Einsteinian Gravitational Concepts Throughout Secondary School
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: This is a poster presented at the 7th Shaw-IAU Workshop on Astronomy for Education, organised by the IAU Office of Astronomy for Education (OAE, https://astro4edu.org/shaw-iau/7th-shaw-iau-workshop/). Title: Einsteinian Gravitational Concepts Throughout Secondary School Presenter:Corey McInerney (University of Lincoln) This study involved students from Years 7–13 at an English secondary school in an intervention introducing gravity through spacetime curvature. The goal was to evaluate the feasibility of teaching relativity at the secondary level. All students showed some grasp of the concept, with visual aids helping Years 7–8. Years 9–13 understood ideas beyond the demonstrations, but a deeper understanding of curvature as gravity’s source emerged only in Years 12–13. Year 13 students showed the strongest overall grasp of the concepts introduced. Collaborators:Phil Sutton (University of Lincoln) About the 7th Shaw-IAU Workshop:The 7th Shaw-IAU Workshop took place 18 - 21 November 2025. The Shaw-IAU workshops focus on astronomy education for primary and secondary school students and teacher training both in universities and in service. This year's Education focus session on Teaching with authentic data and the Science focus is on Galaxies.More details can be found on: https://astro4edu.org/shaw-iau/Keep up to date with future Shaw-IAU Workshops and other opportunities at the IAU Office of Astronomy for Education by joining our mailing list https://astro4edu.org/mailing-list/ Follow the IAU OAE on Bluesky and Facebook under @astro4edu
Author: Mcinerney, Corey
Institution: University of Lincoln
Language: English
Subfield: Education
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
SDG: Quality education
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W7127583353
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