There is no shortcut to substantially speed up the process of novice-to-expert style of grasping physics. We, physics teachers, are experts, but sometimes frustrated by small steps by which our students transform their novice reasoning to that of an expert. How can we enhance that transformation taking into account the fact that there are usually 30 students in a classroom? Comprehension before computation is one answer, and the second one is including different experiments (demonstrative ones and those carried out by students).
Working sessions
- comprehension before computation: the case of kinematics
- from graphs to equations of kinematics
- practical demonstration of experiments
- what is a reasonable usage of computer based experiments?
- from WHY to HOW and from empirical finding to physics laws: the case of electricity
- practical demonstration of experiments
- the structure of a test paper
- am I allowed to create my own textbook
- presentation of the examples of good practice
- various experiments for students of different levels
- setting up an experiment, guiding the students, practical work
- how to motivate students to participate in a bit of extra work, in various extracurricular activities;
- physics safe-cracking competition, trying to open dome student-prepared safes
- introducing a broader picture of physics, instead of sets of unrelated phenomena
- case studies: from the pattern of the ripple tank to the atom and the universe
- presentation of student projects and extra-curricular activities
- what can we learn from the Slovenian final exams (matura) in physics
Provisional timetable
| SUN | MON | THU | WED | THU | FRI | SAT | |
| Morning | Arrival | Session 1 | Session 3 | Session 4 | Session 5 | Session 6 | A |
| Afternoon | Welcome | Session 2 | Visit to Ljubljana | Optional modules | Free | Sharing best practice event | day |
| Evening | Free | International evening | Slovenian evening | Activities evening | Free | Reflection evening | trip |
The timetable with a more detailed description of the activities will be given to the participants a week before the start of the course.
Thoughts from our past participants and some impressions
The team
Tine Golež, MSc, is a physics professor at Diocesan Classical Gymnasium (secondary school). He strongly emphasises the importance of experiments in the instruction of physics and he participated in the creation of the curricular implementation with over 300 experiments for students in 2 years.
Martin Čokl teaches physics at St. Stanislav's. He regularly organises several astronomical events (including star gazings), as he is a keen astronomer. He also leads the astronomical extracurricular activity and the preparations for the student competitions.
Iztok Kukman, MSc, constructed several experiments in order to enhance the teaching of modern physics (a model of NMR measurement). However, all his lessons are based on physics experiments. Computer simulations are just for an upgrade, not to replace real experiments.
Nemanja Momčilović regularly prepares students for several competitions including the top one. As he can explain very complex tasks in a series of logical steps, the most talented students find him as an ideal “trainer”.
What is included in the course package?
- course contents and materials
- additional optional modules and good practice examples
- coffee and other refreshments throughout the course
- full-board accommodation
- rich social programme
- a series of networking opportunities
Everything in the price of €1,150.
For more information, see other sections of the website.