Conceptual understanding of physics

This is a collaborative project with the long-term aim of improving physics graduates’ conceptual understanding. The motivation for the project is the concerns expressed by some academics and others, for example people involved with teacher training, that graduates lack deep understanding of basic physics concepts.

The project involves a group of physics departments that use a range of assessment instruments to test the conceptual understanding of their students at various stages of their education. In the longer term, the partnership will gradually develop resources to support teaching and learning in this area and the results will be shared around the community.