About LAAPhysics | The LAAPhysics Software Package | Funding

In LAAPhysics, we are authoring an online, algebra-based college level interactive physics courseware product with funding from the Department of Education's highly competitive Fund for the Improvement of Post Secondary Education (FIPSE) Learning Anytime Anywhere Partnerships (LAAP). LAAPhysics will provide a guided interactive tutorial-based online laboratory learning environment that will make an introductory physics course at the college level accessible to anyone.

LAAPhysics pedagogy is based on the latest physics education research results. The courseware includes concept-based curriculum modules in which students are guided by a virtual guide agent (tutor) to learn physics by conducting their own experimental investigations.

In the online virtual laboratory, students develop and test their own conceptual models against "real world" virtual models that behave according to the laws of physics.

The server monitors student progress and provides periodic feedback. The courseware design makes possible future development of individualized progress portfolios on which student course grades can be based.

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The LAAPhysics Software Package:

The LAAPhysics Laboratory Learning Environment is composed of multiple interconnected software components that run on a variety of platforms and devices. All components are integrated and work together transparently as a single system, although several components can also run as stand alone applications.

There are four primary tasks involved in the functioning of the LAAPhysics server and database systems:

1. content creation
2. data storage and recovery
3. content presentation
4. system administration

graphic provided by Rob Furr

The LAAPhysics client is composed of three components:

1. a 2-D laboratory environment (LAAPLab)
2. the tutor environment (LAAPTutor)
3. the laboratory applications environment (LAAPApps)

These applications reside in separate windows and interact transparently in responding to student behavior.

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Funding

Funding from the U.S. Department of Education Fund for the Improvement of Post Secondary Education (FIPSE) Learning Anytime Anywhere Partnerships (LAAP) supports the development of the project entitled:

Learn Anytime Anywhere Physics (LAAP): A Guided Inquiry Web-based Laboratory Learning Environment.

In 1998, the U.S. Department of Education announced the creation of the "Learning Anytime Anywhere Partnerships" (LAAP) Program, under the highly competitive Fund for the Improvement of Post Secondary Education (FIPSE) Program.

LAAP encourages colleges, universities, companies, and non-profit organizations to jointly expand access for adults to high-quality learning opportunities that can be accessed "anytime, anywhere."

The LAAPhysics Project is funded in part by FIPSE Grant# P339-B990329 to provide traditional and non-traditional students the opportunity to earn college credit with the LAAPhysics online, algebra level physics course based on a guided inquiry, interactive virtual laboratory learning environment.

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