Enhancing the Workshop Physics Program with New Techology

作为其国家认可的研讨会物理方案继续发展的一部分，迪金森学院物理和天文学系正在用Macintosh IISI计算机和彩色监视器取代位于两个介绍性物理实验室的Macintosh SE计算机，这些计算机和彩色监视器通过以太网连接到文件服务器、激光打印机和已经在Dickinson开发的两个视频分析站。这种设备在物理车间课程的入门物理学生和物理专业的高年级学生中都得到了广泛的使用。不同层次的其他群体也在使用它：参加系内新生研讨会和其他必修科学课程的非理科学生；参加NSF赞助的暑期讲习班的学院和大学教师；少数民族高中生；参观科学职业生涯日的高中女孩；以及学习监测辐射的当地居民。设备的升级有几个原因。我们的老式电脑和Apple Talk网络现在已经投入使用了五年，它们缺乏内存、磁盘存储容量和速度，无法让我们充分利用新软件的功能，例如电子表格建模、视频分析、符号方程求解、数据共享和模拟。最近的两笔NSF赠款允许迪金森学院、塔夫茨大学和俄勒冈大学合作开发实验室课程，旨在帮助其他机构利用集成的计算机工具和互动教学方法。由于有最先进的实验室计算机工具用于编写和课堂测试课程材料，这些项目的工作得到了极大的加强。

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.