Microcomputers in the Introductory Physics Laboratory

Mount Holyoke正在升级其介绍性物理实验室，在精心选择的应用程序中使用新技术，以提高实验室的教育价值。他们正在使用12台微型计算机，一个帧捕获器，a /D电子设备和软件，用于新的入门实验室应用。这些并不能用高科技的等价物取代秒表和米尺：学生需要知道并对粗糙和现成的测量方法有信心。新技术的作用是让学生去他们以前无法去的地方：(1)获得以前无法获得的数据，(2)有机会获得可视化和思维实验的概念工具。该计划的一个重要部分是软件的开发，该软件建立在介绍性实验室的社交氛围之上：来自真实实验的真实数据，以及与实验室伙伴和教师的讨论。计算机将(1)通过仪器接口与外界对话，(2)通过图形与用户群对话，以及(3)实现学生需要执行的各种操作：数据运算、绘图、拟合、参数变化和可视化。所有这些都被顺利地整合在一起，因此图形屏幕成为讨论的焦点，新的分析或想法可以通过点击几下键盘或鼠标来尝试。受资助者为该项目提供与NSF奖金相等的资金。大学将提供相当于奖金的金额。

Mount Holyoke is upgrading its introductory physics labs by using new technology in carefully chosen applications to enhance the educational value of the lab. They are using 12 microcomputers, a frame grabber, A/D electronics, and software to use in new introductory lab applications. These do not replace stopwatches and meter sticks with high-tech equivalents: students need to know and have confidence in rough and ready methods of measurement. The role for the new technology is to have students go where they could not go before: (1) acquire previously unattainable kinds of data, and (2) have access to conceptual tools for visualization and thought experiments. An essential part of the plan is the development of software which builds on the social ambiance of the introductory lab: real data from real experiments, and discussions with lab partners and instructors. The computer will (1) talk to the outside world through instrument interfaces, (2) talk to clusters of users through graphics, and (3) enable the kinds of manipulations students need to perform: arithmetic on data, graphing, fitting, varying of parameters, and visualizing. All of this is being smoothly integrated, so that the graphics screen becomes a focus for discussion, and new analyses or ideas can be tried out with just a few keystrokes or mouse clicks. The grantee provides funds for this project that are an equal match for the NSF award. The University will contribute an amount equal to the award.