This proposal increases the conceptual understanding of students in the introductory algebra-based physics course, the introductory calculus-based physics course, and the survey of physics course (for non-science-majors) and makes clearer at an earlier stage the connection between the scientific method and the physics lab. This is accomplished by introduction of Workshop Physics, Tools for Scientific Thinking, Real-Time Physics, and Microcomputer-Based Laboratory curricula. Twelve Macintosh Quadras provide the heart of the new physics laboratory, and a host of probes interfaced with the computers enables the students to gather and reduce data for further analysis. Students in the algebra- and calculus-based physics courses learn the greater percentage of their physics from these labs, eliminating to a large extent the lecture portions of these courses. The curricular materials are being locally modified to restructure the lecture and laboratory presentation in the survey of physics course for non-science-majors.
