Interactive Materials for the Science of Information Technology, An Innovative Physics Course for Non-Majors

信息技术科学互动材料，非专业创新物理课程

• 批准号: 0089399
• 负责人: Doris Wagner
• 金额: $ 15.5万
• 依托单位: Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2001
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2001-07-01 至 2006-08-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=0089399&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Interactive; Materials; Science; Information; Technology

Physics (13) A new, innovative physics course, The Science of Information Technology (ScIT). ScIT has been developed and piloted in the studio format in Rensselaer's physics department. ScIT is unusual because (a) it is an upper-level physics course with no prerequisites, (b) it is topically-based, combining discussions of fundamental physical principles with information system applications that interest students, (c) it brings world-class researchers with several different specialties into a classroom of non-majors to talk about the current state of research, and (d) it attracts students from diverse concentrations, with performance in the course essentially independent of physics background. The course does not have a suitable textbook, and supporting materials must be either newly created or drawn from a variety of non-traditional sources. This project supports for the creation, refinement, testing, and national distribution of materials for the course, such as text, multimedia guest lectures, and appropriate in-class activities. The Science of Information Technology covers several topics, such as atomic structure, fiber optics, semiconductor properties, and quantum physics, that are not covered in most traditional introductory courses yet are crucial to the working of information systems used daily by students. Furthermore, the course covers these topics without requiring advanced calculus or prior physics experience from the students, making the course accessible and attractive to the entire student body, as an elective should be. The contributed guest lectures by prominent researchers gives the students insight into the obstacles facing further development and some possible ways to overcome those challenges. This combination of features give ScIT the potential to increase the level of scientific literacy among the rapidly growing population of information technology consumers and users, fostering a greater appreciation for science in general, and physics in particular.A variety of materials are being developed. These include (a) a textbook, which will provide a measure of uniformity to the course; (b) illustrations of the concepts covered within the course, best done with animated graphics, such as Java applets or Shockwave presentations; (c) interactive inquiry-based activities. Existing activities are being refined, and all activities are being evaluated for learning, relevance, and soundness. In addition, guest lectures by researchers are being videotaped, digitized, and integrated into the course materials. Activities and lessons are also being used in and tested for the enrichment of K-12 teachers. Once the course materials have been fully developed and evaluated by respected experts in the relevant fields, they will be distributed nationally through a publisher and an on-line distributor like WebCT. In this way, ScIT is being developed from a pilot offering of a novel science elective to a well-organized, pedagogically-sound learning experience bringing both technology and cutting-edge research into the classroom of non-science majors.

物理（13）一个新的，创新的物理课程，信息技术科学（ScIT）。ScIT已经在伦斯勒物理系的工作室格式中开发和试用。ScIT是不寻常的，因为（a）它是一个没有先决条件的高级物理课程，（B）它是基于主题的，结合基本物理原理的讨论与学生感兴趣的信息系统应用，（c）它带来了世界一流的研究人员与几个不同的专业到非专业的教室谈论研究的现状，（d）它吸引了来自不同浓度的学生，这门课的成绩基本上与物理背景无关。该课程没有合适的教科书，辅助材料必须是新创建的或从各种非传统来源提取。该项目支持课程材料的创建、改进、测试和全国分发，如文本、多媒体客座讲座和适当的课堂活动。信息技术科学涵盖了几个主题，如原子结构，光纤，半导体特性和量子物理学，这些主题在大多数传统的入门课程中没有涉及，但对学生日常使用的信息系统的工作至关重要。此外，该课程涵盖了这些主题，而不需要先进的微积分或学生以前的物理经验，使课程的访问和吸引力的整个学生团体，作为选修课应该是。杰出研究人员的客座讲座让学生深入了解进一步发展所面临的障碍以及克服这些挑战的一些可能方法。这些特点的结合使ScIT有可能提高快速增长的信息技术消费者和用户的科学素养水平，培养对一般科学，特别是物理学的更高认识。其中包括：（a）教科书，它将为课程提供一定程度的统一性;（B）课程所涵盖概念的插图，最好用动画图形，如Java小程序或Shockwave演示;（c）互动式探究活动。目前正在改进现有的活动，并对所有活动的学习、相关性和健全性进行评价。此外，研究人员的客座讲座正在录像、数字化并纳入课程材料。活动和课程也被用于和测试，以丰富K-12教师。一旦课程材料得到充分开发并由相关领域的知名专家进行评估，它们将通过出版商和WebCT等在线分销商在全国范围内分发。通过这种方式，ScIT正在从一个新的科学选修课的试点产品发展到一个组织良好，教学合理的学习经验，将技术和尖端研究带入非科学专业的课堂。