> Hello all, > I am Ann Navin, the new
Interface Designer at Project Links (I have taken > over Virginia Eubanks'
position so she can write her thesis). One of my > tasks is to complete
the alpha and beta testing of the modules. The alpha > testing entails
making sure the module fits into the Links design format, > the applets,
animations and/or videos work, that the content is logical in > our
functionality navigation, as well as to review the aesthetics and >
overall usability of the module. The beta testing entails checking
grammar, > punctuation and spelling, looking for broken links, broken
applets, and > basically copy-editing the module. You are the lucky
recipients of this mail > because I have completed the alpha test for your
Forced Spring Mass module! > > This email is a bit lengthy, but I
wanted to make it thorough--most of my > comments are detail-oriented. If
you have any questions or comments, please > contact me via email (navina@rpi.edu) or at ext. 6136 in the Links
Lab. > > Forced Spring Mass alpha >
testing--links.math.rpi.edu/devmodules/mechanicalosc/forcedsm > >
Content Developers: Siegmann, Boyce, Craig > > Programmers:
Huebsch, HTML > > > > General Comments >
> **Great examples and schematics in this module! > >
**Clear explanations for concepts > > **Potential for a great
module--lots of applets missing, and better use of > the medium can be
achieved with more images and/or video clips. Lots of > obvious spots to
engage the students and make the module more interesting. > >
**Please use the JavaScript script for the Functional Navigation bar (an >
example is in the template: links.math.rpi.edu/devmodules/template) >
> **We're trying to implement the Prior and Next Buttons in the
side > navigation bar (also found in the template). > >
**Modeling is misspelled in the side navigation bar > > **In the
Module Map, the Math Model link is broken. The map also only links > to
the undamped track. > > **Don't forget the Crib Sheet and Library
pages > > **Whenever possible, can you use HTML tags to code for
simple equations and > constants (Netscape still has trouble reading the
math scripts in > TechExplorer). Also, sometimes in IE, the equations have
a "shadow" effect > where it looks like there are two copies of the
equation stacked on top of > each other. It doesn't happen all the time,
but it makes the equations hard > to read (perhaps its a math script
loading problem?). > > **html/start.html > > --Have
you considered finding a short video clip of an off-road vehicle (or >
something similar) driving over a rough road? A video clip would be more >
engaging and still introduces the idea of forced spring mass in the >
suspension of a car (and what undergraduate engineer isn't interested in >
cars?). If you choose not to use a video clip, is it possible to find a >
sharper sketch for the opening page? It isn't immediately clear what
the > sketch is--perhaps an effect from how the image was processed and
saved for > the web. > > **html/objectives.html >
> --Is it possible to pinpoint objectives a bit more? (a matter
of > semantics--using the active voice and try to make the objectives
more > engaging) e.g. "Enhance your engineering judgment by gaining
experience in > making simplifying assumptions. Understand the effect of
these assumptions > on the predictive capabilities of the resulting
model." could be stated: > "Think like an engineer: make simplifying
assumptions and analyze the effect > of these assumptions on the
predictive capabilities of mathematical models." > > --Also, is it
possible to mention something about differentiating between > the damped
and undamped cases? > > *What about adding a summary section that
briefly reviews the differences > between the mathematical and physical
models in each case, and also compares > the undamped and damped cases?
Include practice problems for students to > test what they've
learned? > > > > Specific Comments > >
**html/introduction.html > > --coincide is misspelled in the second
sentence. > > --Is there a link to Dynamic Systems Investigation
Process? > > --remove the comma after system in the second bullet
point (so it reads > "...model the system physically and
mathematically.") > > --nice suggestion for working through the
module > > --after the bullet points: the pull-down menu to change
from the damped to > undamped cases is in the side navigation bar, not in
the upper right corner > of the screen--can you update that
sentence? > > **html/physicalsystem_theory_1.html > >
--Do you have an image for this page? > > --Also, the term in the
functional navigation bar is applications, not > apply, so the references
in the text to the "apply" page need to change to > the "applications"
page. > > **html/physicalsystem_apply_1.html > > --Can
you add an explanation for the photo? > > --Is it possible to
replace the still image with a video clip or an > animation? >
> --Is this the right image? On the physicalsystem_apply_2.html page,
the > explanation describes the pogo stick as an example of a damped
forced spring > mass system, but the image on that page is of an airplane
wheel. > > **html/actualdynamicbehav_theory_1.html > >
--Please format the copyright information at the bottom of the page >
> --The EXPERIMENT page reference should be changed to the Discover
page > (maintaining consistency with the functional navigation
bar). > > **html/actualdynamicbehav_exper_1.html > >
--Is there an applet for this page? > >
**html/physicalmodel_theory_1.html > > --Beautiful! >
> --Great graphic!!! > > --Good explanatory text! >
> --Is it possible to use HTML tags to code for the constants? >
> --Is there an applet or other Discover activity (for the Discover page)
to > include with the Physical Model? > >
**html/physicalmodel_discuss_1.html > > --Is it possible to use
HTML tags to code for the variables? > > --The last link should
read "Use Hooke's Law" instead of "Using Hooke's Law" > >
**html/mathmodel_theory_1.html > > --The second sentence "Our
simplifying assumptions lead to a mathematical > model consisting of
linear constant coefficient, ordinary differential > equations (ODE's)."
Should read: "Our simplifying assumptions lead to a > mathematical model
consisting of linear constant coefficients and ordinary > differential
equations (ODE's)." > > --Consider moving the "Choosing the
Coordinate Frame"information to the > Collaborate section? You can
indicate that the students need to complete the > collaborate section
before moving on. > > --The equation independence link goes to an
unfinished page: > html/equationindep.html (this could also be converted
to a discover > activity). > >
**html/mathmodel_deriv.html > > -- Is it appropriate to say in the
first sentence, "The motion of a rigid > body is completely defined by the
resultant and moment resultant of the > external forces acting about its
mass center." (instead of: > > "The motion of a rigid body is
completely defined by the resultant and > moment resultant about its mass
center of the external forces acting on > it.") > > --typo in
the third sentence--the should be the > > --Is it possible to
italicize the variables discussed in the text? > > -- Half way down
the page, after the schematic (which is beautiful, by the > way) Should
the sentence "One equation of motion is obtained by expressing > that the
system of the system of the external forces is equivalent to the > system
of effective force." read "One equation of motion is obtained by >
expressing that the system of the external forces is equivalent to the >
system of effective force." > > -- after eqn (1.2), the sentence
that ends with "...(for small angles) we > can derive F_c by the
following:" Should F_c have the c as a subscript > instead? >
> --Please format the copyright info at the bottom of the page. >
> **html/mathanalysis_theory_1.html > > --The first sentence
of the second paragraph, "Every mechanical system has > one or more
"natural frequencies" with which it vibrates in the absence of > external
forces." could read, "Every mechanical system vibrates at one or > more
"natural frequencies" in the absence of external forces." > > --The
reference to the EXPERIMENT page should be changed to reference the >
DISCOVER page. > > --Consider putting CASE A & B as Collaborate
or Practice activities > (depending upon whether you want your students to
discuss the solutions, or > actually try to work them out on their
own). > > **html/mathanalysis_exper_1.html > > --Is
there an animation, applet or other example to use on this page? >
> --hurrying is misspelled in the second paragraph > > --Can
you insert the plots/applets from the old FSM module? Perhaps on the >
Discover page? > > --Can you include an example of the swing as a
video or animation on the > applications page? > > --Consider
making Resonance and Beat subheads on this page to clarify > sections of
ideas. > > **html/predbehav_theory_1.html > > --again,
the reference at the bottom of the page to EXPERIMENT, should go to > the
discover section. > > **html/predbehav_exper_1.html >
> --Are there applets? > > **Nice Collaborate questions on
html/comparison_discuss_1.html! > >
**html/physicalsystem_theory_2.html > > --Do you have an
image/video/animation for this page? > >
**html/physicalsystem_apply_2.html > > --Confusion with the photo
and the explanation on this page > > --What about using the car's
suspension as an image, since that is discussed > on this page? >
> **html/actualdynamicbehav_theory_2.html > > --Again, the
EXPERIMENT reference should be to the Discover page (and please > correct
the functional navigation bar) > > --Is it possible to include a
picture of one of the sensors discussed? > Students might recognize a
potentiometer from LITEC or another lab--linking > the math theory with
actual applications within the student's lives. > >
**html/actualdynamicbehav_exper_2.html > > --Is there an applet
available for this page? > > **html/logarithmic.html >
> --Perhaps rephrase the last line on the page from "This is where the
method > get is name, because the amplitude decreases by an exponential
amount over > each cycle." to "The Logarithmic Decrement Method earned its
name because > the amplitude decreases by an exponential amount over each
cycle." > > **html/mathmodel_theory_2.html > > --the
second sentence should read "Our simplifying assumptions lead to a >
mathematical model consisting of linear constant coefficients and
ordinary > differential equations (ODE's)." (same suggestion from the
undamped version > of this page). > > **Is it possible to
point out differences between the Damped and Undamped > portions of the
module on the concepts pages for the Damped track (something > along the
lines of "adding a damper (dashpot) alters the simplifying > assumptions
from the Undamped case by....") The pages for each section look >
identical in many ways to the Undamped track (even with clear >
titles)--students might get confused or skip over pages because they
think > they've already worked through them. Perhaps use practice problems
as a good > gauge to ensure the students have worked through the complete
module. > > **html/mathmodel_theory-2.html > > --In
the sentence before the FBD: "To apply Newton's Second Law, we need to >
identify the forced acting on the mass and show them in a free-body
diagram > (FBD):" should read "To apply Newton's Second Law, we need to
identify the > forces acting on the mass and show them in a free-body
diagram (FBD):" > > **html/mathanalysis_theory_2.html >
> --In the first paragraph, the second mention of the word amplitude
should be > italicized (to be consistent in explaining the uses of
frequency and > amplitude). > > --EXPERIMENT reference should
be DISCOVER > > **html/mathanalysis_exper_2.html > >
-- In the sentence before **Insert Dynamic Plotter Applet: "You can
imagine > what would happen to a structure if by chance it was forced at
exactly a > frequency that caused an enormous steady-state response: it
would probably > be damaged." could read "You can imagine what would
happen to a structure if > it were forced at the exact frequency which
causes an enormous steady-state > response: it would probably be damaged."
It's even appropriate to turn it > into a question for the students: "What
would happen to a structure..." > > --Can you insert the Dynamic
Plotter Applet? > > **html/comparison_theory_2.html >
> --EXPERIMENT reference should be DISCOVER. > >
**html/comparison_exper_2.html > > --Missing applet >
> --The last line on the page: "What about experimental errors? Do we
need to > make design decisions to limit these error?" Should read "What
about > experimental errors? Do we need to make design decisions to limit
these > errors?" > > I enjoyed working through your module,
although I think there's room for > more interactivity. The graphics and
explanations are excellent! The > addition of the applets will make a huge
difference and propel you to the > "almost done" stage! > >
Please call or email with any questions. > > Ann > >
> > Ann Navin > > Interface Designer, Project
Links > > navina@rpi.edu > > ext.
6136 > > > > > > > >