A proposal for using the results from educational research on physics teaching

Abstract

In the last decades, a growing number of physicists have taken up the challenge of implementing in the learning and teaching of physics the same research discipline applied to traditional research in the field. Such commitment is largely known as «Physics Education Research» (PER). In this paper we will discuss a proposal of utilization of results of the research for classroom practice at High School and university level. This paper presents evidence from different studies to demonstrate the potential positive impact of the research on teaching and learning physics on students’ understanding of physics. Finally, we will show some practical challenges and propose some steps that could be taken to ensure PER growth and productivity.