Kyla Adams
Kyla.adams@uwa.edu.au
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An Overview of 2021
@KylaAdams5
@Einstein_first
Outline
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A team within OzGrav that consists of educators, physicists and science communicators
What is
?
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einsteinianphysics.com
What does
do?
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Schools Today | Einstein-First Approach |
Flat space geometry (implicit) | Non-Euclidean geometry |
Absolute time | Relative time |
Light not defined | Light as photons (with wave and particle like properties) |
Heat not defined | Heat as vibrating atoms and phonons |
Gravity - force from objects | Gravity is warped spacetime |
einsteinianphysics.com
What does
do?
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Challenges
Modern physics is seen as abstract and difficult
Including modern physics in the curriculum requires a paradigm shift
Kaur et al. 2017 a
Motivations
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Images from OzGrav Annual Report 2021
Motivations
Then
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Topics
Original Intervention3
Pitts, Venville, Blair & Zadnik 2013
Ten Years Later
4. Adams, Dattatri, Kaur & Blair 2021 https://arxiv.org/abs/2104.09773
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Questionnaire (11 participants)
Interview (8 participants)
‘The fun experiments and activities I witnessed became fond memories as well as valuable lesson in how things such as gravity behave’ – Participant 1
4. Adams, Dattatri, Kaur & Blair 2021 https://arxiv.org/abs/2104.09773
Overall
Today
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2021
* Except a full year 9 trial
Primary Schools
12
Secondary Schools
9
Teachers running trials
~ 20
+8 from our first micro-credential unit
Student Test Data
~1600
both pre- and post-test
Interviews conducted
~4
Modules Trialled
All*
Trial Format
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School signs up for a trial
Teacher training and materials
Students complete a pre-test,
Teacher presents the module,
Students complete a post-test,
Data analysis
Review module
The Modules
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Year 3
Hot Stuff
Atom Frenzy
Year 4
May the Forces be With You *
Year 5
Our Place in the Universe
Fantastic Photons
Year 6
Climate Change*
Primary Modules
* Less than or equal to 1 trial
einsteinianphysics.com
Year 3
Physical Sciences: HOT STUFF
ACARA Statement
Heat is produced in many ways and can move from one object to another.
What we teach:
Chemical Sciences: ATOM FRENZY
ACARA Statement
A change of state between solid and liquid can be caused by adding or removing heat.
What we teach:
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Year 3: Models and Analogies
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Year 3: Hot Stuff�Results from a single trial
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Student Individual percentage total scores
Average pre-test = 33%
Average post-test = 60%
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“I was offered the Year 3 program which is the start of a seamless progression that will give students the modern, best understanding of everything …– a world of atoms, molecules, electrons, photons and phonons. The Einstein -First program armed me with knowledge and confidence to teach in my science classes."�
A Year 3 teacher’s comment
* Edited for clarity
Year 4
Physical Sciences: May the Forces be with you
ACARA Statement
Forces can be exerted by one object on another through direct contact or from a distance.
What we teach:
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Year 5
Physical Sciences:
FANTASTIC PHOTONS
ACARA Statement
Light from a source forms shadows and can be absorbed, reflected and refracted.
What we teach:
Chemical Sciences:
OUR PLACE IN THE UNIVERSE
ACARA Statement
The Earth is part of a system of planets orbiting around a star (the sun).
What we teach:
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Year 5: Models and Analogies
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Year 5: Fantastic Photons�Results from a single trial
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Student Individual percentage total scores
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"The activities and experiments included in the program provide rich learning opportunities to explore important and foundational theories about our universe. … I would recommend this program to any teachers that are interested in providing an engaging, accurate and relevant science curriculum for their students"�
A Year 5 teacher’s comment
Year 6
All Science Strands: CLIMATE CHANGE
What we teach:
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“…I was intrigued by the prospect of introducing content reserved for high school students to Year 3s. Now that I am actually teaching the Einstein-First curriculum, after every Science lesson, I have many little minds going "Eureka! Now I know why ..." Einsteinian physics is here to challenge pre-conceived notions as to what little minds can fathom.
The fact that I wish my own children had been introduced to the EFP program when they were in primary school summarises what I say to other colleagues”
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Another primary school teachers comment
Maths Support
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Maths for understanding Einstein's Physics
Big and small numbers
Logarithmic scale
Chance
Theory of Probability
Maths of arrows
Vectors and Interference
Precision vs accuracy
Fermi estimations
Anastasia Popkova
Math for Einstein’s Physics� Models and Analogies
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Math for Einstein’s Physics
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The program has been trialled with:
Math for Einstein’s Physics�
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Q3
Eight children pushed the teacher’s car, but seven children pushed in the opposite directions.
Draw the picture with arrows.
What was the total Force?
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Year 7
Warp Spacetime
+1*
Year 8
From E = mc2 to renewable energy
+1*
Year 9
Quantum Weirdness
Year 10
Cosmology *
Secondary Modules
einsteinianphysics.com
* Working titles
Warp spacetime is a 15-lesson Year 7 Physical Sciences and Earth Space and sciene curriculum that introduces students to fundamental concepts and our modern Einsteinian view of gravity.
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Shon Boublil
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This energy curriculum focuses on two equations E=mc 2 and E=hf. It also introduces renewable energy and electricity. It is a 20-lesson program that integrates itself within the Physical Sciences curriculum.
Year 9: Quantum weirdness
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My PhD: Developing the Year 9 Einstein-First curriculum
�Will include concepts like:
Trials to start Term 2
See also:
Adams et al 2021 (arxiv:2104.09773)
Kyla Adams
Year 9: Models and Analogies
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Year 9: Beta Testers
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A quantum physics history based online escape room
In development but need puzzle testers
Email me if interested!
Year 10 : Cosmology
Cosmology introduces how gravitational waves can be used to determine the past and future of our universe.
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Darren McGoran
High school teacher
Year 10: Cosmology�Results from a single trial
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Student Individual percentage total scores
Average pre-test = 15%
Average post-test = 75%
Rahul Choudhary
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Micro-credential�Teaching Einsteinian Science to primary and high school teachers
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Some comments from the participants
Micro-credential: A typical feedback results
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| Statements | Results (%) |
1. | I found this course very useful and informative | 100 |
2. | I understand why Einsteinian physics is important to introduce into the school science curriculum | 100 |
3. | I feel confident presenting an Einstein-First module to my students | 100 |
4. | Participating in the activities and the following discussions were beneficial for my future teaching. | 100 |
Other Members
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Fundraising
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Training Videos
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Questions?
Visit www.einsteinianphysics.com
Subscribe to our mailing list to get updates from the project.
Email: kyla.adams@uwa.edu.au Twitter: @KylaAdams5, @Einstein_first
Extra Slides
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