Ireson, GP

Nottingham Trent Institutional Repository (IRep)

Volume 5,  Issue 2 33Absorb Physics for A-levelSubject areaGeneral Physics.DescriptionA multimedia A-level physicscourse.AuthorsAdrian Watt.Suppliers/DistributorsCrocodile Clips(http://www.crocodile-clips.com/index.htm).Date/Version2002.LevelA-level, access, undergraduate.Type of packageComputer assisted learning.PriceSite Licence £350-£650depending on number of pupils.Hardware requiredWindows-compatible PC, Pentiumprocessor or higher, 32MB RAM,30MB free disk space.Software requiredWindows 98 or later, InternetExplorer 5 or later (compatiblewith Microsoft Class Server).Gren IresonMatthew Arnold BuildingLoughborough UniversityLoughboroughLeicestershireLE11 3TUNovember 2004Whilst the intended audiencefor this package is GCE A-levelstudents in the UK; its range ofactivity, from simple mechanicsto quantum phenomena, makeit of use well beyond this.Foundation year students, firstyear undergraduates andtrainee teachers following apost graduate (PGCE) coursewill all find sections of thispackage useful.The tutorial nature of thepackage makes it ideal forindependent or directed selfstudy with the embeddedquestions giving instant feedback.The animations and laboratory simulations, however, make this packagetruly outstanding. Students can perform laboratory based investigations onscreen without needing access to any apparatus. Whilst this will obviouslynot replace the traditional laboratory class it does allow for more flexibleself study and the option of greater interaction during a lecture or seminarpresentation.Having used this package with trainee physics teachers and an interactivewhiteboard the feedback from the students was overwhelmingly positive.Those with a strong physics background commented on the new insightprovided and those from an engineering background commented on theease with which it refreshed past knowledge or got them up to speed innew topics.The content of all sections used appears to be on a par with the best textsin terms of both coverage and accuracy. Overall I would recommend allschools with post sixteen students and all HEIs offering physics or subjectsallied to physics obtain a copy for their resource area.Summary Reviewrange: *  poor to ***** goodEase of use *****Ease of learning *****Documentation quality *****Academic content *****Usefulness to student *****Usefulness to teacher *****Portability *****Meets objectives ****Accuracy *****¡fig 1: An example animation showing the Doppler Effect34 Physical Sciences Educational Reviews¡Absorb Physics for GCSESubject areaGeneral Physics.DescriptionA multimedia GCSE physicscourse.AuthorsDavid Fairhurst.Suppliers/DistributorsCrocodile Clips(http://www.crocodile-clips.com/index.htm).Date/Version2002.LevelSecondary.Type of packageComputer assisted learning.PriceSite Licence £350-£650depending on number of pupils.Hardware requiredWindows-compatible PC, Pentiumprocessor or higher, 32MB RAM,30MB free disk space.Software requiredWindows 98 or later, InternetExplorer 5 or later (compatiblewith Microsoft Class Server).Mark Robertson39 Langdykes DriveAberdeenAB12 3HWOctober 2004“Absorb Physics” is a completemultimedia based GCSEphysics course.  It should,however, be noted that thisproduct has been reviewed withthe Scottish examinationcourses in mind.  In thisrespect, although it does notmake for a complete course inits own right, the content allowsfor use in both the StandardGrade and more advancedHigher Still courses.  Theprogram can be installed in twoforms: a basic stand aloneversion and a second version(not reviewed) compatible withthe Microsoft Class Server (MCS) system.  The site license for theprogram allows for student copies to be made and distributed as seen fit.The program itself is divided into a number of different sections coveringtopics from motion and forces to atomic theory and radioactivity.  Eachsection is further split into subsections comprising of areas of text withquestions to check the progress of learning.  These questions arestructured to cover a range of abilities and allow for some degree ofdifferentiation.  The questions are marked by the program and so allow forinstant feedback to the student.  One drawback is that the program allowsthe answers to be changed at any time which may encourage some toguess until the correct answer is found.  The version reviewed also allowedno feedback to the teacher making it difficult to keep track of individualstudent progress.  It is believed that this is not the case with the MCScompatible version.  This version also allows the teacher to set some ofthese questions as homework and for the answers to be emailed to theteacher for subsequent checking. Each subsection also includes a numberof animations and simulations with which to develop students’understanding.  The animations are Flash compatible and it is here I feelthat the program is truly useful.  These animations can be projected via amultimedia projector to allow students to visualise some importantphysics.  For example, I have made good use of a scaled up animation ofa reed relay to show the magnetic effect of current in a wire.The computer simulations are also useful for individual and pair work andwork via an included viewer so it is not necessary to have Crocodile Clipsinstalled.  A number of experiments can be carried out from projectiles andNewton’s Canon to balanced see saws.  Again it is possible to projectthese simulations for large group work.  Both animations and simulationscan be quickly accessed as stand alone sections removed from anydistracting text.The program includes a useful on-line tutorial to explain the basic workingsof the program although the user interface is intuitive and easy to use.The program also contains an online glossary which is cross referenced tothe individual course topics.In summary, I believe that “Absorb Physics for GCSE” is very useful as afull teaching package for use, for example, with absent students or as anoccasional resource to dip in to when necessary.  The animations andsimulations are excellent for multimedia projection and, from personalexperience,  are effective in illustrating areas where an equipment basedclass demonstration may be difficult.  In all, a good program and worth themoney.Summary Reviewrange: *  poor to ***** goodEase of use *****Ease of learning *****Documentation quality ***Academic content *****Usefulness to student *****Usefulness to teacher *****Portability *****Meets objectives *****Accuracy *****

Review of Watt, A.: 'Absorb physics for A-level, CD-ROM'

http://irep.ntu.ac.uk/id/eprint/7754/1/187261_4906%20Ireson%20Publisher.pdf

Review of Watt, A.: 'Absorb physics for A-level, CD-ROM'

Abstract

Similar works

Full text

Available Versions

Nottingham Trent Institutional Repository (IRep)