The Role of Laboratory Work in Improving Physics Teaching and Learning

This book explores in detail the role of laboratory work in physics teaching and learning. Compelling recent research work is presented on the value of experimentation in the learning process, with description of important research-based proposals on how to achieve improvements in both teaching and learning. The book comprises a rigorously chosen selection of papers from a conference organized by the International Research Group on Physics Teaching (GIREP), an organization that promotes enhancement of the quality of physics teaching and learning at all educational levels and in all contexts. The topics covered are wide ranging. Examples include the roles of open inquiry experiments and advanced lab experiments, the value of computer modeling in physics teaching, the use of web-based interactive video activities and smartphones in the lab, the effectiveness of low-cost experiments, and assessment for learning through experimentation. The presented research-based proposals will be of interest to all who seek to improve physics teaching and learning.

Dagmara Sokolowska is an adjunct in the Faculty of Physics, Astronomy, and Applied Computer Sciences at the Jagiellonian University in Krakow, Poland. She obtained her PhD in physics of soft matter and still does research in that field, concentrating particularly on conductivity percolation of water networks in different materials. For the last 7 years she has been involved in research in physics and science education and in the development of didactic materials at all levels of education, from primary school to PhD level. She also conducts training for in-service teachers in science and physics, with emphasis on inquiry-based learning. Due to her interest in physics and science education, she has participated in five European projects, focusing especially on the implementation of inquiry-based learning and on European science curricula and their inclusion of inquiry-based learning. In 2012 she received the Polish National Medal in Education. An NGO that she founded – Fundacja Akademia Mlodych Odkrywcow – organizes a national contest in science for primary schools that attracts more than 50,000 participants each year.

Marisa Michelini is full professor of physics education at Udine University, Italy, where she is Rector Delegate for Didactic Innovation and Head of the Research Unit in Physics Education (URDF). She is president of the International Research Group in Physics Education (GIREP), a committee member of Multimedia Physics Teaching and Learning (MPTL), director of the Italian University Consortium on Education and Guidance (GEO), a member of the Permanent Commission for Education of the Italian Physical Society, and an honorary member of the Italian Association for Physics Teaching (AIF). She founded the Center for Research in Education (CIRD), the Lab Center for Physics Education (CLDF), the Center for Guidance (CORT), and the Research Unit in Physics Education (URDF). Dr. Michelini is long-standing director of the national journals La Fisica nella Scuola and Universita e Scuola. She has carried out various research projects at EU, national, and regional levels. She is a member of many editorial boards of physics education journals and has authored 660 publications in books and journals, including 257 in English at the international level.