The objective this semester is to introduce concepts and problem solving techniques in electricity, magnetism, optics, special relativity, and atomic and nuclear physics. We shall consider illustrations and applications from a wide range of physical phenomena in the real world, and wherever possible we shall seek biological examples. Attendance, Participation, and Peer Instruction Attendance in class is required. Collaborative class exercises are scheduled for every lecture meeting. I will not call the roll daily, but class participation will be taken into account in computing the final grade.
Inadequate participation can result in the deduction of up to four points in the final course grade.
My judgement is that the method was well received last semester, and we will continue to refine it this Spring. My own experience, bolstered by extensive published research by others in the field of science education, has convinced me that you will learn less if you passively listen as I either repeat or only slightly repackage arguments from your text. I want to encourage you to become critical thinkers. You will not have learned physics if you are only able to plug numbers into equations. Research has shown the ability to analyze unfamiliar situations is significantly improved through a process called peer instruction.