Application of ICT technology in physics education: teaching and learning elementary oscillations with the aid of simulation software

Authors

  • Denis Vavougios University of Thessaly
  • Theodoros Karakasidis University of Thessaly

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3991/ijet.v3i2.204

Keywords:

Interactive learning, Models of oscillators, animation, Mathematica®

Abstract


In the present study we employ a combination of laboratory exercises and simulation. In particular we studied the case of teaching mechanical oscillations to undergraduate students of Polytechnic and Pedagogical departments. Simulations were performed using a general purpose package, MATHEMATICA®, which is widely employed in our departments, and presents some important advantages such as ease of writing mathematical relations, small extent of programs necessary for the solution, ease of creating graphical representations/animations. In the employed process we construct an experimental setup of the physical system using a general purpose package students construct a model of the system that already know from the laboratory students produce solutions for various initial conditions, represent graphically the results and produce animations corresponding to the time evolution of the system. The results show that the above process offers the students many different representations of the physical problem leading to a better understanding, contribute to the development of critical spirit and to the familiarization with the use of ICT.

Author Biographies

Denis Vavougios, University of Thessaly

Assistant Professor Department of Special Education University of Thessaly, Volos, Greece

Theodoros Karakasidis, University of Thessaly

Lecturer of applied physics Department of Civil Engineering University of Thessaly. Volos, Greece

Downloads

Published

2008-02-15

How to Cite

Vavougios, D., & Karakasidis, T. (2008). Application of ICT technology in physics education: teaching and learning elementary oscillations with the aid of simulation software. International Journal of Emerging Technologies in Learning (iJET), 3(2), pp. 53–58. https://doi.org/10.3991/ijet.v3i2.204

Issue

Section

Papers