GIREP Malta Webinar 2020

ABSTRACT

PrefaceIn November 2020, over 200 physics educators and researchers from all over the world met virtually to participate in the GIREP Malta Webinar. The aim was to discuss research and results based on what matters in physics teacher education and how this can be improved for the satisfaction of both teachers and learners. The webinar was the result of a first collaboration between GIREP (the International Research Group on Physics Teaching) and the University of Malta. Initially, a face-to-face Seminar was being planned, but due to the outbreak of COVID-19, a Webinar was organised instead.During the webinar, apart from the presentation of keynote speeches, working groups were also held. These dealt with specific topics for discussion, led by experts in the field. Participants presented their work and actively interacted as they discussed the topics presented. A good number of papers were submitted, post-webinar. Each paper was independently and anonymously reviewed by two experts.The general theme of the webinar was Physics Teacher Education.The working groups dealt specifically with the following topics• ICT and multimedia in teacher education• Experiments and laboratory work in teacher education• Quantum Mechanics in teaching and learning physics• Formal, non-formal and informal aspects of physics education at primary level• Strategies for pre-service physics teacher education at all levels• In-service teacher professional learning strategiesThe topic titles shown above, have been used as Section Titles for the Journal of Physics Conference Series publication. Published papers have been sectioned according to the working group in which they were originally presented.Organising the GIREP Malta Webinar 2020 and finalising the editing for the post webinar publications has been quite a challenge. My colleagues and I have worked with passion and enthusiasm. We would like to thank all those who contributed to the publication of these proceedings, including the GIREP committee, the authors and reviewers. Thank you for your time and effort.The editorsJoan BORG MARKSPauline GALEASuzanne GATTDavid SANDS