1. Students' conceptions of particle physics - part 1 Julia. Woithe@cern
Students' conceptions of particle physics - part 1

2. What is S’Cool LAB?
Use new pictures

3. hands-on particle physics learning laboratory
For high-school students and teachers
International audience from more than 20 countries
Independent experimentation in small groups
students per year
570 from Czech rep.

4. 200 m2 modular laboratory space at CERN
State-of-the-art IT equipment incl. videoconferencing
Showcase for experiments for schools linked to CERN’s scientific programme and technologies

5. test bed for physics education research
Development and evaluation of student activities accompanied by research in physics education

6. Aims of S’Cool LAB UNDERSTAND DISCOVER
Make CERN’s physics and technologies understandable to students through hands-on experimentation
Give insights into the working methods, technologies and research of the world's largest particle physics laboratory

7. Experiments Particle Acceleration Basics & Applications
Particle Detection
electrons & electric fields
HALL effect
FRANCK-HERTZ experiment
cloud chambers
supercon-ductivity
electrons & magnetic fields
PET
scintillation detectors
pixel detectors (MEDIPIX)
particle traps
RUTHER-FORD experiment
PLANCK’s constant
X-ray
machines
ionisation chambers
… and many more to come

8. Why students‘ conceptions?
"For museum professionals, knowledge of the audience’s conceptions of the issue to be presented in an exhibition should always be considered in the exhibition development process, and it should be noted that the audience’s conceptions may prevent the intended interpretation of information presented at a museum.“
Henriksen, E., & Jorde, D. (2001). High school students’ understanding of radiation and the environment: Can museums play a role? Science Education 85, 189–206.

9. Why students‘ conceptions?
“students’ prior knowledge can interfere with how they observe and remember lecture demonstrations”
1 out of 5 observations of a demonstration is inconsistent with the actual outcome
students who understand the underlying concepts are more likely to observe it and remember it correctly
students are more likely to observe a demonstration correctly if they predict the outcome first (no matter whether wright or wrong)
conceptual learning is supported by correct observations
Miller, K., Lasry, N., Chu, K., & Mazur, E. (2013). Role of physics lecture demonstrations in conceptual learning. Physical review special topics – Physics education research 9.

10. Predict-Observe-Explain
White, R. T., & Gunstone, R. F. (1992). Probing Understanding. Great Britain: Falmer Press.
20/01/2016

11. Help us validate our questionnaire!
Cloud chamber
X-Ray unit
Electron tube 11

12. Expert rating by teachers
In this questionnaire, we would like to get to know you better and to find out, what your conceptions of particle physics are and what you think might be difficult for students.
Please choose for every question ONE of the given answers, which you think is right.
Please rate your level of confidence with this answer.
Please rate, how difficult you think this question is for high-school students (age 18)
Please explain, why you think so.
Many thanks in advance for your help!
Your ratings as well as first results from students will be presented on 14/07/16 10:45!