The first publications in physics education research can be traced to the early 20th Century. However, intense research and development has occurred primarily over the last 50 years. This panel discussion on the evolution of Physics Education Research (PER) over the past 50 years will focus on some key developments since about 1970.
Panel members will share some of their most prominent...
In 1984 Jon Ogborn [1] published an article about Dynamical Modelling. He demonstrated clearly the enormous potential added-values for physics education. So one would expect by now, 40 years later, in most countries the application of computational modelling is an integral part in the modern physics curriculum for high schools. Reality is amazingly different. By now, as far as known, only in...
Special relativity is a challenging topic for secondary school students due to its abstract and counterintuitive nature. Thought experiments are often used to make relativistic effects tangible. Prior research has shown that students often express thought experiments in intuitive operationalisations, rooted in everyday experiences. We developed and evaluated a three-part lesson series focusing...
This study identifies a global challenge in mathematics and physics education: a widespread "blind spot" of trigonometric derivatives and their implications for physical systems. Data were collected from 700 university science students across four countries: Israel, USA, China, and India. Findings show that 70%-80% of participants were unaware that these derivatives differ when measured in...
We present research on the development and initial implementation of hands-on demonstration material for quantum entanglement using electronically modified dice. These “Quantum Dice” are equipped with displays, orientation sensors, and wireless communication to simulate basic quantum physics concepts. The system supports various educational scenarios, from basic entanglement demonstrations to...
To integrate nature of science learning opportunities for pre-service physics teachers into our teacher education program, we first investigate the pre-service teachers' perceptions of physicists. For this, we use an extended version of the Draw a Scientist test, supplemented by open-ended questions on knowledge, skills and personality traits associated with physicists, as well as the relation...
Reasoning with mathematical formulas is important in secondary-school physics education. Often students lack this skill and see formulas as calculation tools and not as relationships between physical quantities. When handling formulas, they experience different cultures in math and physics classes. To reason with formulas, students must learn to blend mathematical and physics knowledge. This...
Quantum optics is an emerging field of physics, and an increasing number of applications is expected in the future. Thus, the need for education in this field is essential, while remaining challenging. Especially experimental setups using single-photon experiments are still beyond reach for any school, due to costs and technical difficulties. A promising approach seems to be using cheap,...
The Rothschild-Weizmann program for excellence in science teaching grants teachers an MSc degree and involves advanced physics courses, going far beyond knowledge taught at Israeli schools. Clearly, such courses deepen content knowledge. However, it is unclear how they change graduates’ teaching. We used semi-structured interviews to study how the instructors of the physics courses view their...
College physics education aims to develop students’ knowledge of fundamental and interconnected physics concepts such as kinematics. Previous research has examined students’ understanding of kinematics in various studies addressing naïve beliefs, misconceptions, learning difficulties, and knowledge-in-pieces framework. This study explores students’ reasoning in kinematics based on resources...
Cosmic ray research, a new field in physics and astrophysics, emerged in 1912 [1]. Its deeper understanding became possible through advancements in electronics and detectors. However, it was rarely included in citizen science projects. Our CREDO-edu program aims to change this. We created an app for cosmic ray measurements in schools and homes and developed a year-long school curriculum to...
The Quantum for All project, funded by the US National Science Foundation, provided opportunities for students to learn about various aspects of quantum science by providing professional development for high school STEM educators to learn and practice quantum information science and engineering (QISE). This paper will share qualitative analysis from the feedback surveys highlighting the...
The interplay between mathematics and physics in teaching and learning physics is attributed to a distinct domain, "Physmatics," encompassing unique skills and thinking modes. Students often face difficulties in this domain, yet these difficulties and their link to physmatic skills remain underexplored. This study analyzed recordings of high school physics lessons to identify connections...
SER literature calls for a less formal approach to quantum mechanics education. We designed such a lesson based on Glynn’s Teaching-With-Analogies model with Kundt’s tube and a quantum well. We researched its implementation asking: What classical and quantum ontologies do Preservice Teachers use? Nine PSTs participated. Qualitative analysis of group dialogues revealed that the PSTs used five...
The reasoning of 64 Greek secondary education students about the nature of electromagnetic radiation and its effects on human health is investigated. The study took place in the context of a teaching-learning sequence on argumentation and climate change. Results indicate that students’ reasoning tended to exploit evidence that was accessible as part of the given scenarios but also prior...
In the physical sciences, today digital data acquisition (DDA) tools play a core role in empirically testing complex theoretical models. However, the integration of DDA into physics teaching remains infrequent, mainly because many teachers lack the professional skills to use these digital tools in classrooms. To address this challenge, we designed a long-term teacher professional development...
Ionizing radiations are widely used for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes and hence saving millions of lives every year. Over 25 million people in the world living with cancer. Nearly 11 million people are diagnosed with cancer every year and more than 60% of them get curative and/or palliative treatment using ionizing radiations through radiotherapy or brachytherapy or nuclear medicine....
The teaching of the concept of energy, along with the processes of energy transformation and transfer in Newtonian mechanics, is a complex issue that continues to present significant pedagogical challenges. This study examines the epistemic practices of High School students (ages 16-18) in Argentina and Spain when solving problems related to energy transformation, transfer, and the application...
Results from a survey of Scottish secondary science teachers are presented. This survey investigated methods of introducing electrical circuits. Biology, chemistry and physics teachers teach science as one discipline in most schools. Results indicate elements of the curriculum as defined are taught, but there is variation in delivery. There is no agreement on definitions, with electrons...
Abstract. The aim of this work is to detect the difficulties of second year (3rd semester) chilean students in kinematics with non-constant acceleration. The focus is on questions in which students receive the information in one representation (graphical or algebraic) and have to transform and answer in the other. The analysis was carried out by phenomenography, which allowed us to categorise...
One of the main aims of Physics education research is to identify and address student difficulties in learning physics. This study investigates student understanding of classical relativity concepts, including the Frame of Reference (FoR), Principle of Relativity (PoR), and Principle of Equivalence (PoE). We designed and administered a 22-item multiple-choice test to 200 students in...
The paper presents the results of an analysis of the performance of pupils who attended international rounds of the International Junior Science Olympiad (IJSO) in 2023 and 2024 (6 pupils each year). The goal of the analysis is to find out how a selected sample of Slovak pupils performs on standardized tests, to be more precise, to find out the extent to which pupils lack the ability to use...
Abstract. This article analyzes the key physics competencies and problem-solving approaches of students aged 14–15. The research compares two groups: one consisting of talented students participating in the zDolny Ślązak provincial physics competition, and another comprising typical public school students. The study uses two distinct tasks: one focused on classical computational...
This study introduces CapacitorAR, a mobile augmented reality (AR) simulation designed to enhance students’ understanding of parallel plate capacitors. The application combine both marker-based and markerless AR technologies to offer flexible, intuitive interactions that enable users to explore how key physical parameters—such as plate distance, surface area, and dielectric properties—affect...
Kinematics is the first unit that students encounter in Croatian high schools, where experiments with ticker tape timer are one of the most common experiments. Analysis of the tape is very long and complex procedure for physics novices, even with great help and guidance from teachers. Our group managed to simplify the experiment, using only the cart, a ruler and two mobile phones. The easier...
During Basic Education in Mexico, we seek to develop scientific thinking. Students are also expected to understand and explain physical phenomena through interaction with the environment. The objective of this article is to share the didactic experience implementing the use of a device, called Bounce Light System, designed to teach light reflection at school level and develop scientific...
This study explores an innovative approach to teaching the Nature of Science (NoS) and the Nature of Scientific Inquiry (NOSI), addressing both well-established and often-overlooked aspects in educational research. Through a lesson plan structured around experimental activities and historical reflections, following an explicit and reflective approach, the aim is to develop students' teachers'...
Learning physics is challenging, in part due to its deep connection to mathematics. What part does mathematics play in in-service teacher education? We have studied an MSc program for science teachers in Israel, where advanced physics courses are taught by physicists. One of the program’s design principles is that the graduate be in command of mathematics and understand its relevance for...
As part of a dissertation project on teaching mechanics at lower secondary level, teaching materials were (re-) developed in digital and analogue form. Additionally, a guideline was created, containing a detailed lesson plan. This should a) support teachers and b) allow for better comparison between them. The new materials/lesson plans where then applied and tested in school. The evaluation...
Understanding weather phenomena, such as wind, is essential for fostering scientific literacy from an early age. As part of the binational project “Understanding Weather”, this study focused on designing and evaluating a learning arrangement on wind for primary education (3rd grade) using a design-based research approach. The intervention, implemented in four classes (N=89), led to 50% of...
Modern quantum physics is finding its way into education and schools to train specialists for future technologies. Teachers must, therefore, be familiar with modern quantum physics. However, this content was often not a focus of the university training of prospective teachers. Consequently, there is a great need for further and advanced training courses for teachers. In this contribution, we...
Students’ conceptions of scientists influence their attitudes towards science and job aspirations. Within a four-year project of the Kaiserschild-Foundation for STEM engagement in Austrian rural middle schools, we collected drawings of 240 students. To find out how these drawings developed over time, we analysed these drawings and complemented this analysis with twelve semi-structured...
This qualitative research aimed to identify one hundred and twenty (N = 120) elementary pre-service teachers' conceptual representations of electrical circuits. We conducted qualitative data analysis, constructing a two-choice questionnaire (True/False) with explanations. The result demonstrated that most pre-service teachers advanced erroneous conceptual representations as 1. Current can flow...
Physics is often taught as a purely intellectual subject, disconnected from the body and emotional engagement, particularly in undergraduate STEM courses. In Milan, in the “Preparation of Didactical Experiences 1” course for master’s students in Mathematics or Physics, we integrate 20 hours of embodied activities within an inquiry-based learning process. These activities, including scientific...
A profound understanding of mathematical equations and their application is a central objective of the physics degree programme, alongside developing experimental skills and conceptual knowledge. Appropriate handling of equations involves their analysis, critical evaluation and verification of plausibility within the physical context. Commonly used methods and approaches in physics include the...
This study investigates the development and educational reconstruction of materials science concepts for informal learning environments. Conducted as part of the MaSCot project, the research focuses on creating engaging STEM activities that address socio-scientific issues, such as medical applications of materials science, while fostering collaboration between teachers and scientists. The...
The present study outlines the rational, objectives and methodology of the European research project “FEDORAS’ Academy” which aims at fostering future-oriented STEAM education for sustainability through the establishment of local and European networks among STEM scientists, teacher educators and teachers to promote interdisciplinarity and open schooling. The goal of the networks is to develop...
The Learning Using Mentors (LUM) method delegates part of a teacher's authority to gifted students who act as mentors. Mentors lead group work, offer tutoring, and play crucial role in creating and grading tests. This contribution summarizes the results of four years of experimental use of this method in upper-secondary physics classes. Semi-structured interviews with both mentors and their...
Traditional lecture-based teaching methods are becoming less effective in engaging students. This research explores the impact of innovative teaching approaches, incorporating game-like elements, online tools, and research-based learning activities. Conducted among university physics students and teacher trainees, the study used continuous testing with control and experimental groups. Key...
Abstract. Digital electronics has become an important topic in modern science education. While simulation tools are valuable, hands-on devices play important role in understanding digital principles. Our kit provides a practical way to explore the functionality of physical logic gates, flip-flops, and simple binary decoders. Additionally, it allows students to design and build their own...
Engaging with scientists can challenge stereotypes and foster a more inclusive perception of STEM. The CERN-Solvay programme provides a unique opportunity to examine how contact with physicists influences students' perceptions.
This study explores how participation in its one-week summer camps shaped students’ preconceived notions of physicists. Pre- and post-camp data were collected using...
Artificial intelligence, including large language models (LLMs), is transforming education and daily life. Many online texts are AI-generated without public awareness, and students increasingly use tools like ChatGPT. Our study explored whether 372 high school students could identify if a scientific text was AI- or human-written and examined traits aiding recognition. Results showed students...
Social belonging plays a crucial role in shaping the academic experiences and outcomes of first-year science students. This study investigates how social belonging correlates with demographic factors such as gender identity, racialization, and international/domestic status. It combines quantitative and qualitative approaches to uncover the key factors influencing engagement and retention.
This paper proposes the use of network theory tools, such as the adjacency matrix and the Louvain algorithm, to prioritize content and competencies in Physics programs. This process was automated using Python code based on the NetworkX library, which significantly reduced analysis time. The proposal solves historical computational limitations and optimizes the logical construction of...
We present the design of a six-hour module, “Physics Education Meets AI,” that we taught as part of a master-level course on “Teaching and Learning Physics” at the University of Padua. Twenty students engaged in hands-on activities with Word2Vec, GPT-2, and GPT-4 using Jupyter Notebooks and the LEAP platform, exploring semantic representation and inquiry-based learning with AI as a tutor....
In our previous work, we modelled quantum curriculum transformation in five dimensions: 1) content conveyed, 2) skills evoked, 3) level of cognitive ability targeted, 4) representations used and 5) teaching approach employed. We extend this work to practical considerations to model quantum curriculum innovation in contemporary courses and the use and development of digital learning modules. We...
This contribution presents an analysis of historical stellar spectrum photographs using digital methods, highlighting their added value for astronomy and science education. Concrete examples of learning activities are provided, and an educational analysis within a multidimensional framework of authenticity is carried out.
Physics competitions are an interesting tool for attracting students to science. Students deepen their understanding of physics and meet other students with similar interests. There are numerous different physics competitions. Many of them aim at the most talented students, who can compete against each other, but only a few are accessible to the majority of students interested in STEM...
Out-of-field teaching, where educators teach subjects outside their expertise, is a globally discussed topic in literature. Nevertheless, it remains unclear how research is represented in detail. This contribution describes a systematic review addressing this issue for out-of-field teaching in secondary education in general and particularly in physics and science. Starting with 1058 research...
Airports are dynamic environments where the laws of physics play a key role in ensuring safety and operational efficiency. It comes into contact with every passenger during their journey, to a greater or lesser extent. Utilizing the infrastructure present at the Aviation Education Centre makes it possible to introduce physics to children, youth and adults. Focusing on infrastructure elements...
This contribution is focused on the physics curriculum for upper secondary schools. We present the results of longitudinal research whose methodology is inspired by an objectivist grounded theory approach. Our research is based especially on the ideas of the leading Czech physicists obtained from in-depth interviews. The original group of physicists and other stakeholders (other natural...
In the past two years, a questionnaire survey has been conducted in primary schools in the Olomouc Region (Czech Republic). The aim is to find out the position and popularity of the subject Physics in comparison with other subjects in the first year of teaching Physics as a separate subject. The questionnaire was completed by approximately 500 pupils, where they evaluated the popularity and...
The aim of this contribution is to showcase the results of a nation-wide survey conducted in the Czech Republic on general public regarding the long-lasting opinions on physics and physics education originating mainly in lower secondary school and high school physics classrooms and their comparison with the TIMSS and PISA multinational evaluations. The results of this survey aim to support the...
Fostering productive dispositions - positive beliefs, perseverance, and emotional engagement - is vital for student achievement in mathematics, physics, and STEM learning. This study explores how rich tasks, grounded in solving real-world problems, nurture student dispositions. A series of rich tasks were designed and implemented with Irish primary students. One of these rich tasks, is...
The SABIR project is a co-design initiative fostering the network of the International Astronomical Union’s astronomy educators in the Mediterranean. It was held both online (February-July 2024) and in person during a one-week residency in Milano, Italy. We discussed together and shared the Inquiry-Based Learning (IBL) approach, then each of the participating educators selected a laboratory...
Based on a master thesis, we present a series of six educational lessons designed for basic school students (grades 6–9) that integrate the Arduino microcontroller into physics experiments. The lessons focus on topics such as electricity, magnetism, and semiconductors incorporating elements of computer science and mathematics. The experiments are designed as hands-on, engaging pupils in...
Students perform a gyroscope practical to study precession, which is measured with a wireless sensor. Precession is also discussed in the accompanying mechanics lectures, but nutation is not. In the practical, however, nutation is often observed in addition to precession and the nutation period is easily derived from the precession measurement. Analysis of the nutation signal is optional for...
This contribution emphasizes encouraging pupils to engage in experimental activities, essential for developing scientific inquiry. The studied stimuli include concept cartoons, role-playing, physics game, an online escape room, and an activity with story. Research involved 341 secondary school pupils (ages 11–15) and their physics teachers. Preliminary findings indicate that pupils felt...
Abstract. This is the culmination of a long and systematics study on contextual variation of student responses in the context of dc circuit. We published the contextual variation from their Forced Choice Responses of eight electrically identical questions with fine grained variations that are trivial to a physicist, the productive and unproductive foothold ideas, then narrated the six...
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Rotational motion is experimentally investigated using a modified fidget spinner and smartphone. The experimental results are described by a didactic model based on the Newton’s second law for the rotational motion, considering the resulting resistive torque acting on the system. We analyse the physics concepts that are involved in the experimental activity, such as angular velocity and moment...
It is hard to imagine the popularization of physics today without the increasingly frequent theme days. They have become permanent important events that gather large crowds of participants. Their function of promoting knowledge and science cannot be overestimated. An example of this is the theme days at the Kraków Airport Aviation Education Centre. These include the Małopolska Night of...
Stargazing Live! aims to capture the imagination of students with a combination of live and interactive planetarium lessons, real astronomical data, and lessons built around interactive knowledge representations . The lessons were created using a co-creation model and tackle concepts in the pre-university (astro)physics curriculum which students find difficult to grasp with traditional...
This study aims to analyse the mental model of secondary school students on the topic of Sun-Earth-Moon system, focusing on Moon phases and eclipses. That for, an open-ended questionnaire was designed and implemented with 265 secondary school students whose answers were analysed with phenomenography. The identified difficulties were similar to the ones obtained in the studies found in the...
In this paper, we aim to understand the relationship between academic engagement and students’ performance in the first university year, specifically in an introductory physics exam in the first semester of an engineering course. To this aim, we explored if the engagement dimensions have a differential effect on students’ performance controlling also for high school background. Overall, 134...
This workshop facilitates global exchange and discussion on current opportunities and challenges influencing physics teaching and teacher education from early childhood to university level. The rapidly changing landscape of the global economy and society in the 21st century demands new approaches to be adopted to recruit, upskill, and educate physics teachers so they can design and facilitate...
Teaching quantum physics (QP) in high school (HS) has become common globally, yet the reasons for including it vary among stakeholders. This study explores the justifications provided by physics education researchers, university-level physicists, and HS teachers, analyzing responses from 54 participants using content analysis. Findings reveal key themes for teaching QP: gaining knowledge,...
The rapid rise of generative AI offers new possibilities for teaching and learning in STEM education. Based on the DigCompEdu framework, our course integrates AI as a key module, providing pre-service STEM teachers with both practical skills and a conceptual understanding of AI models. Students engage with advanced prompting techniques and use AI to enhance their work as future teachers, e.g.,...
Although kinematics concepts are key in high school and university physics courses, students face significant difficulties in understanding them. Research shows that real-time graph visualization can help improve comprehension of these concepts. In this oral presentation, we will describe a project we are currently developing, which involves the creation of a physical-computational video game...
Quantum Mechanics (QM) is often taught without sufficient attention to its historical context. This lack of historical perspective affects learners at all levels, from high-school teachers to young researchers. As Physics Education Research Group in Milan, we conducted a study with high-school teachers and prospective teachers to investigate whether and how a series of selected historical...
Abstract. The field of quantum technology is rapidly advancing and therefore the public should have a basic grasp of quantum concepts. To this end, we designed an activity around an optical illusion known as Pepper’s Ghost to introduce the concept of superposition to primary school students and their teachers.
Research question: What opportunities and difficulties do pre-service primary...
Vector analysis is an essential concept that connects both theoretical and practical fields. However, its meaning and use can differ depending on the teaching methods and focus of each discipline. This study aims to explore the perception and understanding of vector analysis among PhD in Education students. The data was collected through online survey from 38 students enrolled in Mathematical...
Online physics tutoring that provides near peer mentoring can support a university physics department to engage with a more diverse range of young people interested in studying physics. Benefits for young people are in their knowledge of university application, confidence in their physics knowledge and demystifying what it is like to study physics at university.
This study explored how physics teacher students use educational technology for visualizing physical phenomena during lesson planning. Ten students participated in lectures, an online session, and a workshop focused on GeoGebra, with data collection focused on the workshop. They evaluated and modified simulations, with video-data analysed using the TPACK framework. Most pairs collaborated...
Tidal movement is a fascinating phenomenon, but often plagued by misconceptions among students and teachers. This presentation offers physics teachers a clear, accessible model of the frozen (equilibrium) tide, i.e. the tidal movement on an all-ocean world. Using simple expressions for tidal acceleration, water height, and power loss, it provides key insights to address common misconceptions....
The digital competences of teachers, as defined in the DigCompEdu framework, play a key role in the digital transformation of education. The SELFIEforTeachers tool enables the assessment of teachers' preparedness to develop pupils' digital competences. The educational environment in schools should create conditions for active pupil learning, targeted competence development, and creative...
The integration of quantum physics (QP) into secondary school curricula is a growing area of interest in physics education, yet there is little consensus on which topics to include. To address this gap, we conducted a three-round Delphi study involving a total of 175 experts (physics teachers, physics education researchers, quantum physics experts). The participants provided insights into why...
For over three decades, the Investigative Learning Science Environment (ISLE) approach has been implemented and used in many different countries, systems, and levels of instruction. Worldwide diffusion is confirmed by scientific literature, validating that an epistemologically authentic inquiry process, mirroring what physicists do, is a possible way to develop scientific abilities and become...
This is the first part of a symposium that addresses the complex challenge of teaching energy as a crosscutting concept coherently across disciplines and grade levels. One key issue is the disparate vocabulary and norms each discipline uses to explain energy and the traditional forms-based teaching approach that often compartmentalizes students' understanding. Our discussions will focus on...
To investigate secondary school students' understanding of the First Law of Thermodynamics within the Croatian educational system, we developed a test by adapting the "Survey of Thermodynamic Processes and First and Second Laws (long)". The test was administered to students from three Zagreb secondary schools following their completion of thermodynamics content. Data analysis included the...
As a part of a broader project that aims to investigate students’ mathematical understanding in physics, this study explores how students understand the partial derivatives of divergence and curl of vector field diagrams. Students are asked to draw vector field diagrams for the given partial derivative before the instruction. After the instruction they have asked to find the sign of the...
Métioui_Abstract_Oral presentation: see proposal enclosed below.
This workshop aims to integrate Critical Thinking (CT) into physics education, an aspect often overlooked in daily teaching. Using a scaffolded instructional approach aligned with Halpern's CT framework, the workshop will provide educators and teachers with the essential skills and knowledge to enhance CT in the physics classroom. Grounded in behavioral theories, it emphasizes practical...
This conference contribution presents an educational concept designed to facilitate understanding of the physical principles underlying a nitrogen vacancy (NV) center magnetometer setup. This concept is strongly based on an experimental setup to profit from the quantum application perspective. Additional experiments are incorporated to provide further insights into key related concepts, such...
In this workshop we present three lesson activities to teach core (astro)physics concepts at pre-university level which students find difficult to grasp with traditional interventions: star properties, star states and the fusion-gravity balance. In each activity, students construct and simulate a conceptual cause-effect model. An evaluation study in nine Dutch classrooms showed that the star...
This study explores physics teachers' perceptions of the qualities needed for a competent physics teacher. Data was collected from twenty-two secondary physics teachers through a semi-structured questionnaire. The questionnaire was validated by seven experts using the Lawshe method. Thematic analysis will be employed to identify the key attributes essential for effective teaching. The findings...
Poor student physics proficiency is a matter of concern in Ethiopia. This study explores in-service high school physics teachers’ conceptual understanding, knowledge of students’ understanding and teaching practices in mechanics in the context of Bahir Dar (Ethiopia) as a possible explanation. The FCI was administered in a three-tier approach with 11 teachers and interviews were conducted with...
We present here a teaching unit about bosons and fermions adapted for high school. Despite the importance of the topic as a gateway to many-particle physics, it is absent from most high school curricula and most research on the subject. A teaching unit is presented, and initial findings supporting its adaptation to high school are presented.
Vectors are fundamental in physics, yet their comprehension often poses challenges for students. The study demonstrated that manipulating vector models within the Inquiry-Based Learning (IBL) method effectively supports teaching, surpassing traditional methods. Early implementation of this approach in primary schools facilitates understanding of complex concepts in later stages of education.
Quantum principles are driving advancements in quantum computing, communication, and sensing. While quantum computing has gained significant attention in education, quantum sensing remains largely overlooked. To identify opportunities to integrate sensing into existing quantum-related curricula, we performed an analysis of six commonly used textbooks in modern physics, quantum mechanics, and...
Instructional practices in physics classrooms are recognised as having a strong influence on students’ lack of interest and continuation in studying physics. Teachers’ beliefs are reported to have a significant influence on their classroom practices. This study presents the beliefs of 32 secondary teachers' and their classroom practices, after completing a two-year professional learning...
Labs can be effective in teaching critical thinking and developing student self-efficacy for empirical science. Open inquiry labs allow students agency in all phases of an inquiry, from defining the research question, testing, refining, and implementing the research methods, and drawing conclusions from results. A team of teachers of diverse undergraduate lab courses won a grant to collaborate...
This work examines widespread misconceptions about Bernoulli's equation, both in high school and university courses, where students and instructors often overlook the assumptions required for its correct application. By analysing the most common mistakes of Italian students taking part in Physics competitions, the work highlights how errors emerge, particularly in relation to assumptions like...
AI literacy is pivotal for students navigating AI-driven environments. This research introduces a novel performance-based AI literacy assessment test targeting high-school students (16–19). Built on foundational AI literacy conceptualisations, the tool aims to predict students’ proficiency in using AI tools effectively. Validation employs Classical Test Theory and Item Response Theories,...
This study explores an interdisciplinary strategy integrating physics and art to enhance students' understanding of the electromagnetic spectrum and the photoelectric effect. Through project-based learning, high school students analyse artworks using non-invasive spectroscopic techniques, experiment with UV light on currency security features, and explore artistic representations of...
It is an important challenge for teacher education programs to promote deep understanding of the nature of science (NOS), and the development of a scientist identity among their students. This study examines how internships in modern physics research, as part of the program, can be employed to attain those aims. Interview data and reflective logs reveal that students feel more confident in...
The book trailer technique urges students to create a trailer that engages them deeply with a book. This study adapts this technique to physics education, focusing on the life of Marie Curie and raising awareness of the challenges women face in science. Pre-service science teachers read about Curie and prepared a 3-minute trailer. Data was collected through pre- and post-questions, evaluation...
When we teach students to perform physics experiments, we want them to compare their results to a physical model. We found existing data analysis tools to be lacking and built our own. In courses where we now use Tailor, we found that discussions no longer focus on how to perform the analysis, but rather on the outcome. The act of analysing data becomes a minor task and more time is devoted to...
A peer mentoring system for helping college physics faculty members improve their teaching towards active-learning styles was implemented in Japan. Peer mentoring provides faculty members with opportunities to observe different ways of teaching physics and to receive advises from their peers. The results indicate that the peer mentoring system raises their motivation towards improving their...
This work discusses the pedagogical partnership between faculty and students in our Applied Physics program, aimed at a comprehensive curriculum revision. This unusual approach allows both groups to collaborate as equal partners within the development team. We identify multiple benefits, not only regarding the curriculum itself, but also regarding the professional development of the team...
In our previous study, we developed an algorithm called chained computerized adaptive testing (Chain-CAT), which sequentially links the test results of each administration. To validate the algorithm, we analysed the progression of the conceptual understanding of each student based on Chain-CAT against a clinical interview, then examined the consistency of both results. A pilot study showed...
Gender equality in physics is a pressing issue as women continue to be underrepresented at almost all levels of education or employment. However, women’s colleges have produced a disproportionate number of female science graduates for over a hundred years. In this longitudinal interdisciplinary study, historical institutional records have been used to create a purpose-built database of...
This study explores the integration of large language models (LLMs) in physics laboratory education, focusing on their effectiveness and required adjustments. An LLM assistant was deployed in four implementations involving 190 students in online and in-person instruction. The research identified that LLM performance varies with question type, excelling with factual and analysis questions but...
Preschool teachers make a great effort to show science content to the children they oversee, but the conceptual and operational tools they were provided with in their training are insufficient for them to design and evaluate meaningful scientific experiences. Therefore, it is important to provide them with elements that allow them to bring science closer to the children in an effective and...
Concept maps are visual representations of the relationships between concepts. While a typical undergraduate physics course has a long list of concepts, the concept maps help to organize these ideas into a structure. Physics concept maps can be successfully used in introductory physics courses to visualize the concepts hierarchy and make complex and abstract ideas more comprehensible to...
This inquiry refers to how the use of Artificial Intelligence influences the construction of scientific arguments in the process of experimentation in Physics with high school students in Mexico, where a dependence on the excessive use of AI for argumentation was observed, in such a way that limits the development of critical thinking, since AI generates superficial and sometimes inaccurate...
In France, one of the four parts of the Cycle 4 (grades 7 to 9) physics curriculum deals with energy. Teachers are asked to clarify the meaning of the words used to talk about energy, in order to link the concept of energy in physics with that of everyday life. Through a lexicographical analysis, we question the meaning given to these words by the authors of textbooks and official documents....
There have long been concerns about the lack of diversity in physics, most notably around the under-representation of women, with numerous efforts to make physics a more inclusive discipline. I will present an overview of how far we have come in recent decades, and how the nature of the discourse has changed from trying to ‘fix’ the people in the minority groups, to asking more searching and...
Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) equips learners with the knowledge, skills, and values for a sustainable future, yet remains limited in science curricula. This study explores: What are science teachers' views on student competences in ESD? How do they prioritize or dismiss these competences in their teaching? Using Q methodology and KADE software, we identified three factor arrays....
Combining the embodied experiences of forces in amusement rides with simple experiments, mathematical descriptions, video recordings and sensor data can give students a deeper understanding of the meaning and consequences of Newton's laws [1]. Air pressure and rotation data can be collected by a smartphone at the same time as accelerometer data, capturing different aspects of the experience...
Over the past decade, Physics Education Researchers have increasingly focused on Augmented Reality (AR) as a key technological tool. This ongoing study investigates the effectiveness of AR headsets, specifically using the software AnReAL, in teaching motion-related concepts. AnReAL transforms AR headsets into interactive physics labs, enabling real time visualization of mathematical objects of...
The Piano Lauree Scientifiche (PLS) is a national initiative in Italy aimed at advancing physics education across high school and university levels. This symposium highlights research from the PLS framework, emphasizing inquiry-based learning, active engagement, and social inclusivity. It explores the importance of a national project to apply research findings in schools and promote...
Physics remains one of the least diverse STEM fields. To meet the growing demand for STEM professionals, it is crucial to adopt inclusive, diversity-friendly teaching practices. This workshop provides practical strategies for physics educators to foster inclusivity in their classrooms. Together with participants we will explore how gender and cultural bias is present in various physics...
A century after its formulation, we discuss the multifaceted implications for education of the vast cultural connections that quantum mechanics has helped establish between physics and other disciplines. Drawing on the most recent research in quantum mechanics education, we will address the epistemological paradigms that underpin our understanding of nature and the cultural significance of...
This is the second part of a symposium that addresses the complex challenge of teaching energy as a crosscutting concept coherently across disciplines and grade levels. One key issue is the disparate vocabulary and norms each discipline uses to explain energy and the traditional forms-based teaching approach that often compartmentalizes students' understanding. Our discussions will focus on...
In education, there is an increasing discussion about the need to transform teaching approaches. Traditional knowledge-oriented education, where the teacher holds a dominant role, is being replaced by methods where the student is an active participant in the learning process. In our study, we replaced traditional teaching methods with the E-R-R teaching framework. This model is designed to...
Extended Reality (XR) technologies including virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) offer new opportunities for physics education and may be integrated into classrooms in the future. This study explores their potential through two XR tools designed for secondary students, expanding on prior AR-based physics simulations for undergraduates. Ten science teachers tested these tools and...
Computational literacy is essential for physics students, yet traditional tools can still be challenging for beginners. We introduce a digital tool, AI-enhanced SageMath HTML notebooks, integrating the Mistral AI assistant for code generation, formatting, and explanation. This seamless integration strongly supports numerical and symbolic calculations, data analysis, and visualization. To...
Five Phys-Cards games were designed and introduced over a four-year period in a national network of professional learning communities for high school physics teachers. The games consist of summative, hands-on activities that highlight physics concepts and support knowledge organization, using research-based pedagogical principles. Large-scale surveys and an analysis of teachers' classroom...
In the event of the International Year of Quantum Science and Technology, the GIREP Thematic Group on teaching and learning quantum physics would like to provide the community with a special experience. We intend to organize a dialogues where three experts will be invited to provide their take on the open questions provided by the community ahead of time. Besides, we intend to create a...
This symposium is proposed by the GIREP Thematic Group “Physics Preparation of Teachers in Grades K-6” and includes four contributions that address the importance of complementing physical experiences with imaginative forms of expressions. Two contributions suggest using stories and fairy tales, while the other two incorporate theatrical embodied representations.
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This Panel Discussion seeks to investigate the ethical aspects of Physics as a profession, focusing on Physics education and instruction. Relating Physics to the ethical issues in contemporary society has become more and more important, since Physics is involved in or is the basis for many worldwide phenomena and other situations that present problems requiring resolution or...
Within the U.S., inequities in primary and secondary education are often perpetuated at the collegiate level, notably in calculus-based introductory physics courses. In this presentation, I will discuss a national initiative aimed at addressing these disparities through a multi-pronged approach involving awareness-raising, curriculum development, and research. The curriculum development...
This study focuses on investigating question types written on exhibit labels at six different science centres. Exhibit labels are written materials that help visitors communicate effectively with exhibits at a science centre. Different question types can provide insights into exhibit design and scientific activities conducted in science centers. Questions written on labels are analyzed...
To teach effectively, teachers should be capable of presenting clear and cogent arguments about their subjects. This is especially true in empirical sciences, where many curricula aim to make the students understand how scientific thinking on various fields of study creates new knowledge. Computational essays and open data from today’s research world can provide structural support and...
The pressures and responsibilities students face inside and outside the classroom can result in a distribution of pathways and rates required by students to achieve proficiency with course content. Our team has sought to better accommodate this diversity of student experience by implementing a standards-based grading system in our introductory physics courses. We report here our preliminary...
In recent years, the emergence of quantum technologies and the vast scientific activities in the field of quantum science have also boosted the number of dissemination initiatives regarding Quantum Physics (QP). In the last four years, within the Italian Quantum Weeks project [2], we have been proposing an exhibition where the visitors are introduced to the basic concepts of QP through visual...
This study explores the adaptation and implementation of STEM teaching modules on climate change by 27 in-service science teachers. Supported by experienced mentors in learning communities, participants engaged in designing and implementing tailored STEM teaching modules to foster climate change education. Teachers adapted pre-existing materials by redesigning activities to align with their...
When walking through the city of Leiden, you cannot escape the more than one hundred beautiful and fascinating wall-poem murals by the artists from the Tegen-Beeld foundation. They tell stories (in the original language) from all over the world, to inspire people. As physicists we joined the project and created murals about our stories, about phenomena in nature discovered in Leiden, written...
In this work we want to improve the level of learning for the subject of a ball bouncing on flat ground. We have a group of 15 engineering students. By applying an active learning methodology supported with simulations, we get a better interest in the subject, since the behavior of the phenomenon is exposed, and the initial conditions can be controlled. We show the Hake factor obtained with...
This study aims to analyze the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP) physics curriculum in terms of its inclusion of the behavioral profile characteristics of a scientific literate. For this purpose, the “behavioral profile domain” part of the Citizenship Scientific Literacy (CSL) framework was used for the content analysis of the written curriculum and textbook. Results found...
The ADELANTE project addresses challenges in integrating physics labs into secondary education by incorporating smartphones and Arduino microcontrollers into teaching-learning sequences (TLSs) with educational intentionality. Following the Design-Based Research framework, several TLSs were developed, targeting foundational physics topics: motion, energy, forces and fields, waves and particles....
This study reports the preliminary results of an ongoing research which aims to explore a sample of Turkish preservice physics teachers’ reasoning of uncertainty in scientific measurements. The participants consisted of 23 preservice physics teachers. Data sources included written responses to the Physics Measurement Questionnaire (PMQ), laboratory reports, and in-depth interviews. The initial...
The "Physics Debate: Energy and Climate" project is an innovative educational path, focused on climate change and energy issues, which exploits the debate technique (following the World School Style debating model). This activity was proposed, and still is, to many high-school students, with the aim of raising awareness on energy-environmental issues and their social implications, while...
Working with talented students so that they develop their full potential is a challenging task for the standard school education. This is a task for non-formal education. Physics Correspondence Seminar (FKS) is a student organization based at Faculty of Mathematics, Physics and Informatics, Comenius University in Bratislava. For the past 40 years, it has been working with talented students,...
Critical thinking (CT) is essential in physics education, yet teacher training often lacks effective preparation. This exploratory study, based on Halpern’s CT framework and behavioral theories, examines the challenges and attitudes of 23 German prospective physics teachers in a seminar on designing CT-integrated physics lessons. Inductive content analysis of discussions and pre-post...
The design of physics education and learning materials in Slovakia is mostly based on constructivist theory, which emphasises pupils’ experiences and prior knowledge as important parts of their learning. However, newer approaches are currently used globally. We applied selected principles from cognitive neuroscience to designing learning materials concerning fluid mechanics. Within this...
Research in physics education has underscored the importance of making school laboratory activities more engaging and student-centered. The ADELANTE (Adopting Digitally-Enhanced Laboratories in a Network of Teachers) Italian project seeks to promote an innovative approach in secondary school physics labs by integrating digital tools—specifically Arduino microcontrollers and smartphones—within...
Teachers often teach the way they were taught themselves as pupils in schools and research highlights that if teachers are to use inquiry methods, they must have met and used these practices as part of their own teacher education programmes. A core aspect of physics teacher learning is supporting them to reflect meaningfully on their classroom practices and experiences. This study examines the...
Inquiry-Based Learning (IBL) presents significant challenges for educators due to limited experience and inadequate training. This study evaluates a 20-hour professional development program aimed at equipping Primary School teachers with IBL competencies, utilising the Go-Lab platform’s tools and methodology. Through data collected in pre-, mid- and post-training assessments, we claim that the...
The transition to a sustainable energy system requires both systemic change and individual behavioral adaptations. While households account for over a quarter of Europe’s energy consumption, promoting energy-saving behaviors is challenging due to possibly limited public knowledge of everyday energy quantities. This study introduces a validated test instrument assessing individuals’ ability to...
A learning path on electromagnetic waves was designed for high school students. The theoretical framework we adopted is the Model of Educational Reconstruction, reinterpreted by means of Design-Based Research methods. The path was designed considering three interacting factors: the main conceptual issues characterizing the epistemic structure of the theory, the learning difficulties emerged...
Results of international assessments (PISA, TALIS) revealed below-average performance in scientific literacy, problem-solving and critical thinking of Croatian students and teachers. That highlights the need for improvement. To address this, we undertook an innovative project, integrating ESG principles to contextualize formal knowledge in real-world settings – ESG Junior Program. The program...
The quantum industry demands a diverse workforce with foundational quantum knowledge, extending beyond traditional physics specialists. To address this, the University of Twente developed Quantum for the Curious, a 15 ECTS minor introducing non-physics students to key quantum phenomena and technologies. Guided by the European Competence Framework for Quantum Technologies, the minor enhances...
Thermodynamics poses numerous conceptual challenges for pupils. Students frequently possess insufficient knowledge structures for advanced contemplation of thermodynamic processes. Aim of physics education research is often to examine students' comprehension or conceptualisation in physics through standardised assessments. This study examines the 28-item questionnaire titled Heat and...
Abstract. Demonstrations are fantastic. They offer wonderful possibilities to showcase the beauty of physics and amaze students. While it may not always be feasible to include one in every class, the objection “which demo then?” no longer applies. In our recent publication of the online, open-access book Show the Physics we present 99 physics demonstrations, including tested approaches to make...
A few decades ago, Barbie dolls appeared, presenting an idealized body image and indirectly affecting education. The curriculum and methods seemed designed for non-existent students. Nowadays, the toy industry recognizes the need for toys with real personality traits. We should not delay; not all students in physics classes are equally super-capable, and there are increasing special...
This study explores the impact of sports-integrated physics instruction on high school students from diverse cultural backgrounds, such as the Indian community in Qatar. A study with 120 students in grades 11 and 12 across three schools revealed that integrating sports into physics instruction greatly enhanced students' comprehension of physics concepts, boosted their motivation, and fostered...
Quantum technologies rely on superposition and entanglement, concepts that challenge classical physics and provide a rich context for teaching. We developed a course for high school teachers that focused on quantum cryptography and used Thorlabs' educational equipment for hands-on learning. The course covered quantum mechanics, light polarization, and the BB84 quantum key distribution protocol...
As a design-based research project, the E2piMINT team developed and evaluated an inclusive and interdisciplinary teaching concept for lower secondary schools to promote interest in science and to provide teachers with effective support for lesson planning. For this purpose, two laboratory activities with experiments from physics, biology and chemistry on the topics of “colours” and “glueing...
A questionnaire about electromagnetic waves was submitted to 35 undergraduate students after the conclusion of the electromagnetism course. The questionnaire consists of 6 multiple choice questions, also asking for justification of the answer. The answers’ analysis was carried out through an iterative categorization process, aimed at verifying the consistence between the selected options and...
Energy is not merely a means to interpret natural phenomena; it is, above all, a topic on which future citizens will be called to take personal and collective decisions that will shape our collective future. It is essential to combine the right mix of scientific topics with historical aspects that are frequently neglected in the school curriculum to foster students' critical mind and motivate...
This study is unique in examining how researchers encode components in Toulmin Argument Pattern (TAP)-based applications and their alignment with the TAP framework. Accurate coding practices are important given the increased emphasis on argumentation in PISA, the US National Research Council, and national curricula. As a result of the content analysis, it was seen that the researchers coded...
In our active learning workshop, we will provide an example of a collaborative, student-centred approach for physics course using the Investigative Science Learning Environment (ISLE) approach. The topic studied will be torques and can be therefore adopted to high school levels and introductory physics courses at the university. Participants will engage in various hands-on activities, with...
Traditional hands-on lab projects provide valuable learning opportunities but are often constrained by limited lab space, staff availability, and equipment constraints. Additionally, students with social anxiety, neurodiversity, or disabilities may face challenges in traditional lab settings. This work presents a novel approach to addressing these issues through the development of a digital...
During this active workshop you will have the opportunity to elaborate and pitch your own physics demonstration/experiment together with others. Hopefully, you will leave this workshop with some renewed inspiration.
We have designed several school scientific activities on central topics in the curriculum of classical mechanics about translational and rotational motions, available at http://www.fep.if.usp.br/~fisfoto. They were developed in a model-theoretical view of science, using videos of experimental arrangements showing the movement of an object next to an instrument to measure its position. Sets of...
This symposium focuses on collaborations about new trends in remote and virtual experimentation for teaching Physics between teachers of the International Council of Associations for Science Education (ICASE) and the Inter-American Roundtable for Scientific Education (MIDEC), both organizations are interested on improve Physics Education in Latin America. Nowadays, the laboratory of Physics is...
The experiment of a cylinder rolled on a string that falls vertically while unrolling is used to contextualize the teaching of the equation of motion of a body that turns around an axis with fixed orientation. The activity with students is led on the model-theoretical framework of science developed by Giere in the adaptation made by Izquierdo. The students read the position of the cylinder...
This study explores dialogues in secondary schools physics lessons. Physics lessons in the 5th grade (15-17 yr-olds) were observed from nine teachers in six different Dutch secondary schools. Preliminary results show teachers generally assume an authoritative role for a long duration during class, and the contribution of students to dialogues shows varies. At the time of the conference, the...
Research on Modeling-based Reasoning (MBR) in physics education indicates that students need to move towards understanding the procedural knowledge of building a conceptual model to explain real world phenomena, and validating this conceptual model against measurement models. We have developed a pedagogical model to teach MBR at the undergraduate level, using a simulation that walks students...
A new inquiry-based teaching sequence on energy was developed by the authors with the aim to improve Croatian secondary students’ (aged 15-16 years) understanding of the basic concepts related to energy (such as work, kinetic, elastic, gravitational and internal energy) as well as their ability to apply the law of energy conservation. The sequence is designed for ten teaching periods and will...
This study examines BuddyCheck's use for peer-evaluation in two project-based BSc electrical engineering courses at TU Delft from 2022 to 2025. We analyse students' academic performance and peer-evaluation results to identify factors critical to their success. Our analysis includes high school and university grades, along with demographic information. BuddyCheck also enables students to...
The Bureau International des Poids et Mesures plays a central role in standardizing metrology. Thirty years ago, it shifted its approach to measurement, moving away from the concept of true value and error toward a framework in which a measurement result is represented as a set of possible values. The transposition of the international standard into secondary education is currently underway....
Remote laboratories enhance science and engineering education by providing flexible, online experimentation. As part of the OnLabEdu project, a learning arrangement within the Characteristic Curve Remote Lab was developed to explore temperature-dependent resistance using a design-based research approach. An initial evaluation with 18 pre-service teachers assessed autonomy, interest, flow, and...
Electricity and Magnetism is a first-year course for about 250 Applied Physics students at TU Delft. To support learning, we developed an open, interactive textbook featuring short videos, descriptive texts, and Python-based illustrations. This article explores the creation process, content, and current use of the textbook in our teaching.
Many students in introductory physics courses struggle to form a conceptual understanding of physics, with additional challenges in short courses with no calculus. Tutorials by the University of Washington PEG are well-established tools to improve understanding and physics reasoning. To face these additional challenges, we introduced tutorials containing context-rich problems to a first-year...
This study investigates the cognitive demand of standard versus non-traditional Physics problems developed in the ISLE (Investigative Science Learning Environment) approach. Referencing Revised Bloom’s Taxonomy, we analyze tasks identified by action verbs in problem statements from Italian high school textbooks, comparing them to a reference sample of non-traditional problems. Our comparison...
Physics problems both found in classroom settings and encountered in real world scenarios can often include extraneous or unnecessary information. If the information is salient, it can capture attention potentially driving the problem solver towards an incorrect solution. To understand the role of such features in physics questions, we have tasked undergraduate students with solving one of...
