Physics and Education

Physics and Education Articles

The Physics and Education section of Physics in Canada was introduced in January 1992 to act as a lively forum for views and opinions from both sides of the high school/post secondary education interface. Contributions of views and reviews are welcome on such topics as curricular change, new teaching methods, laboratory experiments at school and college, and technical training for a technical future. Initiatives directed towards the encouragement of women in science and the identification of role models in physics are of special interest and should be a feature of this section of the journal.

Physics and Education Corner

In 2009, the Student Affairs Committee of the CAP introduced a new section in Physics in Canada known as the “Education Corner”. This section is intended to offer readers short (1-2 page) articles of a practical nature.

P&E Articles

There are many fine teachers of physics in Canada, and many excellent high school students who benefit from their skill and enthusiasm. Both teachers and students, however, have to deal not only with profound differences in curricula between one province and another, but also the fact that social studies and life skills take up an increasingly significant proportion of classroom time. Relating a limited high school physics curriculum to continuing changes in the admission requirements of many provincial universities and colleges ensures that the transition from secondary to post secondary education is as simple as possible, and that appropriate communication across the school to college interface is always in place. With this in mind, the Editorial Board of Physics in Canada established in January of 1992 a new Physics and Education sectino to address educational issues and act as a lively forum for views and opinions from both sides of the high school/post secondary education interface.

Contributions of views and reviews are welcome on such topics as curricular change, new teaching methods, laboratory experiments at school and college, and technical training for a technical future. Initiatives directed towards the encouragement of women in science and the identification of role models in physics are of special interest and should be a feature of this section of the journal.

In summary, then, it is to be hoped that through the pages of Physics in Canada, the practising physicist, the academic, the industrialist, and the school teacher can together contribute to the rationalization and stimulation of physics teaching, both in high school and in post secondary education in Canada.

If, as Laurence J. Peter has suggested, “education is a method whereby one acquires a higher grade of prejudices”, let us, as educated people, open identify our prejudices and debate them fully in future issues.

Education Corner Contributions

Previously published Education Corner articles can be found here.