Teaching Physics

Undergraduate student construction and interpretation of graphs in physics lab activities

“…Physics educators often refer to the importance of labs in helping students connect theory and practice, or models with observations [6][7][8]. Presenting data in graphs and other representations facilitates this important link between concepts and lab activities.…”

Development and application of a four-tier test to assess pre-service physics teachers’ misconceptions about geometrical optics

“…There are several studies in the literature on understanding students" conceptions in science and there has been more research in the domain of physics than in any other discipline (Duit, 2009;Duit, Niedderer, & Schecker, 2007;McDermott, 1990a;Reiner et al, 2000; Wandersee et al, 1994). These studies have focused on certain concepts in mechanics (Clement, 1982;Halloun & Hestenes, 1985;McCloskey, 1983), electricity (McDermott &Shaffer, 1992; Shipstone, 1988), and heat and temperature (Erickson, 1979(Erickson, , 1980Rogan, 1988).…”

“…These studies have focused on certain concepts in mechanics (Clement, 1982;Halloun & Hestenes, 1985;McCloskey, 1983), electricity (McDermott &Shaffer, 1992; Shipstone, 1988), and heat and temperature (Erickson, 1979(Erickson, , 1980Rogan, 1988). Duit et al (2007) documented a bibliography of the publications on students" ideas in science and reported that mechanics (especially the force concept) and electricity (especially simple electric circuits) are over-researched domains in physics. The authors mentioned the need for further attention to the other domains.…”

Learning Pathways, Learning Progression – the Process Matters: an Interview with Prof. Hans Niedderer about his Work as a Physics Education Researcher in Germany

“…And even though there is the Duit's bibliography (Duit, 2009) -I still do not see the one really good basic literature that summarizes the results of this research in a brief way. I tried to do it myself together with Christoph von Rhöneck for Helmut Mikelskis' "Physikdidaktik" (v. Rhöneck, & Niedderer, 2006) and together with Reinders Duit and Horst Schecker for the "Handbook of Research on Science Education" (Duit, Schecker, Höttecke & Niedderer, 2014). I know what a challenge it is.…”