Project Overview
There is worldwide recognition of the need to modernise science education to align it with the modern “Einsteinian” conceptions of space, time, matter, light, and gravity. The Einstein-First project aims to bring the revelations of modern scientific discoveries to everyone through a radical restructuring of the science education curriculum from primary to middle school.
In previous years, the Einstein-First team developed and trialled an eight-year Einsteinian physics curriculum spanning from Year 3 to Year 10, called Eight Steps to Einstein’s Universe, which was combined with an innovative approach to mathematics education called Maths for Einstein’s Universe (see www.einsteinianphysics.com for more information).
In parallel with the development of the Einsteinian physics curriculum, a range of professional development activities (such as workshops and micro-credential courses) have been developed to provide teachers with the skills and knowledge to teach the new curriculum. Currently, modules related to the Einsteinian physics curriculum are being taught in 55 schools (both primary and secondary) by teachers who have been upskilled using these professional development activities.
In the newly funded five-year Australian Research Council Linkage project, the team plans to:
a) evaluate and further develop teacher professional development and upskilling programs of modern physics including our new micro-credential courses,
b) assess their effectiveness in equipping teachers with the conceptual knowledge, understanding and confidence to deliver Einsteinian science, and
c) evaluate the impact of Einstein-First on students’ knowledge of these modern physics concepts, their attitudes toward learning science, and the potential effects on their STEM career choices.
Aims
The aims of the postgraduate student research study will be to:
- Examine teachers’ views of the professional development in Einsteinian physics that occurs through micro-credential courses and assess whether these experiences influence their teaching efficacy and attitudes towards teaching science.
- Investigate factors that influence the impact of professional development (PD) workshops and micro-credential courses on disseminating Einsteinian physics knowledge to other teachers.
Objectives
Aim 1
1.1 Investigate teachers’ views of the impact of the professional development (PD) activities and assess whether these views differed for different PD types (e.g., workshops, micro-credential units).
1.2 Examine whether teachers’ physical science background influenced their views of the impact of the PD activities.
1.3 Examine whether the PD activity influenced teachers’ confidence in and reduced their anxiety towards teaching science and whether this differed for different PD types.
Aim 2
2.1 Investigate factors that influenced the impact of the PD activity.
2.2 Investigate factors that influenced the dissemination of Einsteinian knowledge to other teachers.
Significance
The Einstein-First project as a whole has the potential to impact student outcomes by making available a modern physical science curriculum for Years 3 to 10. By introducing modern, Einsteinian physics ideas to students, there is the desired potential to increase engagement that will guide students’ future STEM career choices.
The study to be undertaken by the postgraduate student will provide valuable insight into how a potential roll-out of the new curriculum, implemented in a small sample of schools, can be successfully upscaled.
Ideal Candidate
We seek a self-motivated PhD candidate willing to work with members of the larger team. The candidate should have good communication, organisational and management skills (including establishing and meeting timelines). The candidate should have an education (teaching) background at either the primary or secondary school level.
The program would benefit from candidates with both qualitative and quantitative skills. Familiarity with statistical analysis is preferred but not a requirement.
Candidates must be eligible to enrol in a PhD program at Curtin University.
This project is open to domestic and international applicants.
Enquiries
If this project interests you, contact Professor Jill Aldridge via the Expression of Interest.