Scientific Workstations in Undergraduate Physics

运行强大软件的精密科学工作站是实践科学家和工程师必不可少的工具，但全国的本科课程并没有积极应对这些设备带来的挑战和机遇。作为回应，劳伦斯物理系将建设一个计算实验室，以支持其本科物理课程的重大重组。该项目的第一阶段将通过在中级水平的核心课程中引入适当的示例和练习，使学生熟悉基于计算机的工具。随着学生的进步，更复杂的练习将被纳入高级课程。通过课程修订，我们将创造一个系里的环境，使劳伦斯学院的本科生能够熟练地、有效地、广泛地、独立地使用最先进的计算机工具。与此同时，该部将进行一个试验项目，其结果将在今后几十年影响其他学校的物理教学课程。受资助机构将从非联邦来源获得等额的NSF奖励。

Sophisticated scientific workstations running powerful software are essential tools for practicing scientists and engineers, but undergraduate curricula nationwide are not responding vigorously to the challenge and opportunity provided by these devices. In response, the Lawrence Department of Physics will construct a computation laboratory to support a major restructuring of its undergraduate physics curriculum. The first phase of this project will build familiarity with computer-based tools by introducing suitable examples and exercises into the intermediate-level core of courses. As the students advance, more sophisticated exercises will be incorporated into advanced offerings. Through curricular revision, a departmental environment will be created within which Lawrence undergraduates will become expert at using state-of-the-art computing tools intelligently, effectively, extensively, and independently. At the same time, the Department will be conducting a pilot project whose results will influence the course of physics instruction at other schools during the coming decades. The grantee institution is matching the NSF award with an equal sum obtained from non-Federal sources.