Welcome to the RENO AAPT Winter Meeting
W27:WebPhysics

Authoring Multimedia Lessions With HTML

Cards Wolfgang Christian
Davidson College
Gregor Novak
Indiana University/Purdue University Indianapolis
Evelyn Patterson
U.S. Air Force Academy

The World Wide Web and HTML

World Wide Web HTTP protocol (hypertext transmission protocol) makes it possible to transmit multimedia documents interactively in a platform independent fashion. The HTML (hypertext markup language) documents are prepared as text documents and transmitted as text documents, yet the HTML browser displays full multimedia information (text, graphics, video and sound). The HTML "forms" documents permit the browsing user to submit responses ranging from checking buttons to typing in free-form text. We envision four levels to this approach and have material under development at all three levels. In this workshop we plan to give an overall hands-on introduction to the technique and show examples of actual instructional material. These levels of implementation are:

  1. All the documents are on the local workstation. The front end is a Web browser application such as Netscape, not connected to any network. The browser simply brings in HTML files and links them appropriately. Helper applications such as media players, spreadsheet applications, etc. supplement the browser. No Web server is involved.
  2. The documents are spread all over a local network. The browser finds the resources on local network file servers according to the links specified by the lesson author. For example: the movie files, image files, etc. are in the university library, the tests are on a physics department server (not an Internet WWW server, just a LAN file server), and the browser finds them and links them interactively.
  3. ALL the resources are on a WWW server with an internet address. The browser accesses the WWW server and requests a document. The server finds the document (it could be on the same station as the server or ANYWHERE in the world) and sends it to the browser. This is now a two way interaction between the browser and the server. The server knows who requested what when. The HTTP protocol also allows for the browser to return to the server user INPUT ranging from passwords to multiple choice marks to free-form text. PLATFORM INDEPENDENT! The server talks to a logic engine which interacts with databases of resources, student records and such. One does not need an internet connection for this. One DOES need WWW browser software and WWW server software. This set-up can be implemented as a locally networked cluster in a classroom with one of the computers running the server and accessing the database.
  4. Ultimately of course, an Internet connection is necessary so that the lessons can access the Web infospace. Access to the rapidly growing body of information world-wide and platform independence is what makes this THE new technology.

Organization of the Workshop

We believe in the active learner approach. In this workshop we provide samples of WebPhysics lessons material for you to examine and modify. From a modest start one can quickly build fairly sophisticated web documents by following in the footsteps of others. Most World Wide Web sites allow users to view the source documents via the Document Source option under the View menu. This is a great way to learn how to create your own stuff, always being conscious of the copyright issues of course. In this workshop you will examine and create HTML documents. For the most part you will be working with document templates and multimedia resources such as images and movies which were prepared by the workshop staff. These resources reside on your workshop workstation. You can copy as much as you wish to the two floppies that come with this booklet. Don’t worry if it doesn’t all fit. Everything will also available for downloading at the WebPhysics.davidson.edu and WebPhysics.iupui.edu. Follow the Reno Workshop link. In fact, the on-line version of this workshop is much more useful than this paper version because it contains numerous links to Web sites. Which, of course, is the point of the workshop.

The Hypertext Markup Language

Perform various activities with the following shell documents.

Pedagogy Issues

In-class discussion. Three different Web based lesson will be demonstrated.

Diffraction Lesson
Davidson College diffraction laboratory lesson for introductory students.

Newton's Laws Lesson
US Air Force Academy lesson.

Orbit Lesson
IUPUI space mission lesson.

Build you own lesson

Astronomy Lesson Kit
Astronomy resources for workshop participants to build a sample lesson.
(Images have been removed due to copyright.)

Orbit Lesson Kit
(Material has been removed.)

Doppler Lesson Kit
(material has been removed due to copyright.)

Tools of the trade.

Windows Tools
Essential software for lesson plan authoring on the Microsoft Windows platform.

Mac Tools
Essential software for lesson plan authoring on the Apple Macintosh platform.

WebPhysics

Cards

What is WebPhysics?

What resources do we want on WebPhysics servers?

For more information on the WebPhysics curriculum development project and how to set up a WebPhysics server, contact Wolfgang Christian or Gregor Novak.

WebPhysics Servers currently on line:

Davidson WebPhysics Server
IUPUI WebPhysics Server
Moorhead WebPhysics Server