Teaching with the Big Bang exhibition The CERN travelling exhibition in Denmark Rasmus Møller, IPPOG, Kosice, April 2011

The CERN travelling exhibition - ”Accelerating Science” - Copenhagen September 2010 – January 2011 Budget: 1.2 M DKK = 160 k€ The Experimentarium had around visitors during this period - but mainly kids and families Exhibition – is more suited for high school students cannot stand alone very well We tried to use it for teaching

Using the exhibition in physics teaching Rasmus Møller, IPPOG, Kosice, April 2011 Aim: getting at least one class from every high school within 1 hour distance Web site graphics by the Experimentarium Content: Various materials (”Toolbox for teachers”) - lecture notes; - reprints of articles - posters; - videos; - exercises and project suggestions; - simple question sheet Course for teachers Guided tours for classes Young to young

Course for teachers Rasmus Møller, IPPOG, Kosice, April 2011 Early september (to use it as part of the promotion) Free one day course, including visit to the exhibition Morning: 3 lectures - The standard model - Experiments at the LHC - Cosmology today Afternoon: - Workshop 1: Hands on CERN (incl. ATLAS) - Workshop 2: teaching cosmology Final lecture on Particle physics, cosmology and human understanding 50 participants, very well received.

Guided tours for classes Rasmus Møller, IPPOG, Kosice, April 2011 Booking system for guided tours set up by the Experimentarium NBI provided the guides (HEP teachers and students) 2 tours/day x 3 days/week 70 tours – 1500 students (~ one class /high school within reasonable distance) Evaluation from schools: Very positive, but guides were essential to the succes. Students liked to walk around the exhibition with the guide after tour (esp. the girls!). Suggest more interactivity, more hands-on.

Young to young Rasmus Møller, IPPOG, Kosice, April 2011 High school students teach younger students particle physics by guiding them through the exhibition. HS students divided in 8 teams, two teams for each of four modules. Visitors divided in four groups – rotate through pavillons. Preparation at school: Each team prepares a 10 min presentation – should encourage dialogue They are given material on physics content, speaking points and advice on speaking to less knowledgeable (a new experience to them!). At exhibition: The HS students are given a guided tour in advance and possibility to check out their understanding with a particle physicist.

Rasmus Møller, IPPOG, Kosice, April 2011 Worked extremely well - but quite heavy to arrange (managed only 5 times). I tried it – and my students were high afterwards!

Rasmus Møller, IPPOG, Kosice, April 2011

Particle physics in the curiculum Rasmus Møller, IPPOG, Kosice, April 2011 In the Danish high school curriculum - 20% of the lectures should be on subjects beyond the core content particle physics can be a topic - at A-level one course (15 hrs) must be ”Physics in the 21st century”. Topic varies from year to year (e.g – 09: Lasers; 2009 – 12: The dynamic stars) Particle Physics is likely to be the topic in 2012 – 14. Working group has started: - Booklet (50-80 pages) - Courses for teachers - Must be able to show that meaningful exam assignments can be defined - Teaching a moving subject – and securing the needs of the students

NBI Colliderscope Rasmus Møller, IPPOG, Kosice, April 2011 A light-artwork placed on the facade of the Niels Bohr Institute in Copenhagen