Home PublicationsJRTEPast IssuesVolume 33 Number 1

	Edited by Dr. David J. Ayersman, Mary Washington College, and Dr. W. Michael Reed, New York University
formerly Journal of Research on Computing in Education

JRCE, Volume 33, Number 1, Fall 2000

Scott W. Bonham and Robert J. Beichner
North Carolina State University

Aaron Titus
North Carolina A & T

Larry Martin
North Park University

Abstract

The growth of the Internet, and in particular the World Wide Web, is already influencing the way science is taught, and it will undoubtedly do so to a greater extent in the future. One important facet of this influence is the development of Web-based assessment and testing systems. These systems also provide a valuable new tool to the education research community: a tool that combines the ability of multiple-choice diagnostic tests to handle large numbers of subjects with some of the greater flexibility and additional information that other methods offer. On the other hand, some of the particular strengths of this tool also give rise to some unique disadvantages. In this article, the authors discuss the strengths and weaknesses for education research and present some suggestions for the tool’s use.

Web Resources
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Christian, W. (1996–1998). Webphysics [Online document]. Davidson, NC: Davidson College. Available: http://WebPhysics.davidson.edu/.

Goldberg, M. W., & Salari, S. (1997). An update on WebCT (World-Wide-Web Course Tools)—A tool for the creation of sophisticated Web-based learning environments [Online document]. Peabody, MA: WebCT. Available: www.webct.com/service/ViewContent?contentID=11745&
communityID=-1&categoryID=-1&sIndex=0

Mindedge [Online document]. (2000). Woburn, MA: MindEdge, Inc. Available: www.mindedge.com.

North Carolina State University. (1998). WebAssign [Computer software]. Raleigh, NC: Author. Available: http://www.webassign.net.

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Contributors

Scott Bonham is currently a postdoctoral fellow at North Carolina State University. His research interests focus on the use of the World Wide Web in physics education.

Robert Beichner is an associate professor of physics at North Carolina State University. He teaches introductory physics. His research interests include technology-rich learning environments and creation of physics diagnostic exams.

Aaron Titus is an assistant professor of physics at North Carolina A & T, where he teaches introductory physics. WebAssign grew, in part, out of his doctoral research.

Larry Martin is a professor of physics at North Park University in Chicago, Illinois. He teaches a variety of undergraduate courses in physics and develops Web-based tools for physics instruction, such as WebAssign.

Address: Scott Bonham, North Carolina State University, Department of Physics, Box 8202, Raleigh, NC 27695; swbonham@unity.ncsu.edu.

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