Laboratory Computer and Lecture Demonstration Instrumentation

Abstract

This project sought to improve hands-on access to modern instrumentation and enhancement of students classroom learning experiences in two physics courses. The outcomes of this instrumentation award have been to double the capacity of the introductory laboratory course and expand the number and variety of physics demonstrations and lab experiments. One unanticipated outcome has been the flexibility to expand course offerings to a second sequence of calculus-based physics. This addition has allowed students who enter the university unprepared for the regular calculus course to keep up the physics sequences so that they are not a year behind of others in their major field. This project has affected over 140 students per year. Students have increased their use of computers to solve problems, analyze results of experiments, and are transferring these skills across courses and majors on a routine basis. Faculty have increased the number and variety of both demonstrations of physics principles and in the experiments they design for student exercises. All goals and objectives for this project have been met or exceeded.

Open PDF

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
May 01, 1999
Accession Number
ADA389366

Entities

People

  • Gary Karshner

Organizations

  • University of Saint Mary

Tags

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Acoustic Propagation
  • Buildings And Structures
  • Calculus
  • Computers
  • Computing Devices
  • Demonstrations
  • Instrumentation
  • Internal Pressure
  • Laptop Computers
  • Mathematics
  • Physics
  • Resilience
  • Sequences
  • Standing Waves
  • Students
  • Universities
  • Waves

Fields of Study

  • Education

Readers

  • Astronomy and Astrophysics.
  • STEM Education
  • Systems Analysis and Design