EUROTEXTBOOKSCIENCE

The Rise and Fall of Textbook Science: Technoscientific and Pedagogical Expertise in the Making of Physics in Europe (1802-1902)

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 Obiettivo del progetto (Objective)

'This project is a history of the making of physics as a discipline in Europe, built upon a multidisciplinary and cross-national analysis of the status of the physics textbook in education and research. The project spans the period between the pioneering establishment of secondary education in France (1802), and the simultaneous implementation of major educational reforms in France, Britain and Spain (1902), with repercussions lasting to the present day. Current knowledge suggests that textbooks had a major role in the establishment of science education, and the making of disciplines such as physics. However, their status and characteristics changed over time, in tune with dramatic changes in pedagogical and research practices. This project addresses this question through an approach which is innovative on four major grounds: a) Internationality, b) Interdisciplinary approach, c) Textbook and Pedagogy focus, d) Attention to the Material Culture of science and education. By means of six case-studies focused on the work of six major teachers and textbook authors, this project studies the production, distribution and use of physics textbooks and their changing status, through four combined aims: Mapping the pedagogical cultures of physics, and establishing the role of textbooks, the book trade and instrument making, respectively, in the making of physics as a discipline in Europe. Through synchronic and diachronic analysis, this project seeks to yield strong results in global perspective. Its objectives are to produce: 1) A new history of the emergence of physics in Europe based on an original approach and innovative focus. 2) A major contribution to the boost of the study of science pedagogy within history of science, history of education and book history, through the publication of a monograph on "Writing the History of Nineteenth-Century Science Education". 3) A strong historical case able to inform reflection on the design of current science & education policy.'

Introduzione (Teaser)

A multidisciplinary and cross-national research project has advanced a better understanding of the role of physics textbooks in the establishment of science education.

Descrizione progetto (Article)

Funded by the EU, the EUROTEXTBOOKSCIENCE project examined the status and characteristics of physics textbooks in relation to the evolution of pedagogy and research in the field. The analysis spanned the period from the time of the establishment of secondary education in France (1802) to the present day. Project researchers also considered the influence of major educational reforms introduced in France, Spain and the United Kingdom in 1902.

The project's innovative approach incorporated interdisciplinary methods and attention to internationality, a focus on pedagogy, and a particular consideration of the material culture of science and education. Deliverables include the production of four journal special issues, two historiographical and methodological chapters for reference publications, five book chapters, seven papers in refereed journals and one book. Most of the publications were authored by a single Marie Curie Fellow, and some in collaboration with other researchers.

Project activities included attendance at international conferences, and the organisation of three conference symposia and an annual seminar series. EUROTEXTBOOKSCIENCE organised Europe's first research school devoted to the study of visual representations in science and the research group Science and Technology in the European Periphery (STEP).

EUROTEXTBOOKSCIENCE introduced new methodological approaches, marked by the study of visual representations in science, and expanded on the range of national case studies. The latter included American and Latin American case studies, and research at the Library of Congress in Washington in the United States. This international approach also led to the development of a research cluster on cross-national, comparative and transnational history of science, technology and medicine.?Another project accomplishment was the development of a new professional e-list known as H-PhysicalSciences.

The project has made a considerable contribution to a new history of the emergence of physics in Europe, and extended capabilities for reflecting on the design of current science and education policy.