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Physical Review Physics Education Research
written by Michael B. Bennett, Brett L. Fiedler, and Noah D. Finkelstein
Public engagement is an important component of the operation of many physics organizations, such as physics departments. However, comparatively little work has been done to systematize the study of pedagogical approaches in these informal environments, which may contain unique affordances and challenges compared to formal settings. A 2016 study took an important step toward a comprehensive understanding of pedagogy in informal environments by developing a model articulating three so-called "modes of pedagogy," utilizing cultural-historical activity theory to categorize pedagogy of volunteer instructors. To build upon this model, we have conducted a more thorough study at a University of Colorado Boulder-based informal physics education program, following similar methods but expanding upon the methodology to generate more robust insights into instructors' pedagogy. The study has produced three major results. First, we have broadly corroborated the findings of the 2016 study, observing similar distributions of enacted pedagogical preferences among our volunteer instructors. Second, we have expanded upon recommendations in the 2016 study for methods of instructor preparation; specifically, we find that presemester training is insufficient to effect a lasting change in instructors' enacted pedagogy. Third, we have refined the pedagogical modes model presented in that work, moving away from a categorical articulation of the modes in favor of a model where instructors' pedagogy is characterized by combinations of traits and mediated by their overarching objectives for students. These two novel additions to the pedagogical modes framework allow for a more nuanced and comprehensive characterization of the pedagogical techniques used by instructors in informal learning environments, improving both our understanding of the methods of informal pedagogy and our ability to prepare instructors to succeed.
Physical Review Physics Education Research: Volume 16, Issue 2, Pages 020137
Subjects Levels Resource Types
Education Foundations
- Sample Population
= Instructor: In-service
- Teacher Characteristics
= Pedagogical Content Knowledge
Education Practices
- Informal Education
- Pedagogy
General Physics
- Physics Education Research
- Informal Education
- Reference Material
= Research study
Intended Users Formats Ratings
- Educators
- Administrators
- Researchers
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- application/pdf
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Access Rights:
Free access
License:
This material is released under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 4.0 license.
Rights Holder:
American Physical Society
DOI:
10.1103/PhysRevPhysEducRes.16.020137
NSF Numbers:
PHY-1734006
DMR-1548924
DRL-1713060
Keywords:
Activity Theory, Cultural Historical pedagogy, Mediated Action, Vygotsky
Record Creator:
Metadata instance created May 12, 2021 by Bruce Mason
Record Updated:
October 9, 2022 by Caroline Hall
Last Update
when Cataloged:
November 20, 2020
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AIP Format
M. Bennett, B. Fiedler, and N. Finkelstein, , Phys. Rev. Phys. Educ. Res. 16 (2), 020137 (2020), WWW Document, (https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevPhysEducRes.16.020137).
AJP/PRST-PER
M. Bennett, B. Fiedler, and N. Finkelstein, Refining a model for understanding and characterizing instructor pedagogy in informal physics learning environments, Phys. Rev. Phys. Educ. Res. 16 (2), 020137 (2020), <https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevPhysEducRes.16.020137>.
APA Format
Bennett, M., Fiedler, B., & Finkelstein, N. (2020, November 20). Refining a model for understanding and characterizing instructor pedagogy in informal physics learning environments. Phys. Rev. Phys. Educ. Res., 16(2), 020137. Retrieved May 4, 2025, from https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevPhysEducRes.16.020137
Chicago Format
Bennett, M, B. Fiedler, and N. Finkelstein. "Refining a model for understanding and characterizing instructor pedagogy in informal physics learning environments." Phys. Rev. Phys. Educ. Res. 16, no. 2, (November 20, 2020): 020137, https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevPhysEducRes.16.020137 (accessed 4 May 2025).
MLA Format
Bennett, Michael B., Brett Fiedler, and Noah Finkelstein. "Refining a model for understanding and characterizing instructor pedagogy in informal physics learning environments." Phys. Rev. Phys. Educ. Res. 16.2 (2020): 020137. 4 May 2025 <https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevPhysEducRes.16.020137>.
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@article{ Author = "Michael B. Bennett and Brett Fiedler and Noah Finkelstein", Title = {Refining a model for understanding and characterizing instructor pedagogy in informal physics learning environments}, Journal = {Phys. Rev. Phys. Educ. Res.}, Volume = {16}, Number = {2}, Pages = {020137}, Month = {November}, Year = {2020} }
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%A Michael B. Bennett %A Brett Fiedler %A Noah Finkelstein %T Refining a model for understanding and characterizing instructor pedagogy in informal physics learning environments %J Phys. Rev. Phys. Educ. Res. %V 16 %N 2 %D November 20, 2020 %P 020137 %U https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevPhysEducRes.16.020137 %O text/html

EndNote Export Format

%0 Journal Article %A Bennett, Michael B. %A Fiedler, Brett %A Finkelstein, Noah %D November 20, 2020 %T Refining a model for understanding and characterizing instructor pedagogy in informal physics learning environments %J Phys. Rev. Phys. Educ. Res. %V 16 %N 2 %P 020137 %8 November 20, 2020 %U https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevPhysEducRes.16.020137


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