You will gain knowledge about research based strategies for teaching physics to different audiences. You will also acquire a toolbox of qualitative and/or quantitative research methods. You will get training in gathering and analyzing data on understanding, learning processes and learning attitudes.
The research methods within Physics Education Research are to a higher extent gathered from social science and psychology than from the natural sciences, but the field is still strongly connected to physics and the vocational content. We will for example pose the question: ”Which learning activities will be the most motivating and educational for pupils who will be learning about the life cycle of stars in Physics 1?” or ”How do beginner pupils work with programming tasks in which they use physics, mathematics and computer science, and what kind of support do they need?”
As a student in Physics Education Research you will get the opportunity to get immersed in one or more physics courses and physics education research courses on the master's level, but you will also follow didactical courses from The Faculty of Educational Sciences. Here you will learn central concepts and become familiar with scientific literature and methods in the research field of science didactics.
Many master's thesis in Physics Education Research involve cooperation with physicists, teachers, pupils and students. This will give you valuable training in working in a cross-disciplinary manner and communicating with different groups.