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Professor Calls for Overhaul of Physics Teaching
Posted on 23/03/09
University of Leicester
An award winning University of Leicester Professor is to address the decline nationally in interest in science- and physics in particular- arguing that a change is needed in the way it is taught in schools, colleges and universities.
Professor Derek Raine of the University of Leicester Department of Physics and Astronomy will deliver his inaugural lecture, About the Universe: The Unintended Consequences of Physics, on Tuesday March 24 at 5.30pm in Lecture Theatre 1, Ken Edwards Building, University of Leicester. It is open to the public and free.
Professor Raine who won a National Teaching Fellowship in 2004 and is director of the Leicester Centre for Excellence in Teaching and Learning in Physics argues that there is too much focus on tradition and not enough innovation in a discipline that holds a crucial key to our future.
He says: Habitually beginning with the mechanics of Newton, the style of Physics teaching in many institutions is often seen as a linear progression through history. This could be an important reason why the subjects appeal has been in decline and therefore why student numbers have remained unchanging at a higher level.
With the success of physics in aiding the revelation of some of the worlds greatest mysteries, our knowledge of the physical universe which surrounds us continues to be broadened. However, peoples recollections of physics often decline after Newtons apple and there is a general unawareness of how physics applies to our daily lives.
The traditional methods of teaching in science have been brought into question. With continual and radical developments being made in physics, these changes should also be reflected in the styles of teaching, even applying these ideas to the fundamental concepts of the discipline which have been established years before.
Professor Raine proposes that the success of physics has relied heavily on the types of problem which it has traditionally tackled. More recent advances in physics have applications to difficult problems, such as how life can emerge from a physical system of interacting atoms. In his talk he proposes to discuss the worlds growing reliance on technology and will question whether the gap between science and society can be bridged by applying techniques from physics, giving examples of some of the progress which has already been made in developing a physics of society.
Professor Raine also proposes that critical issues are raised in science education in terms of methodology and curriculum. The University of Leicester is making great progress within this area, with the establishment of the Physics Innovations Centre for Excellence in Teaching and Learning (piCETL) and the Centre of Interdisciplinary Science, where a wider undergraduate curriculum is being introduced through new modes of learning and a new Interdisciplinary Science degree Programme.
Head of Physics and Astronomy at the University of Leicester Professor Martin Barstow said: "We recognise the problems that Derek is talking about and through his work, and that of colleagues, we are trying to provide some solutions.
"This is done through education and outreach in conjunction with the National Space Centre and, in particular, the East Midlands Space Academy, where we the use context of space and astronomy to teach mainstream science topics."
Professor Raine hopes that with these developments of broadening the relevance and access to science education, more students will be enticed into discovering the relevance of physics and how its progress can shape the world, rather than just remembering the apple!
More information on the lecture and a biographical note for Professor Raine can be seen here: http://www2.le.ac.uk/ebulletin/events/2000-2009/2009/mar/npevent.2008-09-01.1477201276
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