In this article, we present results of our endeavours as physics educators to facilitate and support
pedagogical change and development in the educational system of a developing country, the
Philippines. We have discovered that the interaction of junior high school (years 7–10) students
with physics apparatus can influence students’ interest in pursuing a career in science, technology,
engineering and mathematics (STEM). This assertion stems from self-reports of students who gave
their views immediately after their exposure to interactive apparatus in their own school, outside
of their usual lessons. Participants claimed that their interest in following a STEM career path was
‘greatly increased’ due to their exposure to these apparatus. This was true even for students who
were intending to take a non-STEM career path. Thus, we recommend that, in settings that have
constraints involving access to practical equipment, ways to introduce school level interactive
physics apparatus to…