Development of an Activity-Based Introductory College Physics Curriculum Using Calculator-Based Laboratories

研究表明，讲座/实验室方法的教学介绍物理是不一样有效的，因为许多教师希望它是。最近开发了一些非传统的方法，试图解决这个问题;然而，它们在很大程度上依赖于计算机的使用。许多学院和大学既没有资金，也没有计算机为基础的程序的设施。 在高中物理课上，对低成本创新和新技术的需求更为迫切。需要一个类似的，但更便宜的方案。 该项目的目标是通过提供一种更具成本效益的方式，在基于活动的格式中利用新技术的好处，来提高大学水平（并最终在高中水平）基于代数的入门物理学的质量。该项目将开发和测试一种基于活动的方法来教授基于代数的入门大学物理的有效性，该方法广泛使用德州仪器新的基于计算器的实验室（CBL）系统来收集和分析数据。 与计算机实现相比，这种方法节省了相当多的成本。12个以计算机为基础的台站的费用约为50，000美元，而12个以计算器为基础的台站的费用约为10，000美元。 评估的结果将显示基于活动的CBL教学方法的有效性介绍代数为基础的物理相比，传统的讲座/实验室的方法。这些结果将提交给适当的期刊发表。书面材料将以工作簿的形式出版。开发的软件将通过德州仪器的档案和该部门的WWW网站在互联网上提供。

Studies have indicated that the lecture/laboratory method of teaching introductory physics is not as effective as many teachers would like for it to be. Some non-traditional methods have recently been developed in an attempt to remedy this problem; however, they depend heavily on the use of computers. Many colleges and universities have neither the funds nor the facilities for computer-based programs. There is an even more pressing need for low-cost innovation and new technology in high school physics classes. A comparable, but less expensive, program is needed. The goal of this project is to improve the quality of algebra-based introductory physics at the college level (and eventually at the high school level) by providing a more cost-effective way of utilizing the benefits of new technology within an activity-based format. This project will develop and test the effectiveness of an activity-based approach to teaching algebra-based introductory college physics that makes extensive use of the new calculator-based laboratory (CBL) system from Texas Instruments to collect and analyze data. This approach results in considerable cost savings compared to computer implementation. For twelve computer-based stations the cost is approximately $50,000 compared to about $10,000 for twelve calculator-based stations. The results of the evaluation will show the effectiveness of the activity-based CBL approach to teaching introductory algebra- based physics as compared to the traditional lecture/laboratory method. These results will be submitted for publication to appropriate periodicals. The written materials will be published in workbook form. The software that is developed will be available on the internet through Texas Instruments' archives and the department's WWW site.