Technology Access Fees Database

Dr. Robert Carlton

carltonr@physics.mtsu.edu

Dr. Robert Carlton

Physics & Astronomy

N/A

WPS 211

Upgrade of Existing Technology

The current computers are aged, flaky and lock up frequently, often right in the middle of a group session prior to the lab experiment. The monitors are even older, have small 14" screens and a fuzzy display . The 133 MHz speed is slow for the spreadsheet application that is used in the course.

The project purpose is to upgrade the computers that are used as an integral part of the new pedagogy for the second semester of our introductory physics laboratory. The new pedagogy for this course will be fully integrated in the Spring 2001 semester. . These labs run at a capacity of 24 students per section. We typically offer 7-8 sections per year for a total of 170 - 200 students per year. Students go to computers at beginning of laboratory time and work through spreadsheet exercises which are designed to prepare them for the experiment to follow and to reinforce Web-based exercises outside of class. An integral part of this initial lab experience is the group dynamics that occurs during this time. Thus, the computers have been made an integral, critical part of the collaborative learning model used in the department. The printer requested will serve for students to be able to output their work for later review.