The JILA-PFC collaborates with the University of Colorado’s Physics Education Research group, which studies how students learn topics in physics and related fields and develops educational interventions in both the formal and informal sectors. The group also develops the widely used interactive web-based PhET simulations.
Past research projects have included:
- curriculum development for the PISEC afterschool program, including working with PhET to integrate PhET simulations into the afterschool science lessons on motion and circuits
- assessing changes in PISEC youth participants’ attitudes and beliefs about science as well as their progress in content mastery
- assessing university student facilitators' development of science communication skills after participating in the PISEC program
- assessing university student facilitators' pedagogical skills and teaching strategies in the PISEC environment
Current research projects include:
- assessing PISEC youth participants' engagement with science communication practices
- documenting long-term impacts of the PISEC program for youth participants
The Physics Frontiers Centers (PFC) program supports university-based centers and institutes where the collective efforts of a larger group of individuals can enable transformational advances in the most promising research areas. The program is designed to foster major breakthroughs at the intellectual frontiers of physics by providing needed resources such as combinations of talents, skills, disciplines, and/or specialized infrastructure, not usually available to individual investigators or small groups, in an environment in which the collective efforts of the larger group can be shown to be seminal to promoting significant progress in the science and the education of students. PFCs also include creative, substantive activities aimed at enhancing education, broadening participation of traditionally underrepresented groups, and outreach to the scientific community and general public.