active learning in optics and photonics experiences in africa.docVIP

Introduction INTRODUCTION Improvement of science education is a significant need that has received considerable attention throughout the world. The challenges, while great in the developed world, are even greater in the developing world where well-trained teachers, effective materials and even the most basic scientific equipment and supplies are often in short supply. In its efforts to promote creativity and innovations in the way introductory physics is taught at the university level, UNESCO has supported activities in different developing countries to address the need for teacher upgrading and to introduce innovative learning approaches.1-3 In recent years, the focus in workshops for teacher trainers has been on the active learning approach. This has included the development of teaching and learning materials that incorporate this approach. The introduction of active learning in physics in developing countries is especially encouraged by UNESCO because it fosters hands-on laboratory work, promotes conceptual learning and encourages instructors to do research in physics education that may lead to a significant improvement in their students’ learning. The goal of these active learning UNESCO projects is to foster the implementation of student-centered, minds-on, hands-on learning as much as possible in introductory physics courses. Why Active Learning? Active learning in physics, developed over the last decade, has been demonstrated in the United States and other developed countries to enhance student understanding of basic physics concepts. In this learning strategy, students are guided to construct their knowledge of physics concepts by direct observations of the physical world. Use is made of a learning cycle including predictions, small group discussions, observations and comparison of observed results with predictions. (This learning cycle can also be represented as PODS—Prediction, Observation, Discussion and Synthesis.) In this way, students become awa