Education research is our focus
Welcome to PER-Central, a resource collection for physics education researchers. Here you may find articles, theses and dissertations, research groups, curricular material, and news and events of interest to the PER Community. Learn more about PER-Central.
PER Literature
Search the literature by:
Or find an article by topic:
- Basic Research
- Achievement
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- Assessment
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- Applied Research
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- Learning Environment
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By Topic:
Astronomy, Classical Mechanics, Electricity & Magnetism, Fluid Mechanics, General Physics, Mathematical Tools, Modern Physics, Optics, Oscillations & Waves, Other Sciences, Quantum Physics, Relativity, Thermo & Stat Mech
Reviews in PER
Volume 2 of Reviews in PER is dedicated to helping researchers get started in Physics Education Research.
In this review article, a member of the PER community presents an overview of an area of PER:
Research in the Resources Framework: Changing environments, consistent exploration
by M. C. Wittmann.
Find more articles introducing PER research methods in Volume 2 of Reviews in PER.
Community Resources
PER Programs

Browse the different PER groups and their descriptions on the PER Program Map.
For the Classroom

Intuitive Quantum Physics
This web site provides small-group learning materials for teaching wave physics and modern physics to non-science-majors. Observation, qualitative analysis, and graphical representations are used to introduce interference, discuss energy and probability, and explain bound states, spectroscopy, modeling of molecules, and tunneling.
Find more PER-based Curricular Materials: Course Packages | Student Activities | Pedagogy Guides
Research Instruments

Colorado Upper Division Electrostatics (CUE) Asssessment
The Colorado Upper Division Electrostatics (CUE) Asssessment is designed to test student understanding of core learning goals in junior-level E&M. It consists of a 17-item open-ended test with optional 9-item pretest.
Latest Additions 
Latest Discussion Posts
January 23 at 5:56 PM EST
Patricia Soto
posted X-DBER 2023: Abstract submission (due Feb 12)
to the US - AAPT Physics Education Researc... thread.
January 19 at 6:12 PM EST
Patricia Soto
posted X-DBER 2023: Abstract announcement
to the US - AAPT Physics Education Researc... thread.
September 29 at 2:27 PM EST
Alice Churukian
posted PERLOC Councilor Nominations 2023
to the US - AAPT Physics Education Researc... thread.
July 12 at 10:57 PM EST
Lyle
posted Registered Reports
to the US - AAPT Physics Education Researc... thread.