Journal of the Korean Physical Society

Korean Physical Society (한국물리학회)
권호 표지
DOI QR코드

DOI QR Code

Reflection and Outlook on Special Relativity Education from the Perspective of Einstein: Focusing on Research Papers Published in Korea

  • Kim, Hongbin (Department of Physics Education, Seoul National University) ;
  • Lee, Gyoungho (Department of Physics Education, Seoul National University)
  • Received : 2018.05.09
  • Published : 2018.08.31
⟨ Previous Next ⟩

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to examine what are the most important ideas of special relativity (SR) education from Einstein's perspective, to reflect on the previous studies of special relativity education up to the present through Einstein's ideas, and to give prospects for its future direction. We analyzed Einstein's book, The Evolution of Physics, focusing on three questions: Why should we teach SR? What kinds of the content knowledge of SR should we teach? How should we teach SR? Based on this analysis, we formulated three criteria for SR education: (1) intrinsic value, (2) integral knowledge, and (3) hermeneutic/communicative approach. In addition, research papers on SR education published in South Korea were analyzed based on these criteria. As a result, we have found that many studies are very different from Einstein's perspective on SR education. And we discussed that, despite the researchers' intentions, their studies are likely to lead other research on SR and educational practices toward the opposite of Einstein's emphasis (i.e., instrumental purpose, fragmentary content knowledge, and partial/functional approach). Finally, we suggest Einsteinian Physics Education as a new way to improve not only SR education but also physics education in general from Einstein's perspective.

Keywords

Acknowledgement

Supported by : National Research Foundation of Korea

References

  1. S. Pak, College of Education Bulletin 11, 83 (1969).
  2. K. Soh and S. Pak, Physics Teaching 3, 11 (1985).
  3. K. Soh, Journal of Science Education Research 10, 113 (1985).
  4. D. Lee and K. Soh, Physics Teaching 7, 84 (1989).
  5. Y-S. Kim and J-S. Kwon, Physics Teaching 14, 28 (1996).
  6. J-S. Kwon and Y-S. Kim, Physics Teaching 16, 1 (1998).
  7. J-S. Kwon and Y-S. Kim, Chungram Science Education Journal 14, 1 (2004).
  8. Y-S. Kim and H. Choi, Korean Journal of Teacher Education 24, 282 (2008).
  9. J. Kim and Y. Kim, Journal of Science Education 35, 283 (2011). https://doi.org/10.21796/jse.2011.35.2.283
  10. S-W. Kim, School Science Journal 5, 65 (2011). https://doi.org/10.15737/ssj.5.2.201108.65
  11. J-S. Kwon and D-G. Park, Chungram Science Education Journal 19, 62 (2013).
  12. J. Kwon and J. B. Kim, School Science Journal 7, 203 (2013). https://doi.org/10.15737/ssj.7.3.201310.203
  13. H. Jho, New Physics: Sae Mulli 64, 550 (2014). https://doi.org/10.3938/NPSM.64.550
  14. J. Kim, J. Jung and Y. Kim, Journal of Science Education 38, 569 (2014). https://doi.org/10.21796/jse.2014.38.3.569
  15. H. Jho, Y. Ji, W. Choi and J. Song, New Physics: Sae Mulli 66, 571 (2016). https://doi.org/10.3938/NPSM.66.571
  16. D. A. Zollman and D. Brown, Am. J. Phys. 84, 325 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1119/1.4943960
  17. R. E. Scherr, P. S. Shaffer and S. Vokos, Phys. Educ. Res., Am. J. Phys. Suppl. 69, S24 (2001).
  18. D. Blair, E. K. Henriksen and M. Hendry, The Conversation 69991, https://theconversation.com/why-dont-we-teach-einsteins-theories-in-school-69991 (2016).
  19. M. Pitts, G. Venville, D. Blair and M. Zadnik, Research in Science Education 44, 363 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11165-013-9386-6
  20. E. K. Henriksen, B. Bungum, C. Angell, C. W. Tellefsen, T. Fragat and M. V. Be, Physics Education 49, 678 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1088/0031-9120/49/6/678
  21. T. Kaur, D. Blair, J. Moschilla, W. Stannard and M. Zadnik, Physics Education 52, 065012 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1088/1361-6552/aa83e4
  22. W. Stannard, D. Blair D, M. Zadnik and T. Kaur, European Journal of Physics 38, 1 (2016).
  23. C. Zahn and U. Kraus, European Journal of Physics 35, 055020 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1088/0143-0807/35/5/055020
  24. Ministry of Education Science and Technology, The 2009 Revised National Curriculum (Seoul, MEST, 2011), No. 2011-364.
  25. S. W. Kim, Phys. High Technol. March, 5 (2012).
  26. Ministry of Education, The 2015 Revised National Curriculum (Sejong, MOE, 2015), No. 2015-74.
  27. A. Einstein and L. Infeld, The Evolution of Physics: From early concepts to relativity and quanta (Simon and Schuster, 1938), eighth paperback printing.
  28. I. Galili, Science and Education 21, 1283 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11191-011-9376-x
  29. H. Kim and G. Lee, A paper presented at Gordon Research Conference (Newport, USA, June 2016).
  30. S. I. Kwak et al., Highschool Physics I (Chunjae Edu, Seoul, 2011).
  31. Y. M. Kim et al., Highschool Physics I (Kyohaksa, Seoul, 2011).
  32. M. Eger, Synthese 81, 94 (1989).
  33. M. Rodriguez and M. Niaz, J. Sci. Educ. Technol. 13, 409 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1023/B:JOST.0000045468.49500.3b
  34. M. Niaz, S. Klassen, B. McMillan and D. Metz, Science Education 94, 903 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1002/sce.20389
  35. M. Niaz, S. Kwon, N. Kim and G. Lee, Phys. Educ. 48, 57 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1088/0031-9120/48/1/57
  36. S. Lee, H. Kim and G. Lee, New Physics: Sae Mulli (in progress).
  37. A. Einstein, Annalen der Physik 17, 891 (1905).
  38. A. Einstein, Annalen der Physik 354, 769 (1916). https://doi.org/10.1002/andp.19163540702
  39. A. Einstein, Relativity: The Special and General Theory (Methuen & Co Ltd, 1916).

Cited by

  1. When Modern Physics Meets Nature of Science : The Representation of Nature of Science in General Relativity in New Korean Physics Textbooks vol.28, pp.9, 2018, https://doi.org/10.1007/s11191-019-00075-9
  2. 학문, 교과, 교과내용, 교과교육 간 관계에 대한 비판적 고찰 -과학교육을 중심으로- vol.40, pp.6, 2020, https://doi.org/10.14697/jkase.2020.40.6.671
  3. Bend it like dark matter! vol.56, pp.3, 2021, https://doi.org/10.1088/1361-6552/abe09c
  4. Teaching and learning special relativity theory in secondary and lower undergraduate education: A literature review vol.17, pp.2, 2021, https://doi.org/10.1103/physrevphyseducres.17.023101