Reach for the Stars: Enhancing Pedagogy and Technology in Physics and Astronomy Education

A special issue of Education Sciences (ISSN 2227-7102).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 June 2025 | Viewed by 693

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, UK
Interests: active learning techniques; competences in physics; student belonging and engagement; language and cultural factors for supporting physics learning with international students

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

With the increasing prevalence of AI and other new technologies and reflecting on what we have learned about pedagogy during the pandemic, the time is ripe to gather our collective experience and excitement for the future education of students in Physics and Astronomy. 

In this Special Issue focussing on Physics and Astronomy education we invite original research articles and reviews pertaining to all aspects of student education in these disciplines. This encompasses novel modes of delivery and engagement to aid students in their understanding of complex theories and concepts; development of experimental, investigation and observational skills; use of modelling, coding and simulations; assessment in the age of AI; support and inclusion of minorities; and development of career aspirations to suit our diverse student populations. This list is not exhaustive, and any aspect related to Physics and Astronomy education is very welcome. In terms of minorities, those of particular relevance to Physics and Astronomy are women and neurodivergent students, and novel ways to support and build confidence in these students are particularly welcome.   

This is an exciting opportunity to share our research studies and findings across the international community, to inspire a truly modern curriculum to meet the technological challenges of such rapidly changing times.

Prof. Dr. Alison Voice
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

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Keywords

  • student engagement in learning
  • laboratory and observational skills
  • modelling and coding
  • technology-enhanced pedagogy
  • assessment in the age of AI
  • minorities and equality

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

15 pages, 442 KiB  
Article
An Intervention Addressing Impostor Phenomenon in Undergraduate Physics and Astronomy
by Ewan Bottomley, Paula Miles, Antje Kohnle, Vivienne Wild and Kenneth I. Mavor
Educ. Sci. 2025, 15(4), 498; https://doi.org/10.3390/educsci15040498 - 16 Apr 2025
Viewed by 256
Abstract
The experience of the impostor phenomenon, when a person doubts themselves and believes that they are underqualified and do not belong in a position as a result, can be a challenge for undergraduate physics students. In a small-scale interview study, we found that [...] Read more.
The experience of the impostor phenomenon, when a person doubts themselves and believes that they are underqualified and do not belong in a position as a result, can be a challenge for undergraduate physics students. In a small-scale interview study, we found that the impostor phenomenon was frequently reported by physics undergraduates. On this basis, we developed an intervention to target the impostor phenomenon. The intervention had three phases. In the first phase, we introduced key concepts to students, giving them labels for their experiences. In the second phase, we gave students passages which depicted stories of higher-level students who had experienced the impostor phenomenon. We prompted conversation between students on the passages to normalize the discussion around the impostor phenomenon. Finally, in the third phase we asked students to reflect on what advice they would give future students who struggled with the impostor phenomenon. This was to encourage students to think about their own strategies when it comes to dealing with the impostor phenomenon. The intervention was run in class with 279 undergraduate students. The evaluation of the intervention via follow-up interviews was positive. The students spoke about the need for such an intervention and suggested adaptations. This intervention could be a step towards promoting a culture in educational settings where impostor feelings can be discussed openly. Full article
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