9451959 Monroe The goal of this project is to improve the learning of physics at Southwest Texas Junior College and to improve the retention of students and the attraction to major studies in physics, particularly among women and the Hispanic population. This project proposes to develop and implement new laboratory activities in three physics course sequences during the next two years. The lab curricula will be adaptions of the curriculum developed by Ron Thornton and Priscilla Laws, using microcomputers to collect data and perform analysis and graphing as controlled by the students. The lab activities will be developed in the area of mechanics, heat, sound, electricity and magnetism, light and nuclear physics. The project requests support for six networked lab stations equipped with Mac Quadra 650 microcomputers, Universal Lab Interfaces and appropriate sensors and probes. In addition, lab equipment to be used with the MBL tools as well as a laser printer and scanner are requested. The project expects to more actively involve the students in lab activities and thereby improve the learning of physics through the new technologies of the microcomputers and with proven lab curricula. As a result more students will support physics because of their positive experiences and may elect to continue their studies in physics. Students will be better prepared for the technologies of the twenty-first century and science literacy in southwest Texas will increase.
