Integrated, Interactive Learning Laboratory

使用建模来描述物理、自然和社会系统已经很好地建立起来了。计算机日益强大的功能使得这些模型的“复杂性”发生了变化，学生们现在可以在模型上进行计算，这是上一代学生无法做到的。这些变化使得学生学会评估他们所使用的模型的假设、有效性和价值变得越来越重要，而当前教学的内容和方法必须反映这些变化。此外，挑战和检查建模假设的信心，以及对模型与实际系统之间关系的认识，需要在学生在大学的形成阶段得到发展。一门新课程“探索工程（EG100）”在第一学期开设给所有工程师新生，并向文理学院的学生开放，为大量学生提供了一个独特的机会。这可以在第二学期的“工程力学I （EG220）”中进一步发展。要对大一学生有效地做到这一点，需要一种不同于传统实验室或课堂上使用的方法。支持工程分析软件的快速准确的个人计算机的出现使这种不同的方法成为可能。该项目将使用运行LabView和Working Model软件的Macintosh平台开发一个集成的交互式学习实验室（IILL）。这种结合将是IILL的核心，并将提供一种简单、适应性强、自定节奏的方法，适合各种学习风格。模型系统与实际系统的集成将通过让学生使用LabView或Working model对模型进行“what if”实验来实现，以获得对建模假设的理解和评估，然后让他们进行实验测量，以便与模型进行直接比较。这样做的目的是为学生提供机会，同时检查实际系统和由这些系统组成的模型之间的重要联系和差异。

9451870 Cartwright The use of modeling for the description of physical, natural and societal systems is already well established. The increasing power of computers has allowed the "sophistication" of these models to change such that students can now perform calculations on models of a complexity not possible for students of a generation ago. These changes have made it increasingly important that students learn to assess the assumptions, validity and value of the models they use and it is important that the content and approach to current teaching reflects these changes. Furthermore the confidence to challenge and examine modeling assumptions and an awareness of the relationship between the model and the real system needs to be developed during the student's formative years at university. A new course "Exploring Engineering (EG100)", given to all freshman engineers in their first semester, and which is open to students in the college of Arts and Sciences, provides a unique opportunity to do this for large number of students. This can be further developed in the second semester in "Engineering Mechanics I (EG220)". To do this effectively with freshman level students requires a different approach to that used in the traditional laboratory or classroom situation. The advent of fast accurate personal computers supporting engineering analysis software enables this different approach. This project will develop an Integrated, Interactive Learning Laboratory (IILL) using a Macintosh platform running the LabView and Working Model software. This combination will be central to the IILL and will provide for a simple, adaptable and self-paced approach suited to a variety of learning styles. Integration of the model system and the real system will be achieved by having students use either LabView or Working Model to carry out "what if" experiments on the model, to gain understanding of, and assess, modeling assumptions, and then have them make experimental measurements for immed iate comparison with the model. The purpose of this will be to provide students with the opportunity to examine, simultaneously, the important connections and differences between real systems and the models that are made of these systems.