In this project the research team collaborated with school and college teachers and technicians to examine the methods available teach specific concepts within secondary school physics curricula.

A participatory action research approach was used for this small-scale study. Workshop participants were self-selecting from an initial online survey. A pre-workshop survey collected qualitative data on their current equipment, and during the workshop written notes recorded views on a variety of apparatus. The methodology was designed to create a full picture of practical work in physics classrooms. This was grounded in theory from our experience in education and a review of the literature. We used a survey to understand the current practice of teachers and technicians, while workshops provided educators with an opportunity to analyse equipment used to teach specific physics concepts.

This ongoing project aims to address the lack of literature assessing and comparing practical methods for teaching specific concepts in secondary school physics education. There is general guidance on practical work and its benefits, and websites detailing a single experimental procedures, but we understand from educators that equipment varies across establishments, and they need specific support in its application.

Read our publication on the results of the initial survey