Describes the rationale and incentive for the development of investigative laboratories at the University of Nebraska. Details the training and continuing support system that allows the utilization of a largely undergraduate student teaching staff. Outlines problems created by the nature of the students enrolled in the course. (GS)

Presents the view that laboratory work has been overemphasized. Need to critically examine effects on students of this practice. Some objections to current laboratory hours include irrelevance to student's future careers, recipe-type experiments, and conflicts with main academic objectives. (PS)

A three-year general physics program which uses a single text from which a sequence of one-year courses have been constructed is described. It is organized on a modified spiral approach and requires laboratory work culminating in an experimental project during the sixth semester. Discussion includes implementation and administration of the…

Describes a one-year program in which students are given lectures on instrumentation topics, acquire experience participating in campus and community laboratories, and complete individual projects to receive the master's degree. Indicates a high ability of attacking laboratory problems in students' achievement. (CC)