In Search of Newton

该项目将在接下来的两个学年(1998年秋季至2000年春季)进行。每年都有一小群学生(20-24岁)参加微积分和物理相结合的课程。第一年，从物理系和电气工程系招收学生。项目团队最初的精力集中在课程材料的开发上。一旦材料就位，该计划将扩大到包括更多的学生。班级会议的形式遵循演播室的设置。一门物理课程目前正在演播室举行，本学期获得的经验将用于进一步开发这门课程。今年夏天举行的活动集中在微积分线材料的开发上。这一发展从检查当前工作室物理课程的材料开始，决定微积分材料在课程中的引入顺序，并开发适当的课程材料。第二个暑假专门在第一个试点课程之后进行更新和修改。根据对第一个试点计划的反馈和评估，将做出适当的修改。随着材料的修改，我们也利用这段时间对材料进行组织和编目。组织材料并使之正式化的努力使我们能够在第三个夏天举办一次讲习班。第二个试点项目也将由一小部分学生组成。该经验为进一步提炼和评估组装的材料提供了一个测试案例。同样，物理专业的学生和电气工程专业的学生也会被录取参加这些课程。在第三个夏天(2000年)，为对实施自己的计划感兴趣的教职员工提供了一个研讨会。课程材料已经组装好，在第三个夏天之后几乎是最后的形式。材料是在车间里分发的。研讨会提供了一种重要的传播方法，也让我们有机会测试材料的清晰度和可用性。

This project takes place over the next two academic years (Fall 1998 through Spring 2000). Each year a small group of students (20-24) take part in a combined calculus and physics course. In the first year the students are recruited from the physics department and the electrical engineering department. The project team's initial energies are focused on the development of course materials. Once the materials are in place, the program expands to a include a greater number of students. The format of the class meetings follow a studio setting. A physics course is currently meeting in a studio setting, and the experience gained during this current semester are used to further develop the course. The activities that take place this summer concentrate on the development of the materials for the calculus thread. This development begins by examining the materials from the current studio physics course, deciding on the order that the calculus materials are introduced in the course, and developing the appropriate course materials. The second summer is dedicated to updates and revisions after the first pilot course is given. Based on the feedback and evaluation of this first pilot program, changes are made as appropriate. As the materials are revised we also take advantage of this period by organizing and cataloging the materials. The efforts to organize and formalize the materials allow us to offer a workshop during the third summer. The second pilot program will also consist of a small cohort of students. The experience offers a test case in order to further refine and evaluate the materials assembled. Again, physics students and electrical engineering students are recruited for these sections. During the third summer (2000), a workshop is offered for faculty with an interest in implementing their own program. The course materials are assembled and in near final form after the third summer. The materials are distributed at the workshop. The workshop offers an important method of disseminati on, and it also allows us a chance to test the materials for clarity and usability.