Teaching Contemporary Physics Topics using Real-Time Data Obtained via the World Wide Web

Technical Report · Tue Dec 01 04:00:00 EST 1998

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/2385· OSTI ID:2385

Davis, W ^[1]; Grip, R; McKay, M; Post-Zwicker, A P

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1. Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory

As a teaching tool, the World Wide Web (WWW) is unprecedented in its ability to transmit information and enhance communication between scientist and student. Just beginning to be developed are sites that actively engage the user in the learning process and provide hands-on methods of teaching contemporary topics. These topics are often not found in the classroom due to the complexity and expense of the laboratory equipment and the WWW is an ideal tool for overcoming this difficulty. This paper presents a model for using the Internet to teach high school students about plasma physics and fusion energy. Students are given access to real-time data, virtual experiments, and communication with professional scientists via email. Preliminary data indicate that student collaboration and student-led learning is encouraged when using the site in the classroom.

• Research Organization: Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPPL), Princeton, NJ
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE Office of Energy Research (ER)
• DOE Contract Number: AC02-76CH03073
• OSTI ID: 2385
• Report Number(s): PPPL-3334; ON: DE00002385
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
99 GENERAL AND MISCELLANEOUS
Computerized Simulation
Education
Educational Tools
Experimental Data
Internet
Plasma
Thermonuclear Reactions
Thermonuclear Reactors