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2025-2026 / ZENS0237-1

Teaching methodology for physics (part II)

Duration

18h Th

Number of credits

 Master of education, Section 5: Physics3 crédits 
 Master of education, Section 4: Physics3 crédits 

Lecturer

Pierre-Xavier Marique

Language(s) of instruction

French language

Organisation and examination

Teaching in the second semester

Schedule

Schedule online

Units courses prerequisite and corequisite

Prerequisite or corequisite units are presented within each program

Learning unit contents

In continuity with Part I, this course deepens approaches to designing effective teaching sequences for upper-secondary physics, with a focus on exercises and problems, formative assessment devices, and selected alternative forms of learning. In particular, it clarifies the structuring of exercises (worked example, application, problem), the principles of scaffolding and fading to support progression towards autonomy, and the construction of high-quality items (diagnostic or formative MCQs, distractors grounded in typical misconceptions, management of implicit information). The course also opens onto complementary approaches (concept maps, serious games, etc.) and the development of ideas for interactive videos, to be used where they bring explicit pedagogical added value. Experiments and simulations are considered as levers serving a clearly identified learning objective (case-by-case selection), with adaptation to context (level, track, equipment, time). Attention is also paid to analysing existing materials (worksheets, textbooks, notes) to identify features that sustain misconceptions or exacerbate conceptual difficulties.

Learning outcomes of the learning unit

By the end of the unit, students will be able to:
* distinguish and structure exercises (worked example, application, problem) in relation to targeted objectives;
* design tasks that foster progression towards autonomy (scaffolding ? fading);
* develop MCQs suited to diagnostic and formative uses, with pertinent distractors;
* integrate, where relevant, an experiment or a simulation in service of a clear objective and a given classroom context;
* analyse materials (worksheets, textbooks, notes) and propose well-argued didactic improvements.

 

Prerequisite knowledge and skills

Solid command of upper-secondary physics content.

 

Planned learning activities and teaching methods

Design workshops (exercise sequences, MCQs, alternative approaches, etc.); short in-class role-play animations; structured debriefings (moderated discussion); case studies based on field materials; guided exploration of tools (simulation, interactive video, etc.). Short guest contributions (teachers, inspectors, etc.) may be included subject to availability.

Mode of delivery (face to face, distance learning, hybrid learning)

Face-to-face course


Further information:

Face-to-face teaching (six 3 h sessions in the second term). The timetable is available in the institutional Celcat agenda. Short asynchronous complements (= 1 h per theme) may be proposed via the university platform.

Course materials and recommended or required readings

Platform(s) used for course materials:
- eCampus


Further information:

Curricula (physics and mathematics); in-class handouts; core resources in physics education; a selection of scholarly articles; and tools/simulations used for didactic scripting.

Exam(s) in session

Any session

- In-person

written exam AND oral exam

Written work / report

Out-of-session test(s)


Further information:

The exam is an in-person oral before a panel. The student presents the plan of a teaching sequence and, in particular, explains the context, objectives, relevant conceptual difficulties and misconceptions, and how these are taken into account in the sequence design. The student also presents a short segment of the sequence as a role-play.

Work placement(s)

None work placement

Organisational remarks and main changes to the course

Contacts

Pierre-Xavier Marique (Chargé de cours)
pxmarique@uliege.be

Association of one or more MOOCs