Conference Session

Innovations in Teaching Physics or Engineering Physics

Collection

2010 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Robert Ross, University of Detroit Mercy

Tagged Divisions

Engineering Physics & Physics

AC 2010-292: A NANOTECHNOLOGY APPLICATION FOR PHYSICSLABORATORY COURSESRobert Ross, University of Detroit Mercy Page 15.61.1© American Society for Engineering Education, 2010 A Nanotechnology Application for Physics Laboratory CoursesAbstractIncluding current research topics into the curriculum is one strategy to engage students in physicscourses. We are piloting some innovative laboratory experiments that incorporate aspects ofnanotechnology into photovoltaic solar energy conversion devices.Students produce working devices using conjugated organic polymers. The fullerene, C60, isused as a nanoscale particle and is suspended in the

Conference Session

Innovations in Teaching Physics or Engineering Physics

Collection

2010 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Radian Belu, Drexel University; Alexandru Belu, Case Western Research University

Tagged Divisions

Engineering Physics & Physics

methods of teaching in the lectureor the laboratory. We use a laboratory project-based approach, where the students arelearning by doing. The course is divided into two sections, lecture and laboratory session.During the laboratory session, the students work at mid-term and final projects, while thelecture the programming, numerical and computational techniques and methods arediscussed. The usefulness of this approach is evaluated by surveys conducted everysemester, and feedback from other educators is highly appreciated.I. IntroductionComputational physics is an independent way of doing physics, and an essential tool ofthe physics research. Numerical computations are essential to further understanding ofphysics problems, and computers and

Conference Session

Innovations in Teaching Physics or Engineering Physics

Collection

2010 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Teresa Larkin, American University

Tagged Divisions

Engineering Physics & Physics

-level, algebra-based course within the Natural Sciencesportion of the General Education core. The development of higher-order critical thinking skillsis a key objective of the course. The course also includes a laboratory component. Studentscomplete 12 laboratory experiments over the course of one semester. Course topics typicallyinclude kinematics, Newton’s Laws, conservation of momentum and energy, rotational motion,and fluid mechanics. As such, numerous strategies, including the writing strategies to bedescribed, have been developed that center around the accommodation of students’ diverselearning styles [20 – 26]. Students that enroll in PMW most often do so to satisfy the university’s sciencerequirement for graduation. The students

Conference Session

Innovations in Teaching Physics or Engineering Physics

Collection

2010 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Warren Turner, Westfield State College; Glenn Ellis, Smith College

Tagged Divisions

Engineering Physics & Physics

survey are shown in Table 3. Student responses to questions 1-4not only showed that they enjoyed the lab (77%), but also indicated that they found thelab to be an effective component in their learning process. 87% agreed that the labchanged the way they think about motion and forces and 84% reported a betterunderstanding of motion and forces after the laboratory. A smaller majority (58%) alsoagreed that they could transfer what they had learned to new situations. SA A N D SD 1. I enjoyed the elevator lab. 7 17 7 0 0 2. Because of the elevator lab, the way that I think 4 23 4 0 0 about motion and forces

Conference Session

Innovations in Teaching Physics or Engineering Physics

Collection

2010 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Jian Peng, Southeast Missouri State University

Tagged Divisions

Engineering Physics & Physics

learning, and amixture of these methods. Smolnikar and Mohorcic presented a framework for developing PICmicrocontroller hardware circuits and software code for embedded application [1]. Theirpedagogy targets traditional EE students. Sakar and Craig showed several projects to incorporatePIC microcontrollers into a computer architecture course [2]. Birsan and Sharad introduced ajust-in-time approach to teach embedded systems [3]. Meshkova et al describe a novellaboratory and project course called SMEAGOL (Small, Embedded, Advanced and GenericObjects Laboratory) that incorporated several active learning approaches [4]. Ferreira et alpresented a multifunctional module called MILES (Microcontroller Learning System) formicrocontroller-based system