Recent research emphasizes the need for a more sustained interaction of schools with universities and research institutions. For example, informal after-school programs integrated into the school curriculum can provide opportunities for meaningful interaction with researchers in active learning settings. At the physics department of University of…

While laboratories have long been associated with introductory physics courses, there is doubt as to whether they positively impact student learning. Holmes and Wieman found that students who elected to take optional laboratories fared no better across a range of metrics than their counterparts who did not participate. In addition, these…

Scientists and teachers have worked together to produce teaching materials for the Very Small Radio Telescope (VSRT), an easy-to-use, low-cost apparatus that can be used in multiple laboratory experiments in high school and university physics and astronomy classes. In this article, we describe the motivation for the VSRT and several of the…

Although simple architectural structures like bridges, catwalks, cantilevers, and Stonehenge have been integral in human societies for millennia, as have levers and other simple tools, modern students of introductory physics continue to grapple with Newton's conditions for static equilibrium. As formulated in typical introductory physics…

Electrospinning has been used to create nanofibers for filtration devices, tissue engineering, and protective clothing. Although electrospinning is now widely studied, because of the expensive equipment required and the advanced nature of this topic, it is not commonly found in high school science labs. Through grants from the Ohio State…

An inexpensive and easily implemented device to measure wind velocity is proposed. This prototype has the advantage of being able to measure both the speed and the direction of the wind in two dimensions. The device utilizes a computational interface commonly referred to as a "mouse." The mouse proposed for this prototype contains an…

The objectives and methods of a free undergraduate laboratory are set forth. The main features are a close connection between the students and the research groups, a large amount of student freedom and responsibility, and no grading of the students. (Author/TS)

A time-sharing FORTRAN program is described. It was created to allow a student to design and perform classical thermodynamic experiments on three models of a working substance. One goal was to develop a simulation which gave the student maximum freedom and responsibility in the design of the experiment and provided only the primary experimental…

A minicomputer recently introduced in a senior modern physics laboratory, and operating in a conversational mode, has been an excellent way both of teaching students computing and of encouraging them to use a computer routinely. The choice of computer languages is discussed, and the advantages and possible disadvantages of a minicomputer are…

Describes the physics program in Scottish secondary schools. The discussion includes (1) the course objectives, (2) the instructional approach, (3) curriculum sequence, (4) laboratory experiments, (5) student project work, and (6) the tests used. Bibliography. (LC)

Describes a laboratory method of determining the formula for metal oxide, provides brief descriptions of two new courses at Kansas State Teachers College, and reports on meetings identifying critical needs in science education. (AL)

Briefly describes hardware and software requirements for a computer based learning system. The methods used in various systems are reviewed briefly. (TS)