Large Scale Use of Computer Interfaced Measuring Devices and Analytical Tools in Student Laboratories

将开发基于微积分和基于代数的入门物理课程的新实验室课程。在本课程中，数据的采集和分析是在微型计算机的帮助下完成的。学生将使用计算机收集数据，然后利用计算软件：建立被研究现象的理论模型；还原实验数据；进行基本的统计和误差检验；分析实验数据；最后将实验结果与理论模型综合。为该项目选择的设备包括：IBM兼容计算机和打印机；设计用于广泛运动学、电学和热学现象实验的计算机接口测量设备；电子表格和数学计算工具。这一新的课程模式将在对现象的定性和定量理解方面产生重大改进，并培养出大量具有基本调查技能的学生，可直接转移到行业和(或)继续研究。

A new laboratory curriculum in calculus-based and algebra- based introductory physics courses will be developed. In this curriculum the acquisition and analysis of the data is completed with the help of microcomputers. The students will use the computers to collect data then utilize computational software to: build a theoretical model of the phenomena being investigated; reduce the experimental data; perform fundamental statistical and error tests; analyze the experimental data; and finally synthesize the experimental results with the theoretical model. The equipment selected for this project includes: IBM compatible computers and printers; computer interfaced measuring devices designed to allow for experimentation with a broad range of kinematic, electrical and heat phenomena; a spreadsheet and a mathematical computational tool. This new curriculum model will result in significant improvements in both the qualitative and quantitative understanding of the phenomena and produce large numbers of students with fundamental investigative skills directly transferable to industry and/or continued research.