NSF Award
9452109
The Elementary Lab Integration (ELINT) Project is a concerted attempt to infuse renewed vigor into the introductory calculus based physics lecture/laboratory through laboratory driven instruction, and the addition of a third semester to the traditionally two semester sequence. As much as possible, concepts will be introduced via exploratory classroom experiments or small group lab experiments. Lecture and laboratory will be integrated to the extent that no predetermined distinction will be made between lecture and lab time. To engage student interest and activity, modern instrumentation and corresponding topics in modern physics will be introduced early in the course and will be continued throughout. Within the first five weeks of the course students will be introduced to an optical spectrometer, a digital spectrum analyzer, fixed frequency and tuneable dye lasers, and the ubiquitous air track. As the course proceeds, students will learn to use oscilloscopes, computer interfaces, nuclear detectors, and advanced electronics. The ELINT Project is scheduled to run for two years using a revised version of the "Structures and Interactions" model developed for the Introductory University Physics Project (IUPP). Data acquired for assessment of the project will be carefully reviewed at that time to determine the extent to which ELINT will be modified and adopted for all (calculus and non-calculus) elementary lab sections.
