Microcomputer Based Laboratories for Undergraduate Physics

为完善基础实验教学，物理系在实验教学中引入了基于微机的实验设备。该设备由八台微型计算机以及传感器和软件组成，可用于物理系所有本科实验室。传感器与微型计算机连接，测量位置、速度、加速度、力、温度、声音和光等物理量。在进行测量时，传感器获得的数据以数字和图形的形式显示出来，以后可以对这些数据进行操作和分析，这给了学生前所未有的探索、测量和学习物理世界的能力。MBL工具已被证明可以使单纯的科学学习者更容易理解物理现象，并且它们扩展了更高级的学生可以进行的研究。购买和使用MBL仪器将极大地使学生受益，因为最近在教育和认知科学方面的研究证实了学生在发展他们的科学技能和学习概念方面拥有坚实的实证和大量现象学经验的重要性。该大学将提供等额的资助。

To improve the introductory laboratories, the Physics Department is introducing microcomputer-based laboratory (MBL) instruments into the laboratory curriculum. The equipment consists of eight microcomputers along with sensors and software that can be utilized in all of the physics department's undergraduate laboratories. The sensors are interfaced to the microcomputers to measure physical quantities such as position, velocity, acceleration, force, temperature, sound and light. As measurements are taken, data obtained by the sensors are displayed in digital and graphical form that can be later manipulated and analyzed giving students unprecedented power to explore, measure, and learn from the physical world. MBL instruments have been shown to make the understanding of physical phenomena more accessible to the naive science learner, and they expand the investigations that more advanced students can undertake. The purchase and implementation of MBL instruments will significantly benefit students because recent research in educational and cognitive science verify the importance for students to have solid empirical and heavily phenomenological experiences in developing their science skills and learning concepts. The University is matching the award with an equal amount of funds.