Using the History of Physics to Teach . . . Physics

The history of physics is often considered a footnote in both secondary and post-secondary physics courses. Many secondary and post-secondary students do not develop a sense of the history of physics, partially because it is relegated to the introductory paragraphs of chapters in physics textbooks or to short anecdotes about the great physicists of history. The purpose of this workshop is to present the history of physics as a complementary science, capable of improving students’ conceptual understanding of physics and worthy of being included explicitly in physics courses. In this presentation I will share several vignettes and case studies from the history of physics that encourage teachers to use history to help build a conceptual understanding of physics. Participants will have the chance to experience, through hands-on activities, how the history of physics might be framed as an inquiry process rather than a series of anecdotes. The workshop will demonstrate that teaching the history of physics in a purposeful way can shed considerable light on topics in the secondary school physics curriculum.

Dr. Shawn Bullock is an assistant professor of science and technology education at the University of Ontario Institute of Technology. He teaches physics and mathematics methods courses in the B.Ed. program and courses focused on the intersections between adult education and digital technologies in the M.Ed. program. Dr. Bullock’s research interests include how physics teachers learn to teach, how adults understand climate change science, the implications of learning with and from digital technologies in education, and the pedagogical history of how physicists and engineers are taught. Dr. Bullock is the author of a recently published book titled Inside Teacher Education, which explores the challenges faced by physics teacher candidates learning to teach physics during preservice programs.