Re: Computers in the lab. /diatribe/

["Bernard G. Cleyet & Nancy Ann Seese" <georgeann@REDSHIFT.COM>]

This reminds me of the exercise that the San Fran. bay area people do.   If I remember correctly,  The students are given graphs of what moves <running, walking, backing up, etc.> they are to make
(either  position, speed, or acceler.)  their "progress" is recorded with an ultrasonic detector, digitized and plotted on a computer display and they then can compare with their instruction graph.  I
think this is a good one, because it involves kinesthetic learning, like the finger, but more so..

bc



Brian McInnes wrote:

> >
>
> >         You raise an interesting question: how do you know when you are
> > successful in getting students to " 'see' the motion represented by
> > distance and velocity graphs"?
> >         I agree with your objection to bad metaphors, by the way.
> >                                 Regards,
> >                                         Jack
>
> One way is to get the students to describe the motion of the object
> whose motion is represented by the graph.  Get them to put a finger on
> the desk (or table) and trace out what they believe is happening.
>
> In Vol II of their text "Physics by Inquiry" Lillian McDermott and her
> Group suggest using a ball and tracks and asking students to set up
> arrangements of tracks that will produce motions represented on graphs
> (page 688 - 692).  I have used the text and the materials with
> success.
>
> Brian McInnes