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Session 3280

Computer-based Teaching and Assessment in Topics on Basic Physics

SHAHLA KEYVAN, XIAOLONG SONG, RODNEY PICKARD Department of Nuclear Engineering, University of Missouri-Rolla

Abstract

This paper describes an experience in computer-based teaching and assessment in three topics in basic physics. A module is developed for each topic using the Authorware courseware authoring tool. The first module is on fundamental particles, the second on binding energy, and the third on atom density calculation. These modules are also installed on the web.

Each module has four components: 1) definition, 2) example, 3) review questions, and 4) quiz. Students can see their performance on review questions interactively and have the option to repeat them, and receive on-line feedback on their score. Similarly, their performance on a quiz is evaluated on-line and feedback is provided to them. In addition, their score on each quiz as well as the time they spent taking the quiz are sent back to the instructor and stored in a permanent file. The courseware provides an overall assessment, in graphical format, of the average performance of all students who took a quiz, as well as each individual student’s performance. These modules are taught as supplementary part s of a course in Fundamentals of Nuclear Engineering at the University of Missouri-Rolla Nuclear Engineering Department. The experience has been positive with more than 80% of the students supporting the value of the interactive and self-pace learning of these modules.

1.0 Introduction

Computer-based instruction, incorporating interactive multimedia and network technologies, provides a powerful method to boost teaching effectiveness and student learning rate. In contrast to simple sequential text instruction, computer-based interactive multimedia courseware presents information as a combination of text, graphics, sound, video, and animation. The visual learning environment, the hyperlink capability, and the self-pace learning of interactive multimedia courseware hold great potential for significantly enhancing students’ learning and retention of presented material, and stimulating interest 1-6.

To provide the students with these benefits an interactive Multimedia Courseware (MC) is developed in which three modules in basic physics, Fundamental Particles, Binding Energy, and Atom Density are included. MC is helpful for both the students and the instructor. Students can learn complex and abstract material in a concise, visual, and interactive fashion. The instructor can stay informed of students’ strengths and weaknesses based on their performance and feedback questions. This paper describes the components of a computer- based authoring tool and the experience in utilizing them in teaching topics on basic physics 7-8.

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Keyvan, S., & Song, X., & Pickard, R. (1998, June), Computer Based Teaching And Assessment In Topics On Basic Physics Paper presented at 1998 Annual Conference, Seattle, Washington. 10.18260/1-2--6976