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What is AMTA?
AMTA is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization created by teachers with the mission of providing professional development designed to help teachers implement Modeling InstructionTM in their classrooms. Teachers learn to help students plan and conduct data collection, analyze data, and share their findings in order to develop conceptual models that help them make sense of phenomena they observe.
Emphasis is placed on promoting classroom discussion in which the students arrive at a set of representations (a diagram, a graph and an equation) for the model they have created, then deploy the model in a series of related tasks.
This classroom dynamic is very different from the typical school culture, and requires teachers to develop skills in redirecting student questions to the group rather than simply giving the answers. To become proficient in the implementation of this pedagogy requires time and practice.
AMTA offers a number of experiences including face-to-face workshops, distance-learning courses and customized training which are aligned with NGSS Science and Engineering Practices. AMTA is a community of teachers dedicated to providing a wealth of instructional resources (curricular materials, webinars, short conferences and the ability to interact on various social media platforms) that will support teachers long after the training has been completed.
What is Modeling Instruction?
Modeling InstructionTM is a guided-inquiry approach to teaching science that organizes instruction around the handful of conceptual models that form the content core of the scientific disciplines. This method provides a framework for science instruction that approximates how scientists “do science.” Students build, test, and deploy conceptual models of physical relationships. Research has shown that students in Modeling Instruction classrooms perform significantly better on measures of conceptual knowledge than similar students in traditional science classrooms. Follow this link for more information.
What’s Happening?
Now Open: Submissions for The Modeling Teacher eJournal!
The Modeling Teacher, AMTA’s peer-reviewed eJournal, is now accepting submissions for its inaugural issue, launching in January 2027. Written by Modelers, for Modelers, the journal shares research, strategies, and classroom experiences from educators using Modeling Instruction™.
We welcome submissions from teachers at every stage of their Modeling journey, including:
- Classroom action research
- Instructional strategies and innovative activities
- Do-it-yourself apparatus designs
- Book reviews
- Classroom stories and reflections
First-time users will need to create a free account before submitting. Interested in serving as a reviewer or editor? Contact Dr. Colleen Megowan-Romanowicz.
Not a member yet? Click here to join or renew. Learn more about membership benefits here
Physics: E&M Curriculum Materials Updated
We’re excited to share that AMTA’s Modeling Instruction E&M materials have been carefully reviewed and refreshed! Kelli Warble and Larry Dukerich have spent the past several weeks combing through Units 1–4, cleaning up graphics, correcting equations, and polishing the Teacher Notes throughout. Updated PDF versions are now available in the shared curriculum drive. More updates to follow shortly.
Thank you to Larry and Kelli for their dedication to keeping these materials sharp and classroom-ready for physics teachers everywhere!
Have You Checked Out the Latest Chemistry Materials?
The materials in Units 1 – 8 have shifted the emphasis in calculations from factor-label methods to proportional quantitative reasoning, while maintaining the core storyline of previous versions. The document “The Story of Quantitative Reasoning” explains the distinction between quantities (such as mass and volume) and relationships (such as density and molar mass), and makes the case for why explicitly teaching this distinction matters. Brenda Royce and Larry Dukerich have also created a short video walking through this approach in greater detail. Units 2, 3, 5, 7 and 8 have all been updated to reflect this emphasis on sense-making over answer-getting.
The update of Units 1 – 8, which began in 2023, was completed in May 2026. This revision process was a careful, deliberate effort to ensure the materials reflect the best of current Modeling Instruction practice.
Physics Mechanics Refresh — Now Available in the Member Portal
The updated physics-mechanics materials are complete and ready to access in the AMTA member portal. Unit 2 (Constant Velocity Model) features revised teacher notes, new activities, links to presentations on the use of Graphical Analysis, and suggestions for sourcing or building inexpensive motion-study apparatus. Units 3 (Uniform Acceleration) and 4 (Balanced Forces) have also been updated.
Note: Vernier has recently released an updated version of Graphical Analysis. Visit the link for a slide deck covering the new features.
Membership in the AMTA Modeling Teacher community includes: Professional Development Offerings, Community Events, Classroom-ready Teacher Resources as well as Research on Modeling Instruction.
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