11-18-96
Contacts:
James Vary, IITAP, (515) 294-8894
Erica Brizzi, News Service, (515) 294-4777
IITAP DEBUTS PHYSICS TEXTBOOK ON WORLD WIDE WEB
AMES, Iowa -- Iowa State University's International Institute of Theoretical and Applied Physics (IITAP) has released a full-text version of a physics textbook on the World Wide Web.
The textbook, "Physics--The Root of Science," is an interactive experiment combining traditional textbook-based learning methods with new information technology, said James Vary, acting director of IITAP.
"By putting the book on the Web, we break down geographic barriers to its use and encourage higher levels of learning world wide," said Vary. "This type of project is very important to IITAP because it lets us spread knowledge and increase opportunity to every corner of the globe."
IITAP plans to expand the features of the World Wide Web version of the book to include on-line video clips of experiments and interactive learning modules.
"What is significant about this book is that it is presented on- line along with applications in industry and every day consumer products. We felt that the applications will help motivate a broader spectrum of students to learn physics," said Vary.
The textbook is designed for a one-year pre-calculus course at the advanced high school, community college or undergraduate general- physics level.
IITAP is currently working on plans to put a calculus book and other textbooks on the Word Wide Web, said Vary
The full text of "Physics--The Root of Science" is available for browsing at http://www.physics.iastate.edu/prs/prs.html by downloading the text and viewing it through a portable document format viewer, such as Adobe Acrobat. The site also includes links to other network-based information and an order form for hard copies of the book and two supplements.
IITAP is an international physics center set up in partnership with the United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organization to foster world peace through the sharing of scientific advances. IITAP was first set up in 1993 and is only the second institute of its type in the world.
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Diana Pounds, University Relations, dpounds@iastate.edu
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Revised 11/18/96