As a part of the UNESCO series, The Teaching of the Basic Sciences, this document focuses on new trends in the teaching of physics at the secondary school and university levels. The first half of the book is intended to help physics teachers deal with some of the phenomena associated with the transfer, conversion and utilization of energy. Papers in this portion of the book deal with the concepts of energy, entropy, and irreversibility and highlight the recent efforts of various countries in teaching these concepts more effectively. Papers in the second half of the book are arranged in sections covering: (1) the place of optics in physics teaching (including discussions of children's ideas about light and color); (2) the training of physics teachers (citing examples from different countries and outlining current dilemmas in teacher education); (3) discussions and activities relating to laboratory equipment (ranging from microcomputers to homemade solar cookers); and (4) recent ideas on science, technology and society (with discussions of physics in society, and appropriate technology). (TW)