Arthur Stinner was a professor of science education at the Faculty of Education, University of Manitoba, from September 1989 until July, 2012. He is now professor emeritus. He received his early education in Hungary and Germany, and his secondary and university education in Canada. He holds undergraduate degrees in physics, modern languages and education, an MSc in physics, and a doctorate in science education from the University of Toronto.
He taught high school and college physics for over 20 years before moving to the University. He has been awarded a number of provincial prizes for physics teaching. Arthur Stinner's publications include numerous articles in the journals Science Education, Physics Education, The Physics Teacher, Interchange, New Scientist, Physics in Canada, Science & Education, Physics in Perspective, Canadian Theater Review, Manitoba Science Teacher, Alberta Science Education Journal, and The Crucible (The Ontario Science Teachers' journal).
His research interests are focused on developing and applying the locally developed LEP model of conceptual development in science education (see his website), relating the history and philosophy of science to science teaching, the writing of science plays and the development of large context problems (LCP) in physics. He has recently completed 14 LCPs, entitled: From Intuitive Physics to Star Trek. A description of the LCP approach is contained in his monograph. This monograph, as well the as the LCPs can be seen and downloaded from our website sci-ed.org, as well as from the Manitoba Crystal website
Since 1994 he has been working with Professor Dr. Jürgen Teichmann, physics historian and former Director of Education of the Deutsches Museum in Munich. This collaboration resulted in numerous publications, the mounting of many international conferences, and the production and performances of science dramas at the Deutsches Museum, as well as in Hungary, Italy, US and Canada. They are now collaborating on a book about "Fraunhofer and the rise of spectroscopy".
Arthur Stinner is continuing his work as described in the last section.
Education
Ed.D. Science Education, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, 1985. Advisor: Dr. Ian Winchester. Dissertation Title: Understanding Scientific Literacy: From Method to Large Context.
M.Sc. Physics, York University, Toronto, Ontario, 1974. Advisor: Dr. Carswell. Thesis Research Title: Investigations into Future Energy Sources.
B.Ed. Specializing in Science, Physics and Modern Languages, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, 1965.
B.A. Modern Languages (German and Russian), University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, 1961.
B.Sc. Physics, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, 1958.
Teaching Certificates
Ontario Type A Teaching Certificate, specializing in Physics (1972).
Alberta Secondary Teaching Certificate, specializing in Science and Modern Languages (1964).
Employment
2013- : Professor Emeritus
1995-2012: Full Professor
1992-1995: Associate Professor
1989-1992: Assistant Professor, Department of Curriculum: Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Faculty of Education, University of Manitoba.
1987-1989: SSHRC postdoctoral research fellowship in Science Education, University of Toronto.
1973-1986: Science and Physics Instructor, Marc Garneau Collegiate and Leaside High School, East York Board of Education, Toronto, Ontario.
1973-1974: Teaching Assistant, Department of Physics and Space Science, York University.
1970 summer: Physics Lecturer, Technical College, Lusaka, Zambia.
1969-1973: Physics Instructor, Oakville Trafalgar High School, Oakville, Ontario.
1968-1969: Senior Physics Master, Cornwall College, Jamaica.
1966-1967: Teaching Assistant in the Department of Physics, Simon Fraser University.
1965-1966: Physics and Chemistry Instructor, Edson High School, Edson, Alberta.
1964-1965: Teaching Assistant, Department of Physics, University of Alberta.
1962-1964: Instructor in Science, Mathematics and German at Bonnie Doon High School, Edmonton, Alberta.
Membership in Professional Associations
The Canadian Association of Physicists (CAP), since 1989
The Manitoba Association of Physics Teachers (MAPT), since 1989
The International History, Philosophy and Science Teaching (IHPST) group, President 2003-2005
Recent Awards
2003: President, International History and Philosophy of Science Teaching (IHPST) group.
1998: The Manitoba Science Teachers' Association Award for Excellence in Science Writing.
1996: Inducted as a foreign member into the Hungarian "Society for the Furthering of Science" (Societas Savariensis, est. 1832) at the University of Szombathely, Hungary.
1993: The Student Union of the University of Manitoba Award for Teaching Excellence.
1991: The Manitoba Science Teachers' Association Award for Excellence in Science Writing.
1987: Certificate of Appreciation, presented by the East York Board of Education, Toronto, for participation in the Co-operative Education Program.
Editorial Board of Journals
1999: Member of the Board of Editors of Interchange.
1998: Member of the Board of Editors of Science & Education.
1998: Member of the Editorial Board of the Canadian Journal of Science, Mathematics, and Technology Education.
1996: Member of the Board of Reviewers of Science Education.
Publications
Please see the publications section for a full list of publications, including PDF downloads of selected work.
Ph.D. Supervision
Full member of the Doctoral Committee of the Faculty of Education.
Ph.D. Students in Science Education Supervised Who Have Graduated
Inessa Rozina (Technology and Vocational College). Thesis title: "The Role of Mathematics in Physics Education as Represented in High School Physics Textbooks: Using the Law of Universal Gravitation as an Example". Completed her Ph.D. in August. 2006. External examiner: Dr. Robert Woodrow, Dept. of Mathematics, University of Calgary.
Jana Jilek (Red River College). Thesis title: "A Framework for the Examination of Theories of Electricity: Implications for Post-Secondary Engineering Technology Education". Completed her Ph.D. in March, 2006. External examiner: Dr. Ian Winchester, Faculty of Education, University of Manitoba.
Steve Klassen (University of Winnipeg). Thesis title: "A Theoretical Framework for the Incorporation of History in Science Education". Completed his Ph.D. in August 2003. External examiner: Dr. Ian Winchester, Faculty of Education, University of Calgary.
Don Metz (University of Winnipeg). Thesis title: "Understanding the Nature of Science Through the Historical Development of Conceptual Models". Completed his Ph.D. in August 2003. External examiner: Dr. Wytze Brouwer, Department of Physics and Department of Science Education, University of Alberta. Don now is an associate professor of education at the University of Winnipeg.
Barbara McMillan. Thesis title: "Inquiry in Early Years Science Teaching and Learning: Curriculum Design and the Scientific Story". Completed her Ph.D. in March, 2001. External examiner: Dr. Derek Hodson, OISE, University of Toronto. Barbara is now an Assistant Professor in the Faculty of Education.
M.Ed. Supervision
Dennis Hodgens. Thesis Title: "The Notion of Evidence in Science Textbooks". Graduated in October 1992.
Betty Ann Kidell. Thesis Title: "Teaching Plate Tectonics Theory from a Historical Perspective with Real World Connections". Graduated in October 1996.
Victor Sawatsky. Thesis Title: "A Comparison of the Treatment of Heat and Temperature at the Middle School Level in Germany/Bavaria and Canada/Manitoba". Graduated in October 1998.
John Murray. Thesis Title: "Paradigms in Collision: Historical and Philosophical Perspectives on Teaching the New Global Tectonics". Graduated in October 2002. John is now the science consultant (senior years) for Program Development in the department of education of the Manitoba Government.
Heather Teller. Thesis title: "Using Interactive Vignettes in the Teaching of the Mole Concept in Senior 3 Chemistry". Completed her thesis defence. Will graduate in June, 2007. Heather is a science teacher (chemistry) at Fort Richmond Collegiate in Winnipeg.
Graduate Courses Designed and Taught
81.719 (3) Seminar in Science Education
124.711 (3) Doctoral Seminar in Science Education
124.712 (3) Issues in Science Education
124.703 (3) Doctoral Tutorial in Science Education
Important Activities
Chairperson for the seventh conference of the International History, Philosophy and Teaching Group (IHPST), held in Winnipeg, July 30-August 3. 2003. Dr. Steve Klassen, Dr. Don Metz (University of Winnipeg), Dr. Barbara McMillan, Dr. Ralph Mason and Dr. Peter Loly (University of Manitoba) are my collaborators. We received a $50,000 grant from SSHRC. We expect over 200 participants from over 30 countries.
Invited to the University of New South Wales to give a series of workshops to physics teachers.
October, 2002, by Dr. Michael Matthews of the School of Education. Keynote-speaker for International Pendulum Project (IPP).
Invited to the Deutsches Museum in Munich, Germany to be present for the performance of my new science drama: "Count Rumford": December 2003.
Visiting Professorships and Fellowships
Deutsches Museum, Munich, Research Fellowship, August-November, 1999.
Deutsches Museum Research Fellowship, working with Prof. Dr. Jürgen Teichmann, Director of Programs. March 15-May 15 1996.
University of Dortmund, Physics Education Department, Visiting Professor. Invited by Prof. Dr. Hans Fischer, Head, May 15-July 1 1996.
Berzsenyi Teachers' College, Szombathely, Hungary. Visiting Professor, invited by Prof. Dr. Laszlo Kovacs, Head, Physics Education Department, May 1996.
The first visiting professor at the newly formed Department of Science Education at the University of Auckland, in April-May of 1992. Invited by Dr. Michael Matthews, Foundation Professor.
I gave seminars, workshops, talks and lectures in high schools, at the Auckland College of Education, at the Department of Education, and at the Physics department. In addition, I travelled and gave similar seminars and workshops at the Physics and Science Education departments of Waikato University in Hamilton and Victoria University in Wellington.
Invited Lectures, Colloquia and Workshops
Invited to give a colloquium "The Ubiquitous Pendulum" at the Faculty of Education, University of Alberta. Also acted as external examiner for a Ph. D. Student in physics education (Supervisor: Dr. Wytze Brouwer). January 2002.
Invited to give three workshops at the University of Puebla, Mexico, May 20-May 30, 2001. Workshops were based on my booklets: "Physics on Earth and in Space".
Invited to China (University of Lanzhou) for 14 days to give five workshops based on my booklets "Physics on Earth and in Space". June 2001
Invited to attend a performance of the "Das Alter der Erde" (The Age-of-the-Earth Debate) at the Deutsches Museum, Munich on November 15 , 2000, as the author of the dramatization. This science dramatization was originally performed in English at the International Conference of the History and Philosophy of Science, at Lake Como in October, 1999.
Invited lecture at the University of Dortmund, Physics Department: "Hitchhiking auf einem Asteroiden" (Hitchhiking on an Asteroid), given in German.(October 1999).
Invited lecture at the University of Hamburg, Department of the History of Astronomy and Mathematics, "Hitchhiking on an Asteroid: A Large Context Problem". October, 1999.
Lecture trip to China (two weeks) : Gave lectures at three major Universities, in Beijing, Xian, and Lanzhou. Topics: Scientific Literacy, Physics Education and the Uses of the History of Science. The trip was funded by the University of Manitoba Physics Department's China Project (CEDA) and partly by the Higher Education Department, People's Republic of China. May 1998.
University Manitoba, Physics department: Colloquium presentation: Physics on the Moon. March 1998.
University of Manitoba, Physics Department: Colloquium presentation: History of Science and the Teaching of Physics. Feb. 1997.
Workshop for the Physics Teachers Association of Manitoba annual conference. Examples of large context problems: The Physics of Star Trek, and Physics on the Moon. Feb. 1997.
The International Conference on Education, Education in Transition, University of Manitoba. Topic: The Hungarian Phenomenon: Excellence in Mathematics and Science Education in the Pre-War Years. August 1996.
University of Dortmund, Physics Education Department,. Gave three two-hour workshops on teaching contextual physics: Launching the Space Shuttle, Physics and the Bionic Man, Physics on the Moon, and The Physics of Star Trek, to Science Education students and members of the Physics department. June 1996.
University of Dortmund, Physics Department: Colloquium presentation: The Story of Force: from Aristotle to Einstein. June 15 1996.
Berzsenyi Teachers' College, Szombathely, Hungary. Public lecture in connection with induction into the Science Society. Title of lecture: Physics Education and the History of Science: The Story of Force, from Aristotle to Einstein. May 20 1996.
University of Bremen Physics Department: Colloquium presentation: History of Science and Physics Education. June 1996.
Deutsches Museum: (Forschungsinstitut) Public lecture: Contextual Settings, History of Science, and Physics Education. May 6 1996.
University of Calgary, Faculty of Education. Invited by Dr. Ian Winchester, Dean of Education at the University of Calgary, to present a seminar entitled: "A Contextual Base for A Humanistic Science Education", to the Science Education group. This was followed by a 1 1/2 hour discussion with members of various faculties. June 1995.
The World Science Fiction Conference in Winnipeg: The Physics of Star Trek. Sept. 1994.
World Environment Energy and Economic Conference held in Winnipeg. Title of the talk: Large Context Problems in the Secondary Physics Curriculum. Oct. 17-20 1994.
Manitoba Association of Physics Teachers annual conference. Planned and carried out a workshop for Physics teachers on computer-based Physics lab. activities. June 4 1994.
University of Auckland, N.Z. Physics Department. Topic: Scientific Literacy and the Teaching of Physics. An evening lecture, attended by other departments. March 1992.
University of Wellington, a public lecture, followed by a panel discussion: Scientific Literacy and the Teaching of Physics. March 1992.
University of Waikato, N.Z., Science Education Department. Colloquium presentation: The Contexts of Inquiry in Physics.
Manitoba Association of Physics Teachers: invited as the key-note speaker at the annual meeting of the association, April 1994: Curriculum Reform in Physics Education.
Second Canadian Conference of English Language and Literacy in Winnipeg. Invited to present a paper Contextual Settings, Verbal Argumentations, and Science Stories: Toward a more Humanistic Science Education. October 1993.
The Third International Conference on Misconceptions in Science held at Cornell University. Contextual Settings, Verbal Argumentation and Science Stories. August, 1993.
Faculty of Education seminar: Presented a paper entitled: The context-content problem in science Education. March 1993.
University of Alberta, Departments of Physics and Science Education. Invited by Dr. Wytze Brouwer to participate in a joint three-day workshop for Physics teachers and Physics professors. I presented two papers, one to the Physics department and one to the Science Education department (actually jointly attended). Both papers were published. One, "The Story of Force: from Aristotle to Einstein, in Physics in Canada, and the other Contextual Teaching in Science: Incorporating Physics in Early and Middle Years, in the Alberta Science Education Journal. Oct. 1992.
Faculty Seminar: Presented a paper at the monthly Faculty seminar, entitled: Science Stories, a Link between the Humanistic and the Scientific Modes of Thought. March, 1992.
Conferences and Other Activities
2007, The ninth conference of the International History, Philosophy and Teaching group (IHPST), held in July, in Calgary. Gave a paper with Juergen Teichmann about Fraunhofer and the beginnings of spectroscopy. My play "An Evening with Albert Einstein and Sir Isaac Newton" was performed. http://www.ucalgary.ca/ihpst07/programme.htm
2005, Outgoing president of the IHPST group, held in Leeds, England, the eighth conference of the group. Member of the organizing committee. Gave a paper (with Don Metz) "Thought Experiments in Physics Education". http://www.ihpst2005.leeds.ac.uk/papers.htm
2003, Chairperson for the seventh conference of the IHPST group, held in Winnipeg, July 30-August 3. 2003. Dr. Steve Klassen, Dr. Don Metz (University of Winnipeg), Dr. Barbara McMillan, Dr. Ralph Mason and Dr. Peter Loly (University of Manitoba) are my collaborators. We received a $50,000 grant from SSHRC. Was voted in as the new President of the group.
2001, The Sixth Conference of the International History, Philosophy and Teaching Group, held in Denver, Nevada, Nov 7-10. Symposium (2 hours): " History of Science and in the Science Classroom" (with my doctoral students). Presentation: "Galileo and the pendulum, using a computer program". With Don Metz.
1999, October: The Fifth International History, Philosophy and Science Teaching Conference, held in Lake Como, Italy. Wrote, prepared and presented (with four others) a science drama "The Age of the Earth Debate".Also gave a paper: "Newton's struggle to understand centripetal acceleration".
1999, July 30 -August 4. Leader (with Dr. Juergen Teichman, Professor and Director of Programs) of the "Third International Seminar for the History of Science and Science Education", at the Deutsches Museum, Munich.
1998, Organized a two-hour panel discussion for the annual conference of the Canadian Society for the History and Philosophy of Science, in May 1998. This involved three of my doctoral students The topic was: Historical Case Studies for the Classroom.
1997, Invited paper and designated leader of plenary discussion at the International Conference of History and Philosophy of Science and Science Teaching, held in Calgary. Topic: Imagination in Science and Science Teaching. Members of the group were: Dr. Ian Winchester, chairperson of the conference and Dean of the Faculty of Education, University of Calgary; Dr. Jurgen Teichmann, Director of Programs, Deutsches Museum, Munich Germany; Dr. Hans Fischer, Chair of Institut fuer Didaktik der Physik, University of Dortmund, Germany.
1997, Invited talk at the Canadian Association of Physicists (CAP) Congress in Calgary Title of talk: From Intuitive Physics to Star Trek.
1995, Annual Learneds Conference in Montreal. A presentation (with two of my doctoral students, Barbara McMillan and Sandra Konrad) for the XXII CSSE.
1996, Presented an invited paper on contextual physics teaching at the American Association of Physics Teachers Conference in Reno, Nevada. Title of paper: Examples of Contextual Teaching in Physics.
1994, Invited to present a talk, entitled Large Context Problems in Physics Education, at an international conference on physics education, held in Rome, September 1994.
1994, Two invited papers at the Third International Conference in the History and Philosophy of Science, in Minneapolis, Minnesota (November, 1996). Title of papers: Toward a More Humanistic Science Education, and Galileo's Inclined Plane Experiment.
1994, Manitoba SAG science conference, fall 1994: The Physics of Star Trek.
1993, NSTA (National Science Teachers' Association) conference, Kansas City. The title of my workshop was Using Computer Simulation in Solving Physics Problems. I was assisted by Harvey Williams and Helen Bochonko. March, 1993.
1992, The Second International Conference of the History and Philosophy of Science and Science Education, Kingston, Ontario. The paper was entitled: Concept Formation, Historical Context, and Science Stories.Gave a paper, (now published, in Interchange) with Harvey Williams.
1989, The first international conference of The History and Philosophy of Science and Science Teaching, Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida. Presented an invited paper entitled Philosophy, Thought Experiments, and the Large Context Problem in the Secondary School Physics Course.
1989, The same paper to the annual conference of GDCP (Geselschaft fur Didaktik der Chemie und Physik) at the University of Freiburg.
Other Relevant Activities
1998, Nov.: University of Manitoba Show Case 98, Research Fair in the Social Sciences and Humanities, November 2. Mounted an exhibit with my four doctoral students around our research and international connections.
1998, March 20: Chair, Graduate Students Symposium, Faculty of Education: Sharing our Work and Findings in Education.
1995, April, Appeared on CBC AM radio (February 1995) to talk about the Physics of Star Trek.
1991, January 23, 24: 1991Workshops on the Role of Evidence in Science Teaching, given to the science teachers of Acadia Junior High School in Winnipeg.
Summer Institutes
2001, August, Fourth International Seminar for the History of Science and the Science Classroom. Chair for the seminar. Held at the University of Winnipeg.
2000, August, Third International Seminar for the History of Science and the Science Classroom. Co-chair with Dr. Dr. Jürgen Teichmann of the Deutsches Museum. Held at the DM in Munich.
1998, August, designed the course and was co-leader (with Dr. Jürgen Teichmann) for an international seminar for science historians, science teachers and graduate students: Historical Case Studies for the Science Classroom, held at the Deutsches Museum in Munich.
1997, August, designed and supervised (with Dr. Jürgen Teichmann) a seminar-course History of Electricity, held at the Deutsches Museum in Munich.
Inviting and Hosting Visiting Scholars
Dr. Michael Eckert of the Deutsches Museum, Munich, as "The Robin Connor Lecturer in the History and Philosophy of Science". Dr. Eckert is giving four lectures, between October 16 and October 20 at the University of Manitoba.
Bjarni Torggvarson, the Canadian Astronaut as visiting lecturer. Organized a public talk, a lecture at the Faculty of Education, and colloquium given at the Physics Department of the University of Manitoba.. March, 1998.
Professor John Eisenberg, Department of History and Philosophy of O.I.S.E., University of Toronto. He gave lectures to the Faculty of Education and to the department of Philosophy. Oct. 1994.
Dr. Derek Hodson, Head, Department of Curriculum at OISE, University of Toronto. He gave seminars to the Faculty of Education and to Dr. Stinner's graduate seminar. Jan., 1993.
Dr. Jürgen Teichmann, Director of Programs at the Deutches Museum as "University of Manitoba Distinguished Lecturer". Assisted him in delivering six lectures at various faculties and at the Museum of Man and Nature. September 1995.
Dr. Wytze Brouwer, Departments of Physics and Science Education, University of Alberta. He gave a seminar to a group of physics teachers, to the Faculty of Education, and presented a colloquium to the physics department. May 1993.
Papers Reviewed For Refereed Journals
Numerous reviews for Science Education, Science & Education, Canadian Journal of Education, Interchange, Physics in Canada, Curriculum Studies, and The Canadian Journal of Science, Mathematics, and Technology Education.
New Courses Developed
Developed two courses in the history of science that are now being taught under both Education and Physics designations (81.203 & 16.270, and 81.303 & 16.271), enabling students from Arts and Science as well as from Education to enroll. The courses are based on group discussions and presentations of historical contexts, covering science ideas and concepts from the Ionians to the 19. century, and physics ideas and concepts of the 20th century. The second course is taught with Dr. Peter Loly, Professor, Dept. of Physics.
Grants, Funds
2007-2009, Small grant for a physics teacher to assist with the completion of the LCP project. $5000
2009, Small grant to mount a workshop for physics teachers on contextual teaching. $5000
2005, Member of the group that obtained an Imperial Oil grant for Science Education. $500,000
2005, Member of the group that obtained a grant from the Canadian government (Research in Youth Science teaching and learning (CRYSTAL ), for research in Science Education. $1,000,000
April 2003, SSHRC (Occasional Conferences) for assisting the organizing of the 7th International Conference for the History and Philosophy of Science and Teaching, to be held at the University of Winnipeg. $50,000
April 2000, SSHRC (Research Development Initiative Award) for the "Uses of the History of Science in Science Education". $45,000
September 1999, SSHRC (U of M) Conference Grant. Invited paper to the Fourth International Conference of the HPSSE, Pavia, Italy. $1800
March 1999, Faculty of Education Endowment Fund. Improvement for general science laboratory. $4000
May 1998, University of Manitoba Special Funding for lecture trip to China. $750
May 1998, Department of Physics, Republic of China Project. For lecture trip to China. $750
May 1998, Faculty of Education. The CSHPS conference in Ottawa. $500
October 1994, Faculty of Education. Conference of the Italian section of the EPS. The History of Physics, Rome. $500
August 1994, SSHRC (Uof M) Conference Grant. Invited paper for the European Physical Society (EPS) Conference in Hungary. $1200
October 1993, Faculty of Education. Invited paper for the second international HSPSE conference in Kingston, Ontario. $1200
Spring 1993, Endowment Fund. Physics Laboratory improvement for C&I instruction. $2500
Spring 1991, Faculty of Education Endowment Fund: Physics laboratory improvement for C&I in Secondary Science. $5000
October 1989, Faculty of Education. Invited to present a paper at to the German Science Teachers' annual Science Education Conference, held in Weingarten, Bavaria. $500
1988, SSHRC Postdoctoral Fellowship. $18,000
1987, SSHRC Postdoctoral Fellowship. $18,000