Physics goes Multimedia

Abstract

For the basic studies in physics the simulation, visualization and virtual experiments as a way to learn become more and more important. It is much more effective to profound the theoretical knowledge if you can show the usage of a formula and grasp its functioning. The student is able to experiment interactively using newly to develop online programs. Thus as complement for the teaching in first year classes modules for specific relevant subtopics are to be designed, composed and tested. These have to fit into the teaching curriculum of Physics. At present one finds many (mostly Java-)applets for some specific effects in the net. They are distributed by multitude of authors and spread around the world. There is a need of editored framework and a portal for this materials. It is also planned to evaluate the existing and develop new ones for different purposes. As a first step we are collecting the teaching material found in the web and categorize them by theme and level, comment its quality and put them into the curriculum scheme classes. See the beginning http://physnet.physik.uni-oldenburg.de/PhysNet/education.html We build individual modules which can be arranged for those parts of introductory physics classes where modules from the net are missing. We use for this the new tool "PhysLets" http://webphysics.davidson.edu/Applets/Applets.html which allows much faster and more efficient writing of Java-applets specifically in Physics. In the future there should be the consideration of the individual speed of learning, distance learning which is time delayed. The student do not have to stay at the campus at a special time. This can also used by pupils realising how to study physics in a better way and then decreases the dropout.