Authentic student research projects on physics and the human body

Students in Dutch senior secondary education are obliged to perform their own research project of approximately 80 hours. They are stimulated to choose the topic themselves (preferably with relations to two subjects, like physics and mathematics) and have a lot of freedom in the design of the research. Normally they work in small groups (2-4), and the project is carried out over a longer period parallel to the normal lessons. They are supposed to deliver a report and a presentation. Ideally students experience the stimulating aspects of doing research, and this is especially the case when the project is advanced and authentic, and even comparable with actual research done by researchers. In the last years we have developed several potential physics projects in the context of the human body. Examples are: the reflex of the eye on light and human gait. With the help of ICT (for data acquisition, video-analysis, modelling, data-analysis) the level and methods of the work of the students becomes quite close to the type of work of researchers in the field. This indeed has a very positive effect on students’ motivation.