The introduction of Modern and Contemporary Physics in pre-university level: research and curricular innovation contexts in Germany

• Grant number: 11/11471-9
• Support Opportunities: Research Grants - Visiting Researcher Grant - International
• Start date: September 24, 2011
• End date: October 03, 2011
• Field of knowledge: Humanities - Education - Educational Teaching and Learning
• Principal Investigator: Mauricio Pietrocola Pinto de Oliveira
• Grantee: Mauricio Pietrocola Pinto de Oliveira
• Visiting researcher: Gesche Pospiech
• Visiting researcher institution: Technische Universität Dresden (TU Dresden), Germany
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Educação (FE). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 08/10470-6 - Curricular innovation in physics: didactical transposition of the modern theories and the survival of knowledge, AP.TEM

Abstract

The activities proposed at the workshop given by Prof. Dr. Gesche Pospiech involve discussing possible methodological approaches to teach topics of Modern and Contemporary Physics in High School level. Taking into account the vast and long term German experience with the theme, her visit is an excellent opportunity to get to know different strategies adopted at this country, not only in respect to content selection and didactical approaches, but also concerning aspects related to teacher training programs. There are many obstacles to the teaching and learning of Modern and Contemporary Physics in High School level such as the mathematical formalism, the "overfilled" curriculum, the teacher training program, among others. In the Brazilian context, the group coordinated by Prof. Dr. Maurício Pietrocola has a tradition of more than ten years of investigation on the theme. In this sense, the exchange of experiences will be of fundamental importance to broaden the group's research possibilities as well as the conditions to teach topics of FMC in real classrooms. The establishment of a collaboration project between the groups is also aimed at. In general, the workshop will approach the history of the inclusion of FMC topics in German High School as well as its current situation, the German research traditions on this theme and some implications for the teacher training programs. One of the main focuses will be on how to deal with the mathematical formalism obstacle when teaching Quantum Mechanics in this level, due to the systematic research of Prof. Pospiech in this field. (AU)