Workshop, Physics on Stage 2

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PoS3 Alice in Quantumland
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4 Education, Quality, Curricula
Theoretical (Statistical) Ph. Chair Curriculum C,
Linz Theory course for Physicists
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Education, Quality Control, Curricula

• Physics or Science? What levels?
• Teacher qualification? Standards?
• Age for physics?
• Secondary level physics
• future physics students?
• basic physics for future non-physicists?
• physics is fun?

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Why Science / Physics ?

• Utility Daily Functions
• Technological Development
• Democracy Socio-Scientific Issues
• Part of Our Culture understand the world

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Physics Concerns

• Science interest
• Science recruiting
• Public understanding of science
• Image of Science

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Outline

• Workgroup, Physics on Stage 2 (AMP)
• Research results, school (AMP)
• EPS Position Paper (UT)
• Student group diversity (AMP)
• Quality assurance (UT)
• Recommendations

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Workgroup, Physics on Stage

• Europe a big curriculum laboratory

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Differences across Europe (PoS2)

• when children begin formal schooling
• when students first meet a teacher qualified in
  science, and in physics
• when students first study physics as a separate
  subject
• when students can first drop the study of
  physics
• the time spent studying physics per week/year
• the nature of the science/physics studied at
  various levels of curricula

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(PoS2) Key skills and ideas, e.g.

• the development of the scientific method
• an understanding of risk
• knowledge of the particulate nature of matter
• knowledge of the development and scale of the
  universe.

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Curriculum for Europe ? (PoS2)

• not thought appropriate to have a single
  curriculum for Europe
• but common design principles and aims
• Curriculum design and development should be based
  on sound scientific principles

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To Study Atoms or Individuals

• We believe that
• all electrons in the universe have the same
  mass, charge, magnetic moment
• every human is a
• unique individual

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Epistemological Ground How can we know?

• that Pythagoras theorem holds
• that the Earth spins around its axis?
• that there are electrons?
• if todays students are different from
  yesterdays
• how to attract students to physics studies
• how physics is best taught?

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ROSE - Relevance of Science Education(SveinSjø
berg et al)
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ROSEST Important for society?
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ROSEI like school science betterthan other
subjects
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(No Transcript)
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Sjøberg SAS Draw a scientist!
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ROSE I would like to be a scientist / a job
in technology
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Science or Physics? What Age?

• Children receptive
• but
• Children can opt out of science / physics
  before meeting someone with a background in
  science/physics !! (PoS2 observation)

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Informal Science Learning (Science
Centers, Science Museums)
http//europa.eu.int/comm/public_opinion/archives/
ebs/ebs_224_report_en.pdf
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Need for PHYSICS subject!

• Solid physics background needed to explain
• Role of Mathematics in Nature
• Modern subjects like
• relativity
• quantum mechanics
• entropy/irreversibility
• Physics as LIVING subject

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EPS position paper

• maintain and improve the quality of physics
  teaching and educational research at all levels
  across Europe
• ensure rapid deployment of the results and best
  practices of educational research and
  experimentation, with regular contacts between
  educational researchers and the physics teaching
  community

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EPS position paper, contd

• welcomes the Bologna process and the creation of
  EHEA
• light touch regulation
• learning outcomes without over prescribing
• physics learning is cumulative

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Bologna - EHEA

• Enter a period of curriculum developments across
  Europe.
• a harmonisation of the higher education systems
  in Europe, facilitating better utilization of
  available resources,
• better opportunities for students to study and
  work abroad
• to connect the European educational area more
  strongly to employment.
• Evidence-based developments ?
• Role of Physics Education Research ?
• European Dimension in Quality Assurance?

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Bologna Pedagogical Development!

• Opportunity for Curriculum Discussions but
• Development takes time
• Risk Reinventing of wheels
• Scholarly approach to teaching
• Documentation sharing
• Recommendation
• Funding for teachers time for development.
• Role of Physics Education Research?

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(No Transcript)
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Student Populations

• Tradition / Status of different educations
• Recruiting
• Physics / Engineering / Teacher students
• Individual variations within student group

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Force Concept Inventory
GU Goteborg University Physics students F
Engineering Physics
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International Comparison, FCI
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Quality of Learning Experience ?

• Teacher
• Background
• Training
• Situation
• Support (tech/adm/demo )
• Dept. culture
• Examination forms

Differ Between Countries / Universities
and Within University
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PoS2 The Role of Teachers

• Teachers require to have a voice regarding the
  curriculum they deliver. This occurs on two
  levels
• having an input to decisions taken about the
  content of national curricula
• having flexibility at local level to ensure the
  curriculum best meets the needs of their
  students.

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Teacher Education
Education Research
PHYSICS EDUCATION
SCHOOL UNIV.
PER Physics Education Research
Physics Research
RESEARCH FUNDING ?
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NETWORKING NEEDS

• High-school teaching of physics (like EUPEN),
  involving teachers, teacher trainers and PER
• Networking among PER groups
• European equivalent of AAPT

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Tools for Quality AssuranceOpen your doors and
windows!

• Views of Graduates and Employers
• Peer Review (with Students and Professionals)
• External Examiners (at least Ph.D., M.Sc?)
• European Quality Label (Eurobachelor)?
• Role for Standardized Tests (like PISA)?

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PoS3 Alice in Quantumland