Computers in physics instruction

SEP 01, 1969

In a rapidly growing field computers talk to students, simulate experiments, calculate and perform many special tasks. Problems remain to be solved, but if advantages are exploited and costs reduced, computers should become effective, uncomplaining tutors.

DOI: 10.1063/1.3035781

Guenter Schwarz

Ora M. Kromhout

Steve Edwards

THE PHENOMENAL IMPACT of the modern digital computer on our society has not bypassed physics instruction. As early as the late 1950’s and early 1960’s research was going on at the Universities of Michigan and Illinois on computers in science and engineering education. Development of the field was stimulated by two conferences in 1965 at the University of California, Irvine, and the University of Washington. The reports on these conferences are basic references for anyone wishing to look further into the subject. The number and variety of current projects in the field is increasing rapidly, as indicated by the sections devoted to the subject at annual meetings of the American Association of Physics Teachers.

This article is only available in PDF format

References

1. Instruction by Design: A Report on the Conference on New Instructional Materials in Physics Held at the University of Washington, Summer 1965, Commission on College Physics, College Park, Md.
2. The Computer in Physics Instruction: Report of the Conference on the Uses of the Computer in Undergraduate Physics Instruction Held November 4–6, 1965 at the University of California, Irvine, Commission on College Physics, College Park, Md.
3. A. M. Bork, “Least Action via Computer,” Am. J. Phys. 37, 386 (1969).https://doi.org/AJPIAS
4. J. Weizenbaum, “Contextual Understanding by Computers,” Communications of the Association for Computing Machinery 10, 474 (1967).
5. E. F. Taylor, “Automated Tutoring and its Discontents,” Am. J. Phys. 36, 496 (1968).https://doi.org/AJPIAS
6. Short Films for Physics Teaching: A Catalog, Commission on College Physics, College Park, Md. (1967).
7. A. Goldberg, H. M. Schey, J. L. Schwartz, “Computer‐Generated Motion Pictures of One‐Dimensional Quantum‐Mechanical Transmission and Reflection Phenomena,” Am. J. Phys. 35, 177 (1967).https://doi.org/AJPIAS
8. J. L. Schwartz, E. F. Taylor, “Computer Displays in the Teaching of Physics,” American Federation of Information Processing Societies Conference Proceedings 33, 1285 (1968).
9. W. Stenberg et al., Calculus: A Computer Oriented Presentation, Center for Research in College Instruction of Science and Mathematics, Tallahas‐see, Fla. (preliminary edition, 1968).
10. “Computer Classroom,” Intermediate Science Curriculum Study Newsletter, no. 3, October 1967, Florida State University, Tallahassee, Fla.
11. A. M. Bork, “Computers in High School Physics,” The Physics Teacher 6, 296 (1968).
12. C. H. Frye, “CAI Languages: Capabilities and Applications,” Datamation 14, no. 9, 34 (1968).https://doi.org/DTMNAT
13. The Dartmouth Time‐Sharing Computing System, Final Report, Dartmouth College, Hanover, N. H. (1967).
14. A. Luehrmann, “The Square Well in Quantum Mechanics,” Am. J. Phys. 35, 275 (1967).https://doi.org/AJPIAS
15. A. M. Bork, A. Luehrmann, J. W. Robson, Introductory Computer‐Based Mechanics: A One Week Sample Course (R. Blum, ed.), Commission on College Physics, College Park, Md. (1968).
16. O. M. Kromhout, S. Edwards, G. Schwarz, “A Computer Guided General Education Physics Course,” Am. J. Phys. 37, (Oct., 1969) (in press).https://doi.org/AJPIAS
17. A. M. Bork, “Computers and the Nonscience Major,” Am. J. Phys. 34, 926 (1966).https://doi.org/AJPIAS
18. J. H. Kanner, “CAI—The New Demonology?” Datamation 14, no. 9, 38 (1968).https://doi.org/DTMNAT
19. K. L. Zinn, “Instructional Uses of Interactive Computer Systems,” Datamation 14, no. 9, 22 (1968).https://doi.org/DTMNAT
20. P. H. Abelson, “Computer‐Assisted Instruction,” Science 162, 855 (1968).https://doi.org/SCIEAS
21. A. M. Bork, “A Physics Independent Study Course with Computer,” Am. J. Phys. 31, 364 (1963).https://doi.org/AJPIAS
22. Op. cit. ref. 2, p. 52.
23. A. M. Bork, Notions about Motion (Mimeographed text, University of California, Irvine, 1968).
24. D. N. Hansen, W. Dick, H. T. Lippert, Semiannual Progress Report, July 1, 1967, through Dec. 31, 1967, (Florida State University Computer Assisted Instruction Center Report no. 6, Tallahassee, Fla., 1968).
25. D. N. Hansen, W. Dick, H. T. Lippert, Semiannual Progress Report, Jan. 1, 1967 through June 20, 1967. (Florida State University Computer Assisted Instruction Center Report no. 5, Tallahassee,, Fla., 1967).
26. E. R. Lyman, A Descriptive List of Plato Programs, 1960 to 1968, Computer‐Based Education Research Laboratory, University of Illinois, Urbana, Ill.
27. A. Goldberg, H. M. Schey, J. L. Schwartz, “Edge Effects in One‐Dimensional Scattering,” Am. J. Phys. 35, 777 (1967).https://doi.org/AJPIAS
28. D. T. Axelrod, J. L. Schwartz, “Scattering of Charged Particles From a Variety of Charge Distributions,” Am. J. Phys. 35, 1162 (1967).https://doi.org/AJPIAS
29. A. Goldberg, H. M. Schey, J. L. Schwartz, “One‐Dimensional Scattering in Configuration Space and Momentum Space,” Am. J. Phys. 36, 454 (1968).https://doi.org/AJPIAS
30. W. E. Daniels, J. L. Schwartz, “A Quantum‐Mechanical Ripple Tank,” Am. J. Phys. 36, 1088 (1968).https://doi.org/AJPIAS
31. R. C. Rosenberg, Computer‐Aided Teaching of Dynamic System Behavior (Technical Report ESD‐TR‐260, Electronic Systems Division, USAF Systems Command, Bedford, Mass., 1965) (copies available from author).
32. A. M. Bork, “Using Computers in Teaching Elementary Physics,” in Northeast Electronic Research and Engineering Meeting Record (1967).
33. A. M. Bork, “Computers and The Feynman Lectures on Physics,” Am. J. Phys. 32, 173 (1964).https://doi.org/AJPIAS
34. A. M. Bork, FORTRAN for Physics, Addison—Wesley Publishing Co, Reading, Mass. (1967).
35. A. M. Bork, Using the IBM—1130, Addison—Wesley Publishing Co, Reading, Mass. (1968).
36. A. M. Bork, Physics and the Computer—An Introduction to Classical Mechanics and JOSS, (Preliminary version, unpublished) (1967).
37. A. M. Bork, “Instructional Uses of the Computer: 1130 FORTRAN Mechanics Program,” Am. J. Phys. 36, 907 (1968).https://doi.org/AJPIAS
38. A. F. Vierling, J. L. Jones, Physics Problem Workbook, (A subproject under Naval Bureau of Personnel). (US Naval Academy technical report no. TDP43‐03X).
39. A. F. Vierling, J. S. Vierling, Computer Assisted Learning, Hafner Publishing Co, New York (1968).
40. R. W. Brehme, The ELIZA System at Wake Forest University: ELIZA: A Skimmahle Report on the ELIZA Conversational Tutoring System, MIT Education Research Center, Cambridge, Mass. (1968).

More about the Authors

Guenter Schwarz. Center for Research, College Instruction of Science and Mathematics, Florida State University.

Ora M. Kromhout. Computer Assisted Instruction Center of Florida State.

Steve Edwards. Florida State.