Learning Optics on the Web: 3D Interactive Graphics, Session Logging, and Collaboration

这个项目的目标是帮助学生学习光学的学前班/大二物理课程和高水平的物理课程。我们将制作一套教育材料的原型：一个基于Web的、具有会话记录能力的3D交互式计算机图形系统。我们还将研究赋予该系统协作能力的可能性。我们先前开发了一个3D交互式计算机图形系统，称为光学项目(TOP)。TOP已经在两所大学的教室里进行了测试，并获得了优秀的学生评价。我们现在知道如何将TOP移植到网络上，使学生可以使用PC。例如，学生可以将他/她的浏览器指向URL(如http://www.erc.msstate.edu/~foley/webtop/)并选择单个狭缝子模块；然后，浏览器加载3D环境，学生可以在其中更改狭缝的宽度，并在观察屏上看到衍射图案的变化。我们的目标如下。(1)制作七个TOP模块的Web版本。我们称这个Web版本为Webtop。(2)创建新的激光模块。(3)自动生成可播放、可编辑、可分析的会话日志。(4)研究赋予系统协同能力的可能性。除了开发该软件外，我们还计划积极传播和评估它。我们将继续在地区和国家会议上发表演讲，就像我们为TOP所做的那样。当每个新的Webtop模块完成后，我们将把它放在我们的服务器上，以便其他人可以开始使用它。我们将举办研讨会，向其他人展示如何使用Webtop。我们将与其他使用Webtop和旅行的大学和学院协调，尽可能帮助他们开始，就像我们对TOP所做的那样。在两年结束时，我们预计结果将是：(A)一个在Web上运行并具有会话记录功能的交互式计算机图形系统，以及(B)将有更多的大学用户使用该软件。适用于此项目的应有主题

The goal of this project is to help students learn about optics infreshman/sophomore physics courses and in upper level physics courses. Wewill produce a prototypic set of educational materials: a Web-based, 3Dinteractive computer graphics system with session logging capabilities.We will also investigate the possibility of giving the systemcollaborative capabilities.We have previously developed a 3D interactive computer graphics systemcalled The Optics Project (TOP). TOP has been tested in the classroom attwo universities, and received excellent student evaluations. We now knowhow to port TOP to the Web, making it available for students with PC's.For example, a student can point his/her browser at a URL (such ashttp://www.erc.msstate.edu/~foley/webtop/ ) and select the single slitsubmodule; the browser then loads the 3D environment in which the studentcan change the width of a slit and see the diffraction pattern on anobservation screen change.Our objectives are as follows. (1) Make Web versions of the seven TOPmodules. We call this Web version WebTOP. (2) Create a new Lasersmodule. (3) Enable the automatic generation of session logs that can bereplayed, edited, and analyzed. (4) Investigate the possibility of givingthe system collaborative capabilities. In addition to developing thesoftware, we plan to aggressively disseminate and evaluate it. We willcontinue to give presentations at regional and national meetings, as wedid for TOP. As each new WebTOP module is completed, we will put it onour server, so that others may begin using it. We will hold workshops toshow others how to use WebTOP. We will coordinate with other universitiesand colleges who use WebTOP and travel, when possible, to help them getstarted, as we did with TOP.At the end of the two years, we expect the outcomes to be: (a) aninteractive computer graphics system which runs on the Web and has sessionlogging capabilities, and (b) a large and growing set of university userswhich will use the software. The DUE theme that applies to this projectis