Abstract:

In the context of contemporary society, the essential role of scientific education in human culture is highlighted in many research studies focused on various aspects of science learning. However, international studies such as “The Relevance of Science Education” (ROSE) recorded a declining interest in science subjects, while OECD’s Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) indicated that many teenagers lack core science knowledge. To address this issue, educational institutions around the world propose cross-curricular activities to promote science among students and help them understand that everything around us is the result of scientific research and development.

This paper aims to present a high school nuclear physics learning project that was inspired by a visit to the Horia Hulubei National Institute for Research and Development in Physics and Nuclear Engineering (IFIN-HH) and the Extreme Light Infrastructure-Nuclear Physics (ELI-NP) in Bucharest-Magurele, Romania. Starting from their direct experience of visiting the institutes, students worked in groups. They created a video that encapsulates the learning process of Nuclear Physics concepts in strong correlation with Nuclear Physics applications in day-to-day life. The videos are used not only to consolidate students’ knowledge but also to share the information with their colleagues and the broader school community by uploading them on YouTube.

The project follows a didactic strategy grounded in the theoretical concept of Deep and Meaningful Learning that uses two methods: Project-based Learning (PBL) and Student Created Videos (SCV). The primary aim of the project is to highlight the positive effects of combining these two methods.

The evaluation was based on the analysis of the videos created by students, their feedback, and the observation of students' behavior during the project. The results showed a positive impact on learning when following an educational approach driven by students' interests and personal experiences, focused on the implications of Nuclear Physics in everyday life, and culminating in the creation of a meaningful learning product.

We acknowledge that a humanistic approach to science subjects is essential for facilitating the understanding of Nuclear Physics concepts and their relevance in the modern world.

Keywords:

Project-based Learning, Student Created Videos, Active and Experiential Learning.