Creativity can be viewed from different perspectives, such as the creative thinking process, the product, the creative environment and the individual. The physics domain, which is based on experiments, research, hypotheses and thinking outside the box, can serve as an excellent grounding for creativity development. This article focuses on creative…

Students at the junior high school (JHS) level often cannot use their knowledge of physics for explaining and predicting phenomena. We claim that this difficulty stems from the fact that explanations are multi-step reasoning tasks, and students often lack the qualitative problem-solving strategies needed to guide them. This article describes a new…

Israeli junior high-school science teachers usually have a background in biology, and their knowledge of physics is limited. We show that by improving teachers' "qualitative understanding" it is possible to increase their confidence and willingness to teach physics. We conducted three-day workshops for teachers (n = 92), which were…

Describes systems used to introduce students to the concept of torque and discusses the effects that puzzle the beginner in the introductory lab. (JRH)

In light of the established validity of the pendulum as a topic in physics curricula (Matthews 2000), the study looked at the place of pendulum motion in the physics curriculum of the high school in Israel.The data is available through presenting results of the nationwide matriculation examination in its units of Mechanics and Research Laboratory…

Discusses an Israeli study examining the professional development of physics, electronics, and mechanics teachers. Examines whether an externally developed school improvement model could customize the supervision process to each school system and academic discipline's needs. Carl Glickman's developmental supervision model succeeds in identifying…

A three-year experiment was carried out with the goal of helping low achieving high school students progress to matriculation level. Results show a change in the class atmosphere, and students' self-image and motivation improved. High achievers in technology studies in mechanics increased, and nonmatriculating students decreased. (LZ)

Describes the development, implementation, and evaluation of a module called "Energy and the Human Being" within the framework of a program aimed at non-science-oriented students in senior high schools in Israel. Finds that students' attitudes toward science were positive and their understanding of the scientific concepts involved was…

Investigates whether elementary children can compare forces by comparing numbers of weights used in spring and balance problems. Reports that children did not identify weight and force, but they were able to use the ratio between the numbers of weights to compare forces. Suggests some instructional methods based on the findings. (YP)