Lab Manual of Introductory Physics-I for Virtual Teaching

TL;DR

This paper presents the design and implementation of virtual physics experiments for introductory courses, utilizing open educational resources, video analysis, and simulations to replicate in-person labs in a web-enhanced environment.

Contribution

It introduces a comprehensive virtual lab approach for physics education using open resources, video analysis, and LMS integration, emphasizing student learning outcomes.

Findings

Effective student learning outcomes achieved

Virtual labs successfully simulated in-person experiments

Both synchronous and asynchronous remote teaching methods tested

Abstract

A set of virtual experiments were designed to use with introductory physics I (analytical and general) class, which covers kinematics, Newton laws, energy, momentum, and rotational dynamics. Virtual experiments were based on video analysis and simulations. Only open educational resources (OER) were used for experiments. Virtual experiments were designed to simulate in-person physical laboratory experiments. All the calculations and data analysis (analytical and graphical) were done with Microsoft excel. Formatted excel tables were given to students and step by step calculations with excel were done during the class. Specific emphasis was given to student learning outcomes such as understand, apply, analyze and evaluate. Student learning outcomes were studied with detailed lab reports per each experiment and end of the semester written exam (which based on experiments). Lab class was fully web-enhanced and managed by using a Learning management system (LMS). Every lab class was recorded and added to the LMS. Virtual labs were done by using live video conference technology and labs were tested with the both synchronous and asynchronous type of remote teaching methods.