Microcomputer Based Laboratories for Undergraduate Physics

为了改进入门实验室，物理系正在将基于微型计算机的实验室(MBL)仪器引入实验室课程。该设备由8台微型计算机以及传感器和软件组成，可以在所有物理系的本科实验室使用。传感器与微型计算机接口，以测量位置、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，稍后可以对其进行处理和分析，赋予学生前所未有的能力来探索、测量和学习物理世界。MBL仪器已被证明使天真的科学学习者更容易理解物理现象，并扩展了更高级的学生可以进行的调查。购买和实施MBL工具将使学生大大受益，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经验和大量的现象学经验的重要性。该大学正在用等额的资金来匹配这一奖项。

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.