written by Noah D. Finkelstein, Katherine Perkins, Wendy K. Adams, Patrick B. Kohl , and Noah S. Podolefsky

This paper examines the effects of substituting computer simulations in place of real laboratory equipment in the second semester of a large-scale introductory physics course. The direct current (DC) circuit laboratory was modified to compare the effects of using computer simulations with the effects of using real light bulbs, meters and wires. Three groups of students, those who used real equipment, those who used computer simulations, and those who had no lab experience, were compared in terms of their mastery of physics concepts and skills with real equipment. Students who used the simulated equipment outperformed their counterparts both on a conceptual survey of the domain and in the coordinated tasks of assembling a real circuit and describing how it worked.

• Download PERC04_Finkelstein.pdf - 655kb Adobe PDF Document

Published September 9, 2004
Last Modified May 11, 2012

This file is included in the full-text index.