PERC 2024 Abstract Detail Page
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| Abstract Title: | Incorporating computational exercises into the undergraduate physics curriculum |
|---|---|
| Abstract Type: | Contributed Poster Presentation |
| Abstract: | Computational abilities are crucial in industry and contemporary physics research. To meet the growing demand for programming skills, the Grinnell College physics department has sought to integrate computational work into the undergraduate physics curriculum, starting at the sophomore level. This past year, we developed eight Python Jupyter Notebooks tailored to Modern Physics labs that instruct students in essential programming skills, such as array operations, plotting, linear regression, and basic data analysis. Students become familiar with Python's NumPy, SciPy, and Matplotlib packages in the context of their laboratory work. We conducted an attitudinal exit survey that indicates students leave the course with a basic level of programming aptitude and greater comfort with computational work in future courses. Additionally, we conducted attitudinal entrance and exit interviews for students taking Classical Mechanics the following semester, which included a significant computational component. |
| Session Time: | Poster Session 2 |
| Poster Number: | B50 |
Author/Organizer Information | |
| Primary Contact: |
Rayn Samson Grinnell College Grinnell, IA 50112 Phone: 971 757-6017 |
| Co-Author(s) and Co-Presenter(s) |
Charlotte Christensen (she/her), Grinnell College |
