Activity Based Physics: Curricula, Computer Tools, and Apparatus for Introductory Physics Courses

在美国教育部和国家科学基金会的大力支持下，已经开发了三门相关的以活动为基础的物理入门课程。它们是研讨会物理、科学思维工具和实时物理。这三门课程都使用物理教育研究的成果，以活动为基础，并涉及用于调查、数据分析和动态建模的计算机硬件和软件设计。迪金森学院、马里兰大学、俄勒冈大学、塔夫茨大学和米尔斯维尔州立大学的主要研究人员之间为期三年的合作将在之前工作的基础上扩展、增强、评估和传播以活动为基础的课程材料、仪器和计算机工具，用于教授入门物理。该计划的最终目标是继续全面努力，通过掌握物理概念、调查技能和数学建模技术来提高入门物理学生的科学素养，并激励学生学习更多的科学。在整个三年期间，将进行一项全面的传播计划，通过研讨会、公开演讲、对机构的实地访问和期刊出版物，接触到高中和大学一级的入门物理教师。这些传播努力将得到J.C.Wiley&amp；Sons、Pasco Science、游标软件和物理学术软件产品的商业分销的支持。将特别注意为两年制学院的未来技术人员和预科教师设计的课程开发适合的物理活动。

Three related activity-based introductory physics curricula have been developed with major support from the US Department of Education and the National Science Foundation. These are Workshop Physics, Tools for Scientific Thinking, and RealTime Physics. All three curricula use the findings of physics education research, are activity-based, and have involved the design of computer hardware and software for investigation, data analysis, and dynamic modeling. This three-year collaboration between principal investigatops at Dickinson College, University of Maryland, University of Oregon, Tufts University, and Millersville State University will extend, enhance, evaluate and disseminate activity-based curricular materials, apparatus, and computer tools for teaching introductory physics based on this previous work. The ultimate goals of this program are to continue full scale efforts to improve the scientific literacy of introductory physics students through the mastery of physics concepts, investigative skills, and mathematical modeling techniques and to motivate students to learn more science. Throughout the three year period a comprehensive dissemination program will be conducted to reach introductory physics instructors at high school and college levels through workshops, public talks, on-site visits to institutions, and journal publications. These dissemination efforts will be supported by the commercial distribution of products through J.C. Wiley & Sons, PASCO Scientific, Vernier Software, and Physics Academic Software. Particular attention will be given to developing physics activities suitable for courses designed for future technicians at two year colleges and preteachers.