<p>I detta arbete så vill jag studera hur praktisk fysikundervisning och bedömning i några</p><p>svenska gymnasieskolor överensstämmer med modern forskning om fysikpedagogik.</p><p>Denna forskning spänner över ett brett spektrum av metoder och teorier, varav jag har</p><p>fokuserat på om lärarnas undervisning kan beskrivas som</p><p>-elevaktiv eller inte,</p><p>-mer eller mindre baserad på bokstudier,</p><p>-inriktad på konceptuell förståelse eller mer förmågan att räkna specifika uppgifter.</p><p>Dessa aspekter diskuteras även i relation till de inblandade lärarnas utbildning.</p><p>För att kunna jämföra de olika klasserna och lärarna har jag använt ett test av</p><p>konceptuell förståelse (FCI, se sektion 3.2) samt enkäter till lärare och elever. Ur ett</p><p>tyvärr skevt urval av klasser och lärare framgår att det finns stora skillnader på hur</p><p>lärarna ser på undervisningen och vilka undervisningsmetoder de använder, samt hur</p><p>styrt de upplever sitt arbete. Korrelationerna mellan elevernas resultat på FCI och på</p><p>ordinarie prov på motsvarande mekanik är små, vilket tyder på att reguljära prov</p><p>mäter konceptuell förståelse i liten utsträckning. Det finns även skillnader i resultaten</p><p>i form av elevernas konceptuella förståelse mellan skolorna, i linje med tidigare</p><p>forskningsresultat att nyare metoder faktiskt ger bättre resultat, även om denna</p><p>preliminära studie inte förmår ge underlag för direkta slutsatser. Resultaten tyder även</p><p>preliminärt på att manliga elever lyckas få en bättre konceptuell förståelse än</p><p>kvinnliga elever i skolan.</p>

Currently, Information and Communication Technology (ICT) is available to almosteveryone. In the last few decades its impact has widely expanded in all fieldsincluding the educational one. There are important attitudinal factors affecting theusage of learning technology successfully. Information system researchers haveidentified the importance of personal factors, such as attitudes, beliefs, culture andbehaviours in technology acceptance (Davis, Bagozzi, & Warshaw, 1992). Previousresearch has analysed these factors in the acceptance of educational technology inhigher education (Liu, Liao, & Pratt, 2009), (Teo, 2009), (Terzis & Economides, 2011),(Cheung & Vogel, 2013). However, the factors playing a role in a mathematicalcontext have not been fully analysed. This research explores the role of several attitudinal factors in the acceptance ofeducational technology for the assessment process in mathematics in a highereducation setting. We examine the effects of formative on-line feedback on theadoption of educational technology by analysing both teachers' and students'opinions regarding enriched formative on-line assessment for mathematics. Ourresults suggest that UK students find on-line feedback is more enjoyable and usefulthan traditional feedback. Attitude and enjoyment are two important factorsinfluencing usage intentions. Results also show that two influential factors to facilitateusing the on-line testing environment are that feeling confident about computers andthe availability of information technology services. In Mexico, findings reveal thatstudents' attitude has the strongest influence on usage intentions which means thattheir feelings and opinions are important. They also think that on-line feedback ismore enjoyable than face-to-face feedback. Students who are proficient in on-linetesting are more likely to find it easy to use. Students also agree that when an on-lineenvironment is easy to use, it is also more likely that they consider it as useful andenjoyable. Taking into account these results can be the best way to design amathematics e-assessment activity for UK and Mexican students. UK instructors agreethat on-line assessments are useful tools to enrich instructional strategies. Teachersin Mexico have a similar opinion. Both results show that they really value providingon-line feedback.

The thesis introduces many examples of outreach activities, primarily from the Czech Republic and other European countries. Various possibilities of measure- ments of factors of their effectivity are discussed in the thesis. The used methods were: literature review, conceptual assessment tests - pre- and post-tests (CCI, PPCI), questionnaires (IMI), data analyses of participants of activities, semi-structured interviews (for validation of concept inventories), and the work also has a glimpse of ethnography because the author has organised outreach activities for ten years. The individual chapters of the work are dedicated to: the overview of outreach activities, research methods, translation of the Calculus Concept Inventory (CCI) into Czech, the first steps for developments of the Particle Physics Concept Inven- tory (PPCI), loyalty of participants of competitions, and description of various metrics which can be used for statistical evaluation of events. 1

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Title: Various Approaches to Didactics of Physics in the Czech Republic and Abroad Abstract: This diploma work deals with selected aspects of didactics of physics as a branch of science. Its aim is to start a more systematic reflection of a domestic didactics of physics in connection with the situation abroad as well as with previous developments in the Czech Republic. Important approaches to didactics of physics, (above all the applied, integrated and communicative approach) are described in this work and attention is also paid to international developments. This work also presents arguments about why didactics of physics could be perceived as a branch of science together with the mutual relationships of didactics of physics with other scientific fields. In the last chapter there is a discussion about new possibilities in the development of didactics of physics, especially about the tendency of mutual linking of didactics of physics with didactics of other school subjects. In this chapter there is also an outline of a new approach which focuses on goals. Keywords: didactics of physics, physics education research, approach to didactics of physics, subject didactics

Previous studies have shown that many students have misconceptions about basic concepts in physics which persist after instruction. It has been concluded that one of the challenges lies in the teaching methodology. To address this, Georgia State University (GSU) has begun teaching studio algebra-based physics. Although many institutions have implemented studio physics, most have done so in calculus-based sequences. Additionally, the unique environment of GSU’s population as a diverse, urban research institution is considered. The effectiveness of the studio approach for this demographic in an algebra-based introductory physics course was assessed. This five-semester pilot study presents demographic survey results and compares the results of student pre- and post-tests using the Force Concept Inventory (FCI). FCI results show that 1) the studio approach yields higher learning gains than the conventional course, 2) there are significant performance differences among ethnic groups, and 3) a gender gaps exists regardless of instructional method.

The aim of this thesis is to get a better understanding of the role of practical work in physics education in the Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Lao PDR). The Lao PDR is one of least developed countries in the world with a weak base for science, and poor market opportunities for science graduates. The rapidly expanding educational system has many problems concerning quality of the infrastructure and staff competence. A combination of qualitative and quantitative methods was used in the study in order to assure reliability of the results. Data was collected through questionnaires, interviews, video-recordings, and my own ethnographic experiences of working in the Lao educational system for more than thirty years. The study was informed and results analysed with help of curriculum perspective and Cultural-Historical Activity Theory (CHAT). The findings show that Lao physics education curriculum at all levels is dominated by very traditional forms of teaching with an almost total absence of practical. Official curricular documents have statements prescribing teachers to do practical work in high school and university courses. However, few institutions have functioning equipment and skilled teachers for organising practical activities. Therefore, the majority of Lao students come to university and even can finish university without experience of practical work in physics. This shows the gap that exists between intended and implemented curricula. The majority of the students understand the importance of having practical activities in physics. However, after being exposed to laboratory experiments in an introductory physics course, they expressed criticism about the quality of instruction and the process of the practical work organisation. The laboratory group work analysis showed that discussions were mainly focused on understanding the experimental procedures, manipulating equipment, and collecting data for the report rather than on the physics content (object of activity, in CHAT terms). Based on the research results, it is possible to suggest that a systemic approach is needed to stimulate the development of a new practical work culture in schools and universities. This approach should include training and incentives for science teachers, development of assessment strategies including practical work, maintenance structures for physics equipment, and technical support for the organisation of demonstrations and laboratory exercises.