An Interactive, Discovery-Oriented Approach to Introductory Physics Using Microcomputer-Based Laboratories

该项目需要采用基于微型计算机的 实验室纳入物理导论课程。 这些 微型计算机实验室取代现有的实验室， 介绍性的微积分课程，并在介绍 非科学家的课程 研究表明， 物理课程在培养学生方面做得很差 即使是最基本的物理概念 概念，以及一个互动和发现导向的 方法更有效。 而不是标准的 实验室，学生在其中做实验来验证公式 在课堂上讨论过， 学生自己发现公式或关系。 与专业物理学家类似，学生们正在做的是 物理学在他们知识的前沿--也类似的是 他们的热情程度。微机实验室 和相关的课程材料提供了工具， 让学生成为学习过程的积极参与者。 Motion程序允许学生观察真实的时间 他们自己的动作，以及其他熟悉的动作， 对象，并积极参与学生在发现 位置、速度和加速度之间的关系。 的 实时显示使学生能够重做实验， 很快，让他们自己发现 实验性的过程，并给予他们探索的自由， 新情况 课程材料目前可用 力学、声音、热量和温度。 硬件 微型计算机实验室也被用于 电学和磁学实验室与 麻省理工学院最近开发的材料。名为ZAP：A Hands-on 电磁学导论。 所有 实验室是高度互动的。

The project entails the introduction of microcomputer-based laboratories into the introductory physics curriculum. These microcomputer-based laboratories replace existing labs in the introductory calculus-based course and in the introductory course for non-scientists. Studies indicate that introductory courses in physics do a poor job in developing the students conceptual understanding of even the most basic physical concepts, and that an interactive and discovery-oriented approach is much more effective. Rather than the standard labs, in which students do experiments to verify formulas discussed in lecture, it is much more effective to have students discover the formula or relationship themselves. Similar to the professional physicist, students are doing physics at the forefront of their knowledge--also similar is their level of enthusiasm. The microcomputer-based laboratories and associated curricular materials provide the tools for students to become active participants in the learning process. The Motion program allows the students to observe real time displays of their own motion, and that of other familiar objects, and actively engages the students in discovering the relationship between position, velocity, and acceleration. The real-time display enables students to redo experiments very quickly, allowing them to discover for themselves the experimental process, and giving then the freedom to explore new situations. Curricular materials are currently available for Mechanics, Sound, and Heat and Temperature. The hardware for the microcomputer-based laboratories is also being used in the Electricity and Magnetism labs in conjunction with materials recently developed at M.I.T. called ZAP: A Hands-on Introduction to Electricity and Magnetism. All of the laboratories are highly interactive.