IT Equipment
3
Personal computers. These will all run windows NT on the network or a
version of windows locally allowing file management across the network
if required.
3
black and white printers (inkjet)
1
networked laser printer
1
colour printer
1
colour scanner (with OCR software)
2
data loggers with temperature, magnetic flux, voltage, revolutions per
second, and current sensors.
Plus
access to bookable IT suites for group work.
1
PC & video projector
Students
are encouraged to use the Internet and Intranet on ANY networked computer
in college.
The
network has a hub outside the labs with connections for students to use
a computer when not required in lessons. The computers can be moved into
the lab and used on the network or as stand alone when required for teaching.
This prevents the computers being 'trapped in a lab' unused. (By having
our own hub we can run cables wherever and whenever we want to re-site
computers without needing to refer to the network manager).
Use of Software within the Department of Physics
For worksheets and departmental administration we use Microsoft Office 2000 which includes Word (Word processor), Excel (Spreadsheet), Access (Database), Powerpoint (presentations).
Teaching software
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More details and supplier contacts can be found on the Software suggestions page |
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Simulates collisions, circular motion, package uses video clips. |
Single CD |
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Good basic view of two plates and oil drop. Can calculate radius and charge of drop. |
Network version |
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(47 different simulations) |
Network version |
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Mechanics, thermodynamics and waves |
3 CD ROM's available in the Physics' PC's |
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Good to show effect of particle collisions, many of the calculations are beyond A level. |
Single copy used for demonstrations |
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Draws graphs gives gradients & y-intercepts from two columns of data. Excellent for those not conversant with Excel. |
Network Version |
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data logging software will record multi-channel data, sampling up to every 32 ms (depending on conditions) connected to computer via an interface and a range of dedicated sensors. |
Site license |
| IOP |
Advancing Physics | Network version |
Students either follow work sheets working in pairs on a computer; or
in their own time on the network; or using the projector, simulations
are shown to a class by a member of staff and a group discussion follows.
Easy graph is a quick method of entering data during a normal class
experiment. The graph is instantly drawn, and the gradient and y-intercept
calculated. This enables the lesson to progress without waiting for students
to draw the graph and find the gradient themselves within lesson time.
Excel is also used. (Excel 2000 is vastly easier to use than Excel 5).
The college intranet has a Physics Department Area.
Within are help sheets written by departmental staff, links to external sites and the 'front pages of external sites' are copied locally so that initial information is 'instant'. The links into these sites which support the curriculum are from the course outline page.
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