I do agree about the time. My point was that if they finish the data collection in an hour (or so) I'd like to be able to utilize their time better by completing whatever information I require (a report, analysis of the data, etc...no statistics, or anything fluffy) prior to leaving. Telling them that they can simply leave after they collect the data (to write the lab report up later) winds up showing poor data collection and laboratory technique. Maybe a % based on the standard deviation of expected results or of that compared to the accuracy/precision of their peers might address that? I can certainly see that if they carefully collect and analysis the data in a clear fashion in say two hours that I have no problem with them leaving.
Regards, Robert.
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From: phys-l-bounces@carnot.physics.buffalo.edu on behalf of LaMontagne, Bob
Sent: Sun 1/3/2010 2:30 PM
To: Forum for Physics Educators
Subject: Re: [Phys-l] Understanding the physics lab
Why do they have to stay there for 3 hours? My approach to labs is to address a single topic per lab. I definitely give "cook-book" labs, but require the students to explain what they have done (and why) at each step. I don't waste their time with error analysis or any other "fillers" to cover 3 hours. If they can finish with a good understanding of the single topic in an hour - so be it.
Bob at PC
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From: phys-l-bounces@carnot.physics.buffalo.edu [phys-l-bounces@carnot.physics.buffalo.edu] On Behalf Of Arts, Robert W. [rarts@pc.edu]
Sent: Sunday, January 03, 2010 11:58 AM
To: Forum for Physics Educators
Subject: [Phys-l] Understanding the physics lab
Greeting and Welcome to a new year and teaching semester...
While this topic is nothing new, I wanted to approach it in the context of the upcoming semester and my ongoing syllabus and laboratory writing. That being said, I'm looking for a "new" (new for me) approach to my second semester, algebra-based physics laboratory. Let me preface by saying that my students (for the most part) are not physics major (mostly pre-med or pre-pharm). I want to try and get the most out of their time with me in the laboratory. We have a three -hour block once a week and seemingly, in the past, many cookbook labs take only a fraction of that time; after which the students head off on their own to complete a laboratory report or notebook. I'd like to change that format. I've attempted inquiry-based laboratories with this group in the past with mixed results...so I'm not looking to really go down that road again.
What I'd like to accomplish is that they remain in the laboratory for the entire three-hour block of time but at the end have produced suitable laboratory report that can be handed in as they leave. My main interest is their ability to not only connect the experiment to the concepts but to be able to relate their own data to the theory.....to indicate clearly that they understood what really happened in the experiment and what the data meant (good or bad). I'm not really interested in getting a formal lab report out of them with all of the bells and whistles. Those students that are moving on to graduate school will take more advanced laboratories from me in which they will be able to build that skill-set; these current, algebra-based students need to be able to explain why they did what they did and why the results mean something.
More than a decade ago I wrote the laboratory manuals we use in the physics laboratory and continually revise them each year in hopes of finding my "happy place"...which never seems to appear. I've changed many labs into design challenges but feel that leading up to those there should be some formality to their process skills and their ability to understand data.
I could just say "tell me everything you learned from today's experiment based on the data you collected" but that seems too open-ended (maybe not). Nor do I want to simply have a series of bulleted questions or statements that lead them down a path of understanding. Maybe a hybrid of a worksheet and a final essay?? So....my question is more of "what advice can anyone offer?" or what suggestions might you have?