The Jeff Whittaker Biography

After graduating from Okemos High School I attended Michigan State University where in 1990 I completed my B.S.degree in Physical Science.  I then attended graduate school at the University of Michigan, studying economics and industrial organization.  In 1992 I began a 9 year physics teaching  position at Fordson High School in Dearborn Michigan.   During this time I completed my masters degree in Technology and Economics from Eastern Michigan University.

In 2001 I became a staff member of a magnet school called the Academy of Engineering & Technology located in Dearborn Heights, Michigan.  In the fall of 2004 I joined the staff of the Dearborn Center for Math Science and Technology.

In January of 2000 I launched PhysicsLessons.com.  The following are facts about PhysicsLessons.com:

• Visited over 3 million times by people from  over 80 countries.
• Won the ComputerUser.com "link of the week" award.
• Won the Exploratorium's  "ten cool sites" award
• Listed by the NSTA as a recommended Web Site.
• Recognized by the CSTA as a "great resource for teachers."
• Listed on 28 major search engines including Yahoo!, Google, MSN and Ask Jeeves.
• Won the ENC's "digital dozen" award
• Published by the International Society
  for Technology in Education in 101 Best Websites for Secondary
  Teachers

My other online experiences include developing online Physics courses for the Wayne County RESA and the Michigan Virtual High School.

I recently served on the executive board for the Metro Detroit Science Teacher's Association (MDSTA), and am currently serving as a reviewer for the Journal of Physics Teacher Education Online(JPTEO).

My wife, Maureen, and I enjoy travel and spending time with our four children.

Current interests include developing a digital high school physics textbook, and inventing magnetic climbing technology which allows persons to scale metal structures.  Click here to see a picture of my daughter climbing a metal wall, and here for a history of this project.