Scientific Problems Solving - A Time Machince for
Interdisciplinary Interaction within the
Virtual University
When students have easy access to computers and networks, as in
the new university program
"Scientific Problems Solving", working habits change
in many ways, giving us a glimpse of the future.
The communication between steering committee, reference group, teachers, tutors,
mathematics - physics, as well as students within the project - and
with other related projects in the country is a challenge.
Here, a conscious use WWW can make sure that everyone involved has the relevant
information when it is needed. This is now being implemented for the 1996
version of the program.
Several subprojects using IT are suggested in the on-line
description (in swedish), including a WWW-based
teaching material about our local amusement park Liseberg,
wehre the students have done a significant part of the work during the summer.
We see several advantages with this project.
- Mechanics - not only with paper, equations and computers
but also with eyes, ears, hands and body
- Excellent illustrations of e.g. Energy, Linear and Angular momentum conservation,
vector additions,
rotating
coordinate systems
- A good get-together for a new class and their teachers
- Gender-neutral mechanics examples and computer use
- Outreach - school classes can access the material as preparation
for a school outing
Ann-Marie.Pendrill@fy.chalmers.se
http://fy.chalmers.se/~f3aamp/teaching/vunpeng.html