Putting computation on a par with experiments and theory in the undergraduate physics curriculum

Computation is an indispensable tool for physicists, but incorporating computational physics into the undergraduate physics curriculum presents many challenges. How can instructors fit computational physics into already packed curricula, and how can some level of computational proficiency become second nature to today's physics students? We review how web-based learning resources have been used to integrate computational activities into redesigned lab and lecture courses at the University of Toronto. The methodology of incorporating computation into lecture and laboratory courses at the first and second years is presented. (C) 2011 American Association of Physics Teachers. [DOI: 10.1119/1.3593296]