History of Science in Physics Education in the Last Decade: Which Direction We Are Heading?

Abstract

The focus on history of science (HOS) in physics education has been advocated for a long time. However, what are the actual implications of proposals with this focus and the recent advancements in this research field? What are the possible connections between HOS and emergent topics, such as decoloniality, social justice, and post-truth? With those inquiries in mind, a systematic review of empirical research on the use of HOS in physics classes was conducted for the period from 2012 to 2022. The goal was to investigate recent researches objectives in this area, their recurring research methods, the conceptions of nature of science (NOS) employed, the underlying theoretical frameworks of instructional approaches, the main methodologies used in implementations, and the key findings of these studies. The same selection and exclusion criteria as Teixeira et al. (Science & Education 21:771–796, 2012) were applied, resulting in a raw sample of 1296 articles and a final sample of 32 articles for the review. A reinterpretation of the categorization by Seroglou and Koumaras (2001) was also conducted to assess the research objectives and outcomes. It is concluded that research on the use of HOS in physics classes remains primarily theoretical, with limited studies on concrete implementations. Qualitative methods dominate empirical research in this context. We did not find articles empirically evaluating the use of HOS in physics classes related to emergent topics in Science Education, although there are arguments in the literature supporting the use of HOS, specifically focusing on historical episodes about silenced or omitted individuals and cultures in history, as an alternative to problematize a ‘white Eurocentric science’. Regarding teaching and learning, the following conclusions can be drawn: (1) there is consensus that HOS fosters students’ interest and the development of NOS-related knowledge; (2) there is a research gap regarding the connection between HOS and procedural knowledge; and (3) HOS promotes conceptual learning, although the specific elements that facilitate this learning are not investigated in the studies.