Main Handout: Lectures/Quizzes/ILDs

Physics 121, Fall 2010

Prof. E. F. Redish

A lot happens in lecture in this class -- including some activities you get points for: clicker questions, quizzes, and ILDs.

Lectures:

• Lectures will not be traditional! Lecture will include considerable class interaction and will cover material in a way that is decidedly different from the text (indeed, from any text). Lectures may include
  • material that is not in the book
  • demonstrations that may be the basis for an exam question
  • class discussions that may be the basis for an exam question
  If you miss a lecture you are responsible for finding out everything that was done.
  
  
• The PowerPoint "lecture notes" are not the whole story! -- The night before every class (mostly -- sometimes I forget), I will post the PP slides to be used in the next day's lecture. Note that these are not the complete content of the class but only a "skeleton outline" of what is being done. You can use them to take lecture notes on, but printing them out is not a substitute for attending lecture.
  
  
• You will contribute to lecture! -- In lecture we will be using a Remote Answering Device (clicker). This is like a TV remote control that will let me ask questions and get answers during lecture. The computer records your answer and you will receive one participation point for each click. Although we expect you to give your best answer, you will not be graded on whether the answers you give are correct. Note that these points are given for participation not attendance. You are contributing your answer to the class's discussion of possible answers. If you attend class but forget your clicker you do not get participation points.
  
  The clicker we use is an RF clicker from Turning Point Technologies. This is the campus standard. If you have one from another class, you are likely to able to use it here. If you have an iPhone, you will be able to get an app that allows you to use it as a clicker.
  
  In order to get participation credit from using your click you must register it. Information on how to do this will be given in class and by email within the first few classes. If you join the class late be sure you register your clicker!!

ILDs and Quizzes:

• ILDs will produce structured interactive lectures! -- Some days we will have Interactive Lecture Demonstrations (ILDs) during lecture. During these you may fill out and hand in individual worksheets or work in groups. You get 5 points for participating in each ILD.
  
  
• In-lecture quizzes will provide feedback! -- Since the orientation of this class is different from what you might have become accustomed to in high school or introductory college science classes, and to provide you with regular feedback on how well you're making sense of what we're trying to do, most weeks we will give (graded) quizzes on Mondays. Quizzes will focus on important -- and sometimes subtle fundamental issues (often from the previous week's tutorial). Each quiz will be worth 10 points. There will be about 10 of them and the lowest quiz grade will be dropped.

RETURNS

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Last revision 22 August, 2010.