Seminal Papers on Physics Education Research
Research into Student Difficulties and Misconceptions
Student Preconceptions - Clement
John Clement, Students' preconceptions in introductory mechanics . Am.J.Phys. 50(1) January 1982 (66-70).
Common Sense Notions - Halloun and Hestenes
Ibrahim Abou Halloun and David Hestenes, Common sense concepts about motion . Am.J.Phys. 53(11) November 1985 (1056-1064).
Initial Knowledge physics - Halloun and Hestenes
Ibrahim Abou Halloun and David Hestenes, The initial knowledge state of college physics students. Am.J.Phys. 53(11) November 1985 (1043-1055).
A.B. Arons, Phenomenology and logical reasoning in introductory physics courses, Am.J.Phys. 50(1) January 1992 (13-20).
FCI Pre and post scores - ColettaPhillips
Vincent P. Coletta and Jeffrey A.Phillips, Interpreting FCI scores: Normalized gain, preinstruction scores, and scientific reasoning ability, Am.J.Phys. 73(12) December 2005 (1172-1182).
Reverse Engineering - Redish, Scherr, and Tuminaro
Edward F. Redish, Rachel E. Scherr, and Jonathan Tuminaro, Reverse-Engineering the solution of a "Simple" Physics Problem: Why Learning Physics Is Harder Than It Looks, The Physics Teacher, 44, May 2006 (293-300).
Research and Curriculum - Introductory Electricity, Part I.
Lillian C. McDermott and Peter S. Shaffer, Research as a guide for curriculum development: An example from
introductory electricity. Part I: Investigation of student understanding, Am. J. Phys. 60 ( l l ) , November 1992 (994-1003).
Research and Curriculum - Introductory Electricity, Part II.
Lillian C. McDermott and Peter S. Shaffer, Research as a guide for curriculum development: An example from
introductory electricity. Part II: Investigation of student understanding, Am. J. Phys. 60 ( l l ) , November 1992 (1003-).
Student Models of Modern Physics.
Beth Ann Thacker, A study of the nature of students’ models of microscopic processes in the context of modern physics experiments, Am. J. Phys. 71 (6), June 2003, (599-606).
Student Understanding of DC Circuits.
Paula Vetter Engelhardt and Robert J. Beichner, Students’ understanding of direct current resistive electrical circuits, Am. J. Phys. 72 (1), January 2004, (98-115).
Student Understanding of Concave Mirror.
Fred M. Goldberg and Lillian C. McDermott, An Investigation of student understanding of the real image formed by a converging lens or concave mirror, Am. J. Phys. 55(2), February 1987 (108-119)
Initial Understanding of Vector Concepts
Ngoc-Loan Nguyena) and David E. Meltzer, Initial understanding of vector concepts among students in introductory
physics courses. Am.J.Phys. 71(6), June 2003, (630-638)
Review Articles
Active Learning from PER - Laws
P.W. Laws, Millikan Lecture 1996: Promoting active learning based on physics education research in introductory physics courses . Am.J.Phys. 65(1), January 1997, (14-21)
Building a Science of teaching - Redish
Edward F. Redish, Millikan Lecture 1998: Building a Science of Teaching Physics , Am. J. Phys. 67(7), July 1999, (562-573).
PER the Key to Learning - McDermott
Lillian Christie McDermott , Oersted Medal Lecture 2001: "Physics Education Research - The Key to Student Learning" , Am.J.Phys. 69(11), November 2001, (1127-1138).
Alex H Johnstone, Chemical Education Research: Where from here?, University Chemistry Education, 4(1), 2000 (34-38.
Innovative Teaching Methods
Peer Instruction 10 years - Crouch and Mazur
Catherine Crouch and Eric Mazur, Peer Instruction: Ten years of experience and results . Am. J. Phys. 69(9) September 2001, (970-977).
Mazur Peer Instruction results- Fagen, Crouch, and Mazur
Adam P. Fagen, Catherine Crouch, and Eric Mazur, Peer Instruction: Results from a Range of Classrooms, The Physics Teacher, 40, April 2002 (206-209).
Consult also the book by Mazur - Peer Instruction.
Kendall Powell, Spare me the lecture (News Feature), Nature 425, September 2003 (234-236).
Interactive-engagement versus traditional methods: A six-thousand student survey of mechanics test data for introductory physics courses, Am. J. Phys. 66(1) January 1998 (64-74).
Interactive Lecturing - SteinertSnell
Yvonne Steinert and Linda S. Snell, Interactive Lecturing: strategies for increasing participation in large group presentations, Medical Teacher, 21(1) January 1999 (37-42)
Lectures in Science - Morrison
Robert R. Morrison, The Lecture System in Teaching Science, Undergraduate Education in Chemistry and Physics: Proceedings of the Chicago Conferences on Liberal Education , No. 1, edited by R.R. Rice (Univ. of Chicago Press), pp. 50--58 (1986).
Effective Teaching Organic Chem - Lambert
Frank L. Lambert, Effective Teaching of Organic Chemistry, Journal of Chemical Education 40 (4): 173-174 (April 1963).
Real Time Physics - SokoloffLaws
David R. Sokoloff, Priscilla W. Laws, and Ronald K. Thornton. RealTime Physics: active learning labs transforming the introductory laboratory. Eur.J.Phys. 28(5) November 2007 (S83-S94 ).
NY Times article on the TEAL teaching project - physics at MIT (or NY times original)
Sara Rimer. At M.I.T., Large Lectures Are Going the Way of the Blackboard, January 12 2009.
Thought Experiments and Physics Education
Art Stinner and Don Metz, Thought Experiments, Einstein, and Physics Education. Physics in Canada. November/Decembre 2006 (361-372).