Abstract:
The ISO Guide to the Expression of Uncertainty in Measurement (GUM) has made little impact on the way
uncertainty is taught in tertiary education institutions. The methods used for determining uncertainty, as
currently presented to undergraduates, are inconsistent and sometimes conflicting. Here we describe some
current practices relating to introducing measurement, error and uncertainty in introductory physics subjects.
Reforms to current curricula are proposed which are intended to bring the teaching of measurement to students
into the 21 st century. It is anticipated that adopting a consistent and defensible approach to calculating
uncertainty will reduce the stress and anxiety experienced by students caused by conflicting advice regarding
uncertainty evaluation. Likely challenges to the large scale introduction of the GUM in undergraduate physics
subjects are considered.
