Challenges and Strategies in Physics Laboratory Work : For Teachers in Swedish Upper Secondary School

Abstract: Experimental laboratory work is expected to improve learning in physics education. Considering this, many studies focus on the impact of experimental laboratory activities on students’ learning and on what factors may affect the efficiency of laboratory work. Fewer studies aim to understand the perspective of physics teachers, thus contributing to a gap between physics education research and physics teacher practice. The aim of this project is to explore which challenges physics teachers face during laboratory work and which strategies they consider effective to deal with these challenges. This exploration was restricted to the Swedish upper secondary school. Teachers’ perspectives were qualitatively investigated through an interview study with six physics teachers. These interviews were semi-structured and constructed remotely via Zoom to teachers in and around Uppsala and Stockholm in Sweden. The interviews were transcribed, translated, and analysed. Through the analysis, five major and six minor challenges were identified with in total 23 strategies to deal with these. The analysis gives an overview and indication of what challenges teachers face and what strategies they consider effective to deal with these, and can provide a tool for physics teachers in practice - building a bridge over this gap between physics education research and physics education practice.