Electricity for primary school teacher education

During 1994-5 the Institution of Electrical Engineers together with the Understanding Electricity Educational Service funded the development of a research-based pack of teacher education materials Current understanding: electricity concepts and practice for primary and non-specialist secondary teacher education. The project was carried out by the Primary School Teachers and Science (PSTS) Project based in Oxford University Department of Educational Studies. This paper describes the rationale for the project in terms of current developments in primary science education in the United Kingdom. It goes on to outline ways in which the materials produced differ from previous resources for teacher education in this topic area, and describes the structure of the pack with three main sections dealing with (i) electricity and simple circuits, (ii) very simple electronics, and (iii) pedagogy. Examples are given of findings from research and trials carried out as part of the project, and of ways in which these findings were used to inform the development of the materials. Principles underpinning the development of the work on electronics are presented, again with examples of content illustrating the approach taken. Final sections cover aspects of the materials dealing with pedagogical issues in the teaching of electricity.