The computer has revolutionized the way we do physics, but surprisingly, it has not significantly altered the way we teach physics. Talks and papers on teaching with computers fill the meetings and journals of the American Association of Physics Teachers, and workshops on the topic abound, yet the real impact of computers in the classroom is slight. In physics research, change comes quickly, disseminates rapidly and is widely appreciated. In physics teaching, change evolves gradually, spreads slowly and frequently meets with resistance. On 6 June 1988 The Wall Street Journal published a story with the headline “Computers Failing as Teaching Aids.” The reasons the Journal cited for this failure at the general pre‐college education level apply equally well to physics teaching at the introductory college level: lack of access to computers, poor software and faculty members who are inadequately prepared to use computers effectively.

Topics
Education, Teaching, Journal
1.
J. Risley, E. F. Redish, eds., Proc. Conf. on Computers in Physics Instruction, Raleigh, N.C., 1–5 August 1988, Addison‐Wesley, Reading, Mass., in press.
2.
Proc. Top. Conf. on Physics Department Chairs I (J. M. Wilson, ed.), II (G. Aubrecht, ed.), III (M. McDermott, ed.), AAPT, College Park, Md. (1983, 1985, 1988).
3.
J.
Rigden
,
Am. J. Phys.
51
,
516
(
1983
).
Google Scholar
 
4.
W. M.
MacDonald
,
E. F.
Redish
,
J. M.
Wilson
,
Comp. Phys.
1
,
23
(
1988
).
Google Scholar
 
5.
D. Kane, B. Sherwood, in Computer Assisted Learning in Physics Education, A. Bork, ed., Pergamon, Oxford (1980).
6.
A.
Bork
,
Am. J. Phys.
47
,
5
(
1978
).
Google Scholar
Crossref
Search ADS
 
7.
J. N. Sherwood, B. A. Sherwood, CMU TUTOR: An Integrated Programming Language for Educators, IBM, Milford, Conn. (1987).
8.
T.
Schwartz
,
Comp. Phys.
2
,
40
(
1988
).
Google Scholar
Crossref
Search ADS
 
9.
M. M.
Waldrop
,
Science
241
,
27
(
1988
).
Google Scholar
Crossref
Search ADS
PubMed
 
10.
B. Cabrera, “Early Experiences in Physics Simulations in the Classroom,” in Proc. Conf. on Computers in Physics Instruction, Raleigh, N.C., 1–5 August 1988, Addison‐Wesley, Reading, Mass., in press.
J. S. Risley, 1988: Computers in Physics Instruction: Software, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, N.C. (1988).
11.
L. D. Roper, “Physics Simulations for High Resolution Color Microcomputers,” in Proc. Conf. on Computers in Physics Instruction, Raleigh, N.C., 1–5 August 1988, Addison‐Wesley, Reading, Mass., in press.
12.
J. M.
Wilson
,
Am. J. Phys.
48
,
701
(
1980
).
Google Scholar
Crossref
Search ADS
 
13.
D. A.
Briotta
,
Am. J. Phys.
55
,
891
(
1987
).
Google Scholar
Crossref
Search ADS
 
14.
R.
Tinker
,
Phys. Teach.
19
(
2
),
94
(
1981
).
Google Scholar
Crossref
Search ADS
 
15.
J.
Layman
,
M.
DeJong
,
Phys. Teach.
22
(
5
),
291
(
1984
).
Google Scholar
 
16.
G. Aubrecht, ed., Quarks, Quasars, and Quandaries, AAPT, College Park, Md. (1987).
17.
J. M.
Wilson
,
AAPT Announcer
17
(
2
),
47
(
1987
).
Google Scholar
 
18.
C. W.
Misner
,
AAPT Announcer
17
(
2
),
47
(
1987
).
Google Scholar
 
19.
F.
Reif
,
Phys. Teach.
19
,
310
(
1981
).
Google Scholar
Crossref
Search ADS
 
This content is only available via PDF.
© 1989 American Institute of Physics.
1989
American Institute of Physics
You do not currently have access to this content.