Surveying physics education research for impacts on acoustics education

Physics education research (PER) is a broad, robust field. While not an exhaustive list, PER addresses individual concepts in physics (including waves and acoustics), curricular interventions and assessments, methods to gather and analyze data, active research in the classroom, and studies into the theory and process of learning. PER can help us to understand why specific concepts in physics are difficult for students to understand, and what we might be able to do about it. Surveys, interviews, and in-class activities help us to learn why certain concepts are difficult for students. Research-based curricula can provide ways to address those concepts. There are also more theoretical articles that study the nature of student thinking without being tied to any one physics topic. In this talk, I will survey physics education research, identifying some useful articles and curricula with acoustics and sound in mind. These and many other “points of entry” can provide impact in your own classroom and may be helpful in conducting your own studies with students.