Enhancing the Workshop Physics Program with New Techology

作为其国家持续发展的一部分， 公认的车间物理程序，物理系 迪金森学院的天文学正在取代Macintosh SE 位于两个介绍物理实验室的计算机， Macintosh IIsi计算机和彩色显示器， 以太网到一个文件服务器，激光打印机，和两个视频 分析站已经在迪金森开发。 这 设备正在密集使用， 物理学生在车间物理课程和高年级 物理专业。 它也被其他团体使用， 各级：非理科学生参加大一研讨会 以及系里其他必修的科学课程;学院 和参加NSF赞助的暑期活动的大学教师 工作坊;少数民族高中生;高中女生 参观科学职业日;当地公民学习 监测辐射。设备的升级正在进行， 有几个原因。 我们的旧电脑和Apple Talk网络， 现在是他们服役的第五年，缺乏内存，磁盘 存储容量和速度，使我们能够充分利用 新软件的电子表格建模功能，视频 分析，符号方程求解，数据共享和 模拟 两个最近的NSF赠款允许之间的合作 迪金森学院、塔夫茨大学和 俄勒冈州的实验室课程开发，旨在帮助 其他机构利用综合计算机工具， 互动式教学方法 这些项目的工作是 通过最先进的技术， 实验室计算机工具的发展和课堂 测试课程材料。

As part of the continuing development of its nationally recognized Workshop Physics program, the Department of Physics and Astronomy at Dickinson College is replacing Macintosh SE computers located in two introductory physics laboratories with Macintosh IIsi computers and color monitors which are linked by Ethernet to a file server, laser printers, and two video analysis stations already developed at Dickinson. This equipment is being used intensively by both introductory physics students in the Workshop Physics courses and upperclass physics majors. It is also being used by other groups at various levels: non-science students taking freshman seminars and other required science courses in the department; college and university teachers attending NSF sponsored summer workshops; minority high school students; high school girls visiting for a science career day; and local citizens learning to monitor radiation.The upgrade of equipment is occurring for several reasons. Our older computers and Apple Talk network, now in their fifth year of service, lack the memory, disk storage capacity and speed to allow us to make full use of the capabilities of new software for spreadsheet modeling, video analysis, symbolic equation solving, data sharing and simulations. Two recent NSF grants allow collaboration between Dickinson College, Tufts University and the University of Oregon for laboratory curriculum development aimed at helping other institutions make use of integrated computer tools and interactive teaching methods. The work of these projects is being greatly enhanced by the availability of state-of-the art laboratory computer tools for the development and classroom testing of curricular materials.