UWA PLUS
Einsteinian Science for School Teachers II: Gravity, Energy and Quantum Mechanics - PHYSM412
In this micro-credential the participants will develop an in-depth understanding of the nature of gravity and spacetime and how it fits into Einstein's concepts of special and general relativity. Furthermore, they will learn about the concept of energy, including Einstein's famous E = mc^2 equation, the unifying concept of binding energy, and the concepts behind methods of renewable energy production. Finally, the participants will explore the ideas behind quantum mechanics and learn about key concepts such as interference, phasors, quantum uncertainty, spin, and the particles of the standard model. This unit will cover the concepts related to Year 7 – 9 curriculum topics.
This micro-credential course was developed with the support of the Australian Government’s Micro-credentials Pilot in Higher Education.
Upon successful completion, you'll receive:
- Three (3) PD Points
- A Certificate of Achievement
- A UWA Plus Professional Development Transcript, listing all successfully completed micro-credentials
- Delivery mode
- This micro-credential will be delivered online, with pre-recorded lectures and scheduled online tutorials and workshops.
- Course date
- 22 April 2024 - 7 June 2024 [MC-1H 2024]
- Duration
- 6 weeks
- Effort
- 75 hours
- Academic lead
- Professor Li Ju
- Cost
- $500 incl. GST
- Critical information summary
- PHYSM412 - Critical information summary (PDF, 245KB)
What you'll learn
Explain the concepts of energy, binding energy, and power generation
Explain the key concepts which underpin quantum mechanics
Explain the modern concepts of space, time, gravity and radiation at the appropriate level
Teaching key topics in modern physics at the appropriate school level using simple models and analogies
Why study this course?
- Gain an understanding of how to adopt in-class activities which elucidate Einsteinian concepts and can be fitted into modified elaborations that are consistent with the modern curriculum.
- Become equipped with the knowledge and skills needed to adopt and develop Einsteinian physics lesson plans for school classrooms.
Who should study this course?
This micro-credential is ideal for all primary school teachers and secondary school science and technology teachers and other educators.
Recommended prior knowledge:
A teaching qualification. No further prior study is required but for those wanting a head-start, we recommend the books and research papers listed on www.einsteinianphysics.com
This micro-credential will consist of online lectures, live tutorials, and training videos. The course will also incorporate fortnightly two-hour interactive online workshop sessions with demonstrators running through the activities live with active audience participation. This course will require a weekly commitment of 3-5 hours per week. All sessions will be recorded if you cannot attend live.
What's next after this course?
This 3 point micro-credential can contribute to future study credit for a Physics Major as part of a Bachelor of Science.
This unit will provide opportunities for school science teachers to upskill to higher level science teaching.