Re: Computers in the lab.

[Robert A Cohen <bbq@ESU.EDU>]

On Sat, 2 Sep 2000, mike sloothaak set L DIG wrote:

> I am certainly not adverse to having computers in the physics lab. I also
> agree that pratical educational labs will have to include some type of
> "black box."
>
> So maybe I should ask: What rules of thumb can be applied. What general
> tasks are appropriate for computers to do?
>
> In my opinion, the computer should be used for what it has always been best
> at: performing repeated, mundane, predictable tasks (number crunching, spell
> checking, graphing large amounts of data).

Like you, I personally do not have the students use the computer to
investigate dependence (or independence) of the ratio V/I on various
parameters like V, T, L and A.  However, these measurements can be pretty
tedious and so I'd consider revising the experiment to be done with a
computer (if I had the time).  I think it would make it easier for
students to repeat the procedure for various parameter changes (e.g.,
changing V and then changing T) and also allow them to spend more time on
interpreting the results.

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| Robert Cohen               Department of Physics       |
|                            East Stroudsburg University |
| bbq@esu.edu                East Stroudsburg, PA  18301 |
| http://www.esu.edu/~bbq/   (570) 422-3428              |
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