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Education research is our focus

Welcome to PER-Central, a resource collection for physics education researchers. Here you may find articles, theses and dissertations, research groups, curricular material, and news and events of interest to the PER Community. Learn more about PER-Central.

PER Programs

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Browse the different PER groups and their descriptions on the PER Program Map.

For the Classroom

Intermediate Mechanics Tutorials

Intermediate Mechanics Tutorials
This web site provides small-group learning materials for teaching intermediate mechanics. The physics is Newtonian with very little Lagrangian formalism. Materials are a mix of conceptual, mathematical, and problem solving University of Washington-style tutorials, as well as related research results, examination questions, and suggested course outlines.

Find more PER-based Curricular Materials: Course Packages | Student Activities | Pedagogy Guides

Research Instruments

Symmetry and Gauss's Law Conceptual Evaluation

Symmetry and Gauss's Law Conceptual Evaluation
The Symmetry and Gauss's Law Conceptual Evaluation, developed by Chandralekha Singh, is a research-based multiple-choice test designed to evaluate students' conceptual understanding of symmetry and Gauss's Law. The test is appropriate for research in calculus-based introductory physics courses or upper-level undergraduate E&M courses.

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PER Events PER-Central Announcements RSS

Foundations and Frontiers of Physics Education Research 2013
The biennial FFPER conference will be held June 17-21, 2013 in Bar Harbor, Maine.

Physics Education Research Conference 2013
The theme of PERC 2013 is From Fearing Physics to Having Fun with Physics: Exploring the Affective Domain of Physics Learning from Multiple Perspectives. The conference will be held July 17-18, 2013 in Portland, OR following the Summer AAPT meeting.

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Latest Additions Latest Additions to PER-Central RSS

May 28 Epistemic complexity and the journeyman-expert transition
May 28 How do they solve it? An insight into the learner’s approach to the mechanism of physics problem solving
May 28 Role of beliefs and emotions in numerical problem solving in university physics education
May 28 A Comparison of Inquiry and Worked Example Web-Based Instruction Using Physlets