physics and Astronomy
San José State University
408-924-5284
