Hands-on Laboratory Projects for Non-Engineers: Learning Scientific Principles in the Context of Everyday Technology

本项目开发、评估并传播专门为非SMET专业本科生设计的动手实验练习。该项目的一部分重点是教师培训，目标受众中有相当一部分是未来的K-12教师。练习探索熟悉的技术设备的技术和科学方面，并展示技术如何结合对自然的科学理解。人们使用熟悉的技术设备，如汽车、收音机和电话来激发学生学习技术和科学的兴趣。所有的练习都是为了让学生有切实的证据来证明自己的成就，比如建造一台简单的收音机。大约一半的项目是由廉价和简单的材料制成的，这样每个学生都可以把工作设备带回家。其他练习强调与技术工作的高度接触，例如与技术工作的高度接触的构造，例如二极管激光光源的构造或基于基本逻辑电路的4位二进制加法器的构造。练习是为没有什么技术背景的非工程和非科学学生优化的。所有的实验室都很便宜，不需要任何专门的设备或设施，并且能够进行修改以适应不同的机构环境。在这个项目中开发了一个长达一个学期的大约十二个练习系列。包括学生和教师的实验室手册。该作品是基于希望学院自1995年开始教授的“日常生活的科学与技术”。传播包括与商业出版商接洽，以便出版。

This project develops, evaluates, and disseminates, hands-on laboratory exercises specifically designed for undergraduates who are not majoring in SMET disciplines. A portion of the project focuses on teacher prepartation with a significant number of the target audience being future K-12 teachers. Exercises explore both the technological and the scientific aspects of familiar technological devices and demonstrate how technology incorporates a scientific understanding of nature. Familiar technological devices such as the automobile, the radio, and the telephone are used to engage the interest of students in learning about technology and science. All exercises are designed to result in tangible evidence of accomplishment on the part of the student such as construction of a simple working radio. Approximately half of the projects are made from inexpensive and simple materials so that each student can take home the working device. Other exercises stress an uncommonly high degree of contact with the workings of technology such as construction of an uncommonly high degree of contact with the workings of technology such as construction of a diode laser light source or construction of a 4-bit binary adder from basic logic circuits. Exercises are optimized for non-engineering and non-science students with little prior technical background. All laboratories are inexpensive, do not require any specialized equipment or facilities, and are capable of being modified to suit different institutional circumstances. A semester-long series of approximately twelve exercises are developed within this project. Both a student and instructor's laboratory manual are included. The proposed work is based on the "Science and Technology of Everyday Life," taught a Hope College since 1995. Dissemination includes approaching a commercial publisher for possible publication.