This is a work in progress... I am writing this early in the 2nd week of class, so much of what I am (will be) doing will likely morph considerably over the next 16 weeks.

I am using a pseudo-Problem-Based-Learning (pPBL)approach in my courses for these projects. As such, I am not providing much (any?) direct guidance in how the students solve the problems within each project. I will be, however, providing them some guidance to resources that can help them teach themselves and each other both the physics and the engineering needed to accomplish the projects.

The text for both courses is How Things Work, 2nd Edition by Louis Bloomfield, but we are not "going through" it in a normal fashion. Rather, it is there as a resource to learn some of what they need to for each project. We will also be doing a variety of in-class activities intended to introduce/explore some basic concepts and tools that will be useful for the projects. For example, the PHY 111 students will begin with a simple MBL "Match the Graph" activity with the motion detector to develop the skills needed to use MBL to collect, display and analyze data. These skills will be needed to collect performance data on their MPEDV.

I will also provide some links to internet resources I think could be useful for the projects. However, I expect that they will do much of their own research. Here are a few links that might be useful...

^ back to top ^