Theme Leaders: Nic Labrosse, Glasgow and Anna Wood, Edinburgh
Physics Education Research (PER) in Scottish universities focuses on understanding and enhancing how students learn physics and related subjects (e.g. astronomy).
Physics educators face a multitude of challenges that can impact the quality and effectiveness of teaching. For example, lecturers must have a deep understanding of how to help students to learn the content most effectively. The rapid evolution of technology provides both challenges and opportunities for effective teaching, requiring teachers to continuously re-evaluate their teaching approaches. Additionally, educators often grapple with engaging students who may have diverse learning needs and varying degrees of knowledge and background in physics. The wide and demanding curriculum can make it difficult to address individual student needs and to implement innovative teaching strategies within time constraints.
PER provides an evidence base to help teachers to make the best decision for them, their course and their students. For example, it offers opportunities to help those involved in teaching to transition from traditional methods to evidence-based approaches.
SUPA Physics Education Research (PER) groups conduct research into teaching and learning at the university level, aiming to develop and evaluate instructional strategies to improve student learning. This contributes to the development of effective teaching methodologies and enhanced educational outcomes in the physical sciences.
Research topics include:
- investigating conceptual understanding, which delves into how students grasp fundamental physics concepts;
- problem solving, focusing on the methods and processes students use to tackle physics problems;
- curriculum and instruction research, to examine the effectiveness of different teaching methods and curricula in conveying physics knowledge;
- assessment research, seeking to develop and refine tools for evaluating student learning and understanding in physics;
- cognitive psychology in PER, exploring how cognitive processes affect learning in physics.