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Department of Mathematics and Applications
"Renato Caccioppoli"


Design of Teaching Experiments

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Design of Teaching Experiments

Credits

6

Prerequisites

Physics 2 with Laboratory.

Scientific-disciplinary sector (SSD)

FIS/08 Physics Education and History of Physics.

Examination method

Preparation of a portfolio or laboratory test, and oral exam.

Learning
objectives

The course aims to provide a general overview of the results of physics education research through a number of teaching approaches (real-time experiments, inquiry, integrated science education, physics in context) aimed at improving conceptual understanding of some key ideas of physics. It also aims to familiarise students with experiments that can be carried out at school to overcome learning difficulties identified by education research. Finally, examples of teaching pathways in classical and modern physics to be implemented in class or in extracurricular activities will be presented.

Syllabus

(i) Sensors in physics teaching; (ii) conceptual knots in one-dimensional kinematics; (iii) students’ ideas about force and motion; (iv) conceptual knots in thermology; (v) conceptual knots in wave propagation and measurement of spectra of mechanical and electromagnetic waves; (vi) conceptual knots in direct-current circuits; (vii) teaching proposals for modern physics in upper secondary schools (licei).

Expected learning
outcomes

At the end of the course students must demonstrate that they

  • know and understand the general issues relating to physics education, with particular regard to the reasoning strategies of upper secondary school students (pedagogical content knowledge);
  • are able to apply the knowledge acquired by compiling a portfolio of the activities attended, highlighting similarities/differences with those set out in the National Guidelines for upper secondary schools (Licei). Furthermore, they must be able to design independently a classroom experiment, accompanied by an appropriate student worksheet and teacher’s guide;
  • are able to communicate ideas and solutions clearly, rigorously and effectively to both specialist and non-specialist audiences;
  • are able to identify the most appropriate methods to analyse and solve a problem related to the course topics and to interpret the results correctly.

Learning outcomes
to be assessed

Integration of subject knowledge and pedagogical content knowledge; relevance of the proposed teaching experiment to the secondary school curriculum; clarity of the tasks in the student worksheet and of the explanations in the teacher’s guide; consistency of the chosen methodology with that presented in the course.