A new laboratory curriculum in calculus-based and algebra- based introductory physics courses will be developed. In this curriculum the acquisition and analysis of the data is completed with the help of microcomputers. The students will use the computers to collect data then utilize computational software to: build a theoretical model of the phenomena being investigated; reduce the experimental data; perform fundamental statistical and error tests; analyze the experimental data; and finally synthesize the experimental results with the theoretical model. The equipment selected for this project includes: IBM compatible computers and printers; computer interfaced measuring devices designed to allow for experimentation with a broad range of kinematic, electrical and heat phenomena; a spreadsheet and a mathematical computational tool. This new curriculum model will result in significant improvements in both the qualitative and quantitative understanding of the phenomena and produce large numbers of students with fundamental investigative skills directly transferable to industry and/or continued research.
