Abstract
A number of researchers have reported on the difficulties students have with simple electric circuit concepts. This paper reports on the use of microcomputer-based Current/Voltage probes in conjunction with a highly interactive Electric Circuit curriculum to teach these concepts in the introductory college physics laboratory. An Electric Circuit Conceptual Evaluation has been developed and has been used to assess student understanding of circuit concepts. The results of pre- and post-testing show dramatic gains in student understanding of current and voltage in simple series and parallel direct current circuits1.
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References
McDermott, Lillian C. and Shaffer, Peter S.: Research as a guide for curriculum development: An example from introductory electricity. Part I: Investigation of student understanding, Am. J. Phys. 60, 994–1002 (1992).
Shaffer, Peter S. and McDermott, Lillian C.: Research as a guide for curriculum development: An example from introductory electricity. Part II: Design of instructional strategies, Am. J. Phys. 60, 1003–1013 (1992).
McDermott, L.C. et al., Physics by inquiry (Physics Education Group, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, 1982–1992).
Thornton, Ronald K. and Sokoloff, David R.: Learning motion concepts using realtime microcomputer-based laboratory tools, Am. J. Phys. 58, 858–867 (1990).
Some kinematics results have been published. See reference 4. Dynamics results have not yet been published. For more information on the test and results, contact the author or Ronald K. Thornton, Center for Science and Math Teaching, Tufts University, 4 Colby Street, Medford, MA 02155.
This corresponds to chapters 18, 19 and 20 (through section 20–4) of Paul Tipler’s College Physics (Worth, New York, 1987).
Technical Education Research Center, 2067 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02140. These original Apple II-based tools, originally developed for use with middle school students, are available as HRM Motion, Heat and Temperature and Sound Microcomputer-Based Laboratories from Queue, Inc., 338 Commerce Drive, Fairfield, CT 06430.
For more information write to Ronald Thornton (see reference 5) and Priscilla Laws, Department of Physics and Astronomy, Dickinson College, Carlisle, PA 17013. These materials are available through Vernier Software, 2920 S.W. 89th Street, Portland, OR 97225.
Laws, Priscilla W.: Calculus-based physics without lectures, Phys. Today 44, 24–31 (December, 1991).
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© 1996 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg
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Sokoloff, D.R. (1996). Teaching Electric Circuit Concepts Using Microcomputer-Based Current/Voltage Probes. In: Tinker, R.F. (eds) Microcomputer–Based Labs: Educational Research and Standards. NATO ASI Series, vol 156. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-61189-6_7
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-61189-6_7
Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg
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