Improving Physics Instruction for Technical Students Using aMicrocomputer-Based Laboratory (MBL)

本计画有助于改善物理导论课程的实验教学。教师认为，许多学生在这些课程中未能充分理解所提出的基本概念。因此，这个项目解决了这种失败的确定原因：学生没有(1)积极参与实验设计；(2)充分参与小组合作学习；(3)接受多次实验结果的反馈；或(4)有效地利用他们的实验室时间和实验室相关的活动。本项目通过修订两门物理导论课程的课程，并将使用基于微电脑的实验室工具纳入这些课程的实验室部分，改进了实验室教学。选修本项目改进的物理课程的学生的专业是为他们在制造、工程或技术服务环境中担任技术人员做好准备的。本课题可作为工科大学生物理教学的一个范本。对课程改进和学生成绩的评估可以作为项目的一部分进行。

This project provides assistance in improving laboratory instruction in introductory physics courses. Faculty believe that many students in these courses fail to develop adequate understanding of the basic concepts presented. Therefore, this project addresses the identified reasons for this failure: students are not (l) actively involved in the design of experiments; (2) sufficiently engaged in small group, collaborative learning; (3) receiving feedback on the results of many experiments; or (4) using their laboratory time efficiently and for laboratory-dependent activities. This project is making improvements in laboratory instruction by revising the curricula of two introductory physics courses and integrating the use of microcomputer-based laboratory tools into the laboratory component of those courses. Students taking the physics courses improved by this project are in majors that prepare them for work as technicians in manufacturing, engineering, or technical service environments. This project can serve as a model for the instruction of physics to college students in technical programs. Evaluation of both program improvements and student outcomes can be conducted as part of the project.