Submissions

Author Guidelines

Deadline for Issue 1 Submissions: December 1, 2026!

The Modeling Teacher - Guidelines for Authors

For all submissions

The Modeling Teacher (TMT) accepts submissions that are written by Modelers, for Modelers, about Modeling Instruction. Submissions that do not fall within this scope will be returned to the author without review.

Ethical Guidance

Authors, reviewers and editors alike are expected to conform to the ethical standards and guidelines set forth by the American Institute of Physics here: Ethics and Responsibilities page. Individuals (and only those) who have made significant contributions should be offered the opportunity to be listed as authors.

Do not list ChatGPT or other AI-based large language models as an author. However, authors must acknowledge whether and how they have used AI in the manuscript when they submit their manuscript.

The editors of The Modeling Teacher ask that reviewers adopt a tone that is respectful and supportive.

Audience

Papers should be appropriate to as broad an audience of Modelers as possible. If you must use uncommon technical terms please define them. Authors should not assume that readers possess special subject matter expertise in a particular area of science.

Types of Manuscripts you may submit:

1. Feature articles (~2000 words)

• Classroom research (requires anonymized peer review)

• the learning science behind modeling (cognitive science)

• the 'hard science' behind the lessons

2. Commentaries (800 words max)

• first person accounts

• Stories

• Reflections (e.g. new Modeler thoughts, Modeling 'failures')

• Op eds

• NGSS

3. Short Takes (500 words max)

• How-to’s/DIYs (equipment, tools, hacks, etc.)

• News and resources of interest to Modelers, by Modelers, about modeling

• Reviews (books, articles, podcasts, software, resources)

• Tips and tricks (e.g., clever, open house ideas, etc.)

• The Learning science behind Modeling (cognitive science)

• Alternative Storylines-for every discipline and grade level, suggested and explained

4. Modeling Visualized - Photos (e.g., whiteboard of the month, entries into the Modeling Calendar Photo Contest)
   
   Columns (by editorial board members or by invitation only)

• Interview with a Modeler

• Letters to “Dear Modeler" advice column

• AMTA - historical anecdotes

• A dedicated column for each discipline

Style

APA 7th style should be followed to prepare your manuscript.

Units

Authors are encouraged to use SI units, but use of SI units is not mandatory in cases where other units are more appropriate.

References and Endnotes

TMT uses endnotes, not footnotes. Endnotes should be numbered sequentially, double spaced and compiled in order at the end of the manuscript. When you rely on a published source for an assertion you make in your submission remember to cite the source at the end of your article. Follow APA 7th guidelines for citation format.

Title and first paragraph

The title of the paper should be short and reflect the paper’s content. Papers in The Modeling Teacher do not include abstracts. Instead, the first paragraph of each published paper should give a brief summary of the paper’s content. This paragraph will be entered into TMT’s searchable online index.

Figures and tables

Figures should be numbered in the order in which they are referred to in the text and include captions. If any figures are taken from another publication, authors should obtain permission to use them before sending them to The Modeling Teacher. Necessary credit information should be included with the submission. Please note that for photos of students, we require signed releases.

Graphs should be self-explanatory, with axes clearly labeled and units stated. The proper recording of error bars on data points should be taken very seriously.

Tables numbered sequentially with Roman numerals. Each table should be referred to in the text at the appropriate place and must be intelligible by itself, with a brief title, clear column headings, and units where needed.

All tables and figures should be placed at the end of the manuscript in the order they are to appear in the paper.

Document File Format

Please submit document files in .pdf format. Note: You do not need Adobe Acrobat to save a document in this format. Word documents can be saved as .pdf's, and if you do not have Word, a Google Drive document can be downloaded as a pdf.

Images

Images should be uploaded as .jpg or .gif files. Minimum file size: 800x800 pixels (bigger is always better). Please no images > 10 MB!

Additional Guidance specifically for Feature Article Submissions

Length

Feature articles published in The Modeling Teacher are meant to be fairly short, with a benchmark of ~2,000 words to allow for the space that figures take up. Occasional exceptions may be made from time to time for particularly important manuscripts

References, tables and figures are not counted in the word count. Material in an online supplement can be referenced, and this would not count toward the length limit.

References (required for research-based, feature articles)

Feature (research-based) articles must adequately cite published peer-reviewed literature.

Regarding referencing - a thought authors are encouraged to keep in mind is that Modeling Instruction has been around since the 1980s.  The Modeling LISTSERV, now called Modeling Lists (which are actually Google Groups) has been around for just as long.  Many great Modeling ideas have been shared in that resource - please consider exploring that resource to help strengthen your submission.

 Modeling Visualized - Photos

This is a place for images that illustrate Modeling Instruction in action. Be sure to submit a caption with each photo.  All images must have photo release forms for all individuals pictured. Minimum image size, 1 MB. Click here to download release forms.