Integrated, Interactive Learning Laboratory

9451870 Cartwright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。计算机的日益强大使这些模型的“复杂性”发生了变化，使得学生现在可以在一代人以前的学生不可能完成的复杂模型上进行计算。这些变化使学生学会评估他们使用的模型的假设，有效性和价值变得越来越重要，重要的是，当前教学的内容和方法反映了这些变化。此外，挑战和检验建模假设的信心，以及对模型和真实的系统之间关系的认识，需要在学生的大学成长期得到培养。一个新的课程“探索工程（EG100）”，给所有新生工程师在他们的第一个学期，这是开放给学生在艺术和科学学院，提供了一个独特的机会，这样做的大量学生。这可以在第二学期的“工程力学I（EG220）”中进一步发展。为了有效地对大一学生做这件事，需要一种与传统实验室或课堂情况不同的方法。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。该项目将开发一个综合的，互动的学习实验室（IILL）使用Macintosh平台运行LabView和工作模型软件。这种结合将是国际学习综合体的核心，并将提供一种适合各种学习方式的简单、适应性强和自定进度的方法。 模型系统和真实的系统的集成将通过让学生使用LabView或Working Model对模型进行“假设”实验来实现，以了解和评估建模假设，然后让他们进行实验测量以立即与模型进行比较。 这样做的目的是为学生提供机会，同时检查真实的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.