Modern and Contemporary Physics topics in the teacher training through the method peer instruction

• Grant number: 12/17423-9
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research
• Start date: January 10, 2013
• End date: April 07, 2013
• Field of knowledge: Humanities - Education - Educational Teaching and Learning
• Principal Investigator: Marcelo Alves Barros
• Grantee: Marcelo Alves Barros
• Host Investigator: Eric Mazur
• Host Institution: Instituto de Física de São Carlos (IFSC). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Carlos , SP, Brazil
• Institution abroad: Harvard University, Cambridge, United States
• Associated research grant: 08/10470-6 - Curricular innovation in physics: didactical transposition of the modern theories and the survival of knowledge, AP.TEM

Abstract

This project aims to investigate the introduction of topics of Modern and Contemporary Physics in the teacher training, using the Peer Instruction Method, among the undergraduate students from the Institute of Physics of the University of São Carlos. During the research will seek to develop a joint project between the Research Group on Physics Teaching at the Institute of Physics of the University of São Carlos, coordinated by Prof. Dr. Marcelo Barros Alves, and the group of Prof. Dr. Eric Mazur, from the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences at Harvard University, seeking to achieve results that contribute to improved training of physics teachers about the curriculum innovation in Brazil and USA. We also seek to discuss the outlines of an international cooperation agreement between Brazil and the U.S. and establish guidelines for a postdoctoral project of 01 year duration to be held in 2014 at Harvard University. It is in this context that the research project, aiming at consolidating the trajectory of the research work carried out by Prof. Dr. Marcelo Barros Alves, fostering the exchange of ideas and dissemination of research proposals and joint publications from cooperation in this area. Among the major outcomes of this project aim interest in participating and contributing to research on curriculum innovation in Teaching Physics in Brazil regarding the proposed inclusion of innovative teaching in the classroom, as well as contribute to the overall improvement of Physics Teaching, while the conclusions that arise from this research is to propose training courses for physics teachers. (AU)