A simulation of science played with a deck of cards and is all about making inferences.
|-----Original Message-----
|From: Phys-l [mailto:phys-l-bounces@phys-l.org] On Behalf Of Turner, Jacob
|Sent: Monday, August 13, 2012 2:21 PM
|To: phys-l@phys-l.org
|Subject: [Phys-L] Inference Lab Design
|
|I've been banging my head on how to design a lab which will impart a sense of
|using inference. I intend this for our lower level
|(non-calculus) freshman labs, so should be fitting for AP High School physics
|range as well I imagine.
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| General thoughts I have had are to place something in a box and have them
|tell me everything that they can about it without sight or direct physical
|contact. But framing this so they can determine a worthwhile quantity of
|information with minimal direction is a fine line.
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| Another thought was to allow them to make actual measurements of
|something with proper tools (so they know the right value, as long as they did
|things right) then require that they obtain the same information by some
|quantity of other methods, choosing the precise number to force them to get
|creative. This runs the risk of failing to think of some easy approaches, so
|groups who think of those ones get off easy, and groups who fail to think of
|something easy which you thought to be obvious flounder helplessly trying to
|fill the arbitrary number.
|Plus since it is a measure you already know... it just feels pointless.
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|The primary obstacle is that this is intended for the first week in a first physics
|course for students who likely have many unfamiliar with any form of
|scientific thought. If I could use electronics, I have many more promising
|possibilities. But really I can only assume they know how to use a few basic
|tools: Balance, ruler, scale, graduated cylinders. And of course sight, sound,
|and tactile senses.
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|Right now, I am giving it up as a nice ideal, but not practical. Anyone else have
|some ideas which can get students to think and start the semester out with
|some thought?
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|
|Jacob Turner - (208)885-2730
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|Director of Physics Laboratory Education
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|University of Idaho
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