Introduction | Background | Contents | Distribution |
The Mechanical Universe...and Beyond is a
critically-acclaimed series of 52 thirty-minute videotape programs covering the
basic topics of an introductory university physics course. The series was
originally produced as a broadcast telecourse by the California Institute of
Technology and Intelecom, Inc. with program funding from the Annenberg/CPB
Project.
Each program in the series opens and closes with Caltech
Professor David Goodstein
providing philosophical, historical and often humorous insight into the subject
at hand while lecturing to his freshman physics class.
The Mechanical Universe contains hundreds of computer animation
segments, created by Dr.
James F. Blinn, as the primary tool of instruction. Dynamic location
footage and historical re-creations are also used to stress the fact that
science is a human endeavor.
Upon completion of the broadcast
telecourse, Professor
Richard Olenick, Associate
Project Director, received funding from the National Science Foundation to
produce a seven-hour High School Adaptation suitable for high school physics
students. The Mechanical Universe has been translated into nine
languages, and a Spanish language version of the High School Adaptation has just
been completed.
The series has been broadcast as a telecourse over the
PBS television network and can still be seen on many PBS stations. Available on
consumer VHS videocassette and laserdisc, and accompanied by textbooks, The
Mechanical Universe is arguably the most successful attempt to date to use
video technology in the presentation of rigorous physics instruction.
The Mechanical Universe is based on the physics
course developed by Dr. David Goodstein at the California Institute of
Technology. It was one of twelve projects initially selected for funding by the
Annenberg/CPB
Project. Course development began with the creation of a set of
phantom lectures for the 52 lessons, covering the scientific revolution
begun by Copernicus through to current quantum theory. The project was a joint
production of Caltech and
Intelecom, the largest college
television consortia in the United States. The production team included
distinguished scientists, video industry professionals, and gifted educators all
working in collaboration.
To ensure the highest degree of academic and
technical quality, a series of checks and balances was built into the
development process. Each program underwent rigorous evaluation by an
academic team and a
production team, as
well as an Oversight Committee, a
Local Advisory Committee
of educators and a
National Advisory
Committee comprised of distinguished professionals in film, science,
education, and national affairs.
Graphics | Text Only |
The Mechanical Universe...and Beyond
was designed to cover the typical curriculum of a university freshman physics
course. As an aid in viewing the topics and subject matter found in the 52
programs, two versions of the Table of Contents are presented above. The Graphic
Table of Contents will access a visual index with both descriptive text and
representative images of each of the programs. The Text Only Table of Contents
will access the same descriptive information without the display of images.
The Mechanical Universe...and Beyond is available
from the following sources:
The
Annenberg/CPB Project
VHS videocassettes and CAV Laserdiscs
For more information on the Annenberg/CPB Collection, call 1-800-LEARNER
Intelecom, Inc.
The
Mechanical Universe International Sales and Distribution
VHS and 3/4"
videocassettes and texts of the High School Adaptation
For more information
on Intelecom programs, call 1-800-LRN BY TV
or send e-mail to:
intelecm@cerfnet.com
The PBS Adult
Learning Service (ALS) .
Site-wide satellite downlink license of the
telecourse
For more information on PBS ALSS, call 1-800-257-2578
or send
e-mail to: als@pbs.org