Advancing Physics Education: Innovations from Early Learning to Higher Education (Challenges in Physics Education)

This book offers a rich selection of papers from a conference dedicated to the advancement of physics education at all levels. Addressing the pressing need for innovation in teaching and learning, the contributions span pre-school to higher education, showcasing a broad spectrum of innovative proposals aimed at enriching the physics learning experience.

The contributions reflect key thematic tracks, including innovative strategies and pathways to improve physics education, lab work and experiments in physics education, digital technologies in physics education, and school-university collaborations. These tracks provide a cohesive structure, while the individual contributions present research-informed insights and exemplary teaching practices that resonate across age groups and educational contexts.

For pre-school and primary learners, the papers highlight creative learning pathways, hands-on activities, and play-based strategies that introduce young minds to fundamental physical concepts in an engaging and accessible way. At the secondary level, the focus shifts to inquiry-based teaching practices, lab work, and the integration of digital tools that develop students’ critical thinking skills and deepen their understanding of core physics principles.

For higher education, the papers present advanced experimental techniques and interdisciplinary approaches, demonstrating effective strategies for teaching complex concepts to university students as well as novel methods for fostering connections between schools and universities, emphasizing how collaboration enhances teaching practices and supports student learning.

Additionally, the contributions examine how physics education research informs these practices, ensuring that the methods presented are not only innovative but also evidence-based. Grounded in physics education research, the book bridges the gap between theory and practice. Many of the contributions draw on real-world classroom experiences, offering practical applications alongside research findings. This makes the book an invaluable resource for educators, researchers, and policymakers seeking to advance physics education across all levels.