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，已经开发了三种相关的基于活动的入门物理课程。这些是车间物理，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，并涉及计算机硬件和软件的设计，用于调查，数据分析和动态建模。在此之前的工作基础上，迪金森学院、马里兰州大学、俄勒冈州大学、塔夫茨大学和米勒斯维尔州立大学的校长之间为期三年的合作将扩展、增强、评估和传播基于活动的课程材料、仪器和计算机工具。 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，将通过讲习班、公开讲座、对机构的现场访问和期刊出版物，开展一项全面的传播计划，以达到高中和大学的入门物理教师。这些传播工作将得到通过J.C. Wiley Sons、PASCO Scientific、Vernier Software和Physics 学术软件 将特别注意开发适合两年制学院和学前教师未来技术人员课程的物理活动。

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.