Q7 final report: Computer data acquisition and analysis for introductory physics
PI: Prof. Richard Brundage, Physics, Astronomy and Engineering Science

how did students assess the experience
The project is still in the development stage.  The student involved in the project found it 
useful and interesting.  He used the hardware and software he developed to acquire and 
analyze data in an advanced lab experiment.  The new resources made quantitative analysis 
possible in a lab that had been mostly qualitative.

Another student is currently doing an independent project to develop new labs for the intro 
labs using the computers.  

how did faculty assess the experience
The PI used the experience gained from the project to write a proposal to the National 
Science Foundation (NSF) to fund a set of computers for the introductory labs.  Budget 
constraints have not allowed purchase of enough computers to use the material in 
introductory classes yet, so the majority of dept. faculty are not yet involved in the project.

on going discussion across disciplines and between institutions feasible or desirable
Discussion across disciplines is desirable.   The PI is part of a COST faculty group 
working on a proposal to NSF to support sharing of new teaching methods across 
disciplines.  The tools used in this project will be useful to other disciplines.  The 
application of computers in introductory physics can serve the needs of other departments 
by introducing students to computerized data acquisition and analysis.

how was learning affected (method, didactic, and resources) in the long and short terms
In the short term the project gives physics majors an opportunity to learn how to design 
computer data acquisition systems and instructional lab experiments.  In the long term the 
project should lead to computer use in lab by introductory level students, which will have a 
broad impact on computer literacy in COST.

How were objectives of learning affected (concept building, abstraction)?
In the long term the project should allow students to take more data and use more 
sophisticated analysis methods.  This will lead to more focus on student design of 
experiments and student ownership of the lab process.  

challenges and benefits of collaborative efforts
The challenges are to find common ground among different departments struggling to 
introduce computers into lab with limited resources and time.  The benefits include sharing 
of tools and reduction in duplicate effort.

outline improved design for curriculum of participating programs or departments
Too early to speculate.  The computers need to be used in classes and their impact evaluated 
before we can go on to the next step of redesigning the labs.

comments on areas of learning touched by their SQL grant that lend themselves to cross 
disciplinary endeavors
The project involves the basic methods of science: experimental design, data acquisition, 
and analysis.  These are all areas that lend themselves to cross disciplinary endeavors.

benefits of continued exchange of knowledge between departments and disciplines
see benefits of collaborative efforts.

potential for permanent academic exchange between the parties to their project
Permanent academic exchange amongst the department faculty will be guarantee when the 
computers are introduced into the labs.  

disciplines that should have been included
The project is in the developmental stage so inclusion of other departments would be 
premature.

budget and budget narrative
R. Brundage, 10 days, Summer 1995 (labor)		2724.35
student assistant, 15 days (labor)		720.00
Supplies: 
Part # 044866007001    MS Mouse PS/2 style	49.00
Part #172-5001 IDC Flat cable, 50 conductor, 50' spool 		64.90
Part #517-3425-7600 center-bumped closed end socket connector, 50 contact	49.35
Part #517-3448-3050 strain relief for 50 contact ribbon socket		2.03
Part #5174-13321 heat shrinkable tubing 3/32" dia expanded 		13.60
Part #523-31-221-RFX front mount bulkhead receptacle BNC		27.40
Part #537-MDC-642-01 ALuminum modular desktop console, 6"x4"x2 1/4" 	59.40
Part #565-5187-C-36 Minigrabber test clips to BNC male 		140.60

total			3850.63
















chronological account of activities, problems, changes, solutions
Work formally started July 1, 1995, but we did some preliminary work that learning how 
to compile and transfer programs between the desktop and laptop computers.  Prof's 
Brundage and Schoenberger met in early June to discuss labs in PHYS 236 best suited for 
computer use.  

Chris Reyerson and Prof Brundage worked on data acquisition software one or two days a 
week during the summer.  First a simple voltage vs. time program was developed, this 
went quickly and was complete in the first two weeks.  We then tried a more challenging 
project - to design a program that measured two voltages as a function of frequency while 
the user changed the frequency over a wide range of values.  This turned out to be harder 
than we thought, but we were able to come up with a working program, though there seem 
to be bugs in it still.  Hardware for the interfaces was purchased near the end of the 
summer and a prototype was assembled.  Design of the interfaces will continue as new 
experiments are developed.

additional information