Welcome to Studio Physics 2054

1. Welcome to Studio Physics 2054 { Dr. Jeff Bindell jbindell@mail.ucf.edu Class Website: www.physics.ucf.edu/~bindell TEXTBOOKCollege Physics (8th Edition) by Cutnell & Johnson, John Wiley & Sons, (2009)- (Vol. II)

2. Lab Manual Gray's College Bookstore 4250 Alafaya Trail, Suite 240. Oviedo, FL, 32765. Tel: (407) 366-2241

3. NOTE: Email is used for last minute notices to students. You must have a KNIGHTS ACCOUNT to receive these notices!

4. LEARNING

5. There’s Got to be a Better Way! Dr. Bindell’s Last Lecture Class

6. We Believe This Is It!

7. What is Studio? • A combined Class-Room/Laboratory approach to teaching physics. • 4 Credits. (2 hour sessions – 3 days/week) • Electricity, Magnetism and Optics form the bulk of this course. • Virtually no long formal lectures • Peer Instruction • This approach is now finding increased use at many schools across the country. • MIT uses it exclusively

8. What’s Different about Studio Physics??? • More Informality to Instruction • T-shaped Tables (The worst shape possible!) • Group Approach to Learning / Learning Together • Class Discussions • Low Student/Faculty Ratio • Students have the responsibility both for learning and for teaching.

9. Learning Physics X • Memorize • Remember the formulas • Remember the definitions • Remember the solutions to ALL problems that you have ever seen solved in any Physics class in the universe. • Understanding • Cognitive understanding of physics • Remember some formulas but you can usually derive some of them as well. • Solve problems through understanding of the underlying physics principles.

10. The Lecture Mode of Learning

11. The Studio Mode of Learning Group

12. Don’t forget the evil textbook!

13. More:The Studio Mode of Learning • Open and read that big expensive ugly thing that you bought: the textbook. • Use the book to complete your classroom experience- • General Study • Homework

14. Problem: “T” shaped table environment 

15. “T” Table Rules • 3 students on each side of the T • Each table has 2 groups of students • In some experiments, all 6 students will work as a combined team (some equipment and space limitations) • SILENCE is forbidden (except when I am talking!) • Discussions are required! • Stay on task – no web surfing unless it is needed for the classwork.

16. Some Advantages of Combined “Lecture” - Laboratory Format • Lecture and Labs are Synchronized • Some of the labs are exploratory rather than governed by step by step instructions • Some “Labs” will be problem solving exercises. • You may have to search (internet, textbook) for information to assist with activities. • Again, Talking is encouraged rather than forbidden!

17. Learning Modes In Studio • Listening • Mini Lecture • Student Presentations/Arguments • Seeing • Demonstrations • Reading • Studying textbook • Discussing • Peer “Instruction” • Touching & Experiencing. • Exploratory Laboratory Experiments

18. Groups • You will be assigned to an initial group today. The list is also posted on the class website. • Group assignments will be changed after each examination to maintain proper balance.

19. STUDIO APPROACH • Peer Instruction • You will solve problems and do experiments with your group. • Some problems will seem very strange and difficult. • You will learn the value of a team approach to learning. • You will argue with each other and with other groups in your “quest” for understanding. • You may present your findings or solutions to the rest of the class (always optional). • Your classes should be more “fun” than the older approach.

20. You may not be happy about • Limited Lecture … you have to learn some of the material yourself or with your group. • Your brain goes numb after 10 minutes of lecture anyway. • You can fall asleep during a lecture after 15 minutes. • You will not fall asleep in this class format. • Internet Oriented • Information on what is happening is obtained from the class page: www.physics.ucf.edu/~bindell • Information needed to solve “problems” or complete “activities” may be obtained from the web. • You are RESPONSIBLE for information presented to you on the class page … whether we tell you about it or not!

21. Some insight into this approach: • You are an archeology student. • You are led to the opening of a cave. • You are to explore the cave. • You have a little flashlight which illuminates small areas only. • Now … let’s enter the cave.

22. This is what you see. Then you trip over a rock.

23. OR… • With the same flashlight you are told: • Read about caves in your textbook. • Go into the cave. • Watch out for rocks on the floor of the cave. • Check out the WALLS of the cave. • You can go in with other students, each with an additional flashlight. • In you go again …..

25. See the difference?? • You were given some guidance. • You were NOT told what to expect, only given a suggestion as to where to look. • You “discovered” cave drawings. • You had done a bit of pre-reading and you therefore knew more about what you were looking at. • You learnedmore than if you were just given pictures of cave drawings in a lecture!

26. DOES IT WORK? • We can judge how well a student has learned and understood the semester’s work by: • Giving a “pre-diagnostic test” • Giving a “post-diagnostic test” (at the end of the semester) • These “tests” do not “count” in your grade but we can tell via the test design if you are messing with us and we will kill you. • We do the Pre-Test today. • We use these and other tools to decide if we are successful. • Let’s take a brief look

27. Peer Instruction - Compare

28. FINAL EXAM RESULTS (Old Data) Conventional Peer

29. Normalized Gain (An analogy) • Weight Watchers (loss is a gain!) • You are given a goal of how many pounds you should lose to get to your ideal weight • You weigh 235 and you need to get to 190. • You get to 215 • Attained: 20 lb loss • “Max”: 45 lbs • Normalized loss = 20/45=44% • You can compare these normalized losses with the other people in your class.

30. SCALE-UP* – Normalized Gain Pretest is where you Start off. You want to attain 100% * SCALE-UP is the engineering physics approach to studio instruction.

31. Some Procedures • Lab Notebook • A loose leaf notebook will probably work best. • Download labs and keep in notebook. 3-hole punch recommended • Keep class problem solutions & homework problems • Class observations and exercises • Lecture and Class notes • Notebook Grade • The notebook is divided into sections/experiments. • Periodically, a particular section will be collected and graded. • The grading will probably be “unfair!” • The notebook average will be your class grade. (later)

32. Class Sessions • Monday and Wednesday • Regular sessions • Fridays • Occasionally Friday will be like a Monday or Wednesday. • Fridays will often concentrate on problem solving and Review • Discussions • Quizzes (15 minutes)/Exams (50 minutes) • This can only work if you complete the labs on schedule.

33. Operations • Homework system is WebAssign • Initial Password is “ihatephysics” • Your old password may still work. • Your ID is your PID without the leading letter. • Clicker System • i-clicker • be sure that the ID is not obliterated.

34. Types of WebAssignments • Normal Homework ~ 6-10 problems per week • Reading Assignments prior to class with a few simple questions to make sure you are prepared for class. • You are encouraged to collaborate on homework assignments with your group members. Separate submissions are required.

35. Quiz Schedule • There will be a quiz almost EVERY Friday. • Most will be based upon a structured problem solving protocol – group or individual- (you will find out about this later or check the web site for information) • Exams will also be usually given on a Friday. Be careful about making travel arrangements until you know when the exams will be.

36. Your Grade

37. Grading Schema

38. Grades – Spring 2010

39. Grades - Fall 2010

40. A Puzzlement

41. Course Structure START ELECTRICITY MAGNETISM INDUCTION MAXWELL OPTICS

42. Final Comments .. • Learning is really YOUR RESPONSIBILITY in Studio Physics. • You may be frustrated occasionally because the instructional staff does not give you all of the answers or validate your individual or group conclusions. • This is so that you will really THINK these things out. • Thinking is a good thing! • REMEMBER: YOUARE RESPONSIBLE FOR CHECKING THE CLASS WEBSITE AND WebAssign often.

43. ASSIGNMENT FOR WEDNESDAY: • Register for WA • Procure an i-clicker and register it (see syllabus on class website.) • Read the first few sections about charge in the textbook. • There will be an initial WA assignment posted but don’t do it quite yet. It is due Sunday evening and it is fairly easy!

44. Any Questions?? This presentation will be found on the class page.

45. Take a 5 minute break and then we will do the Pre-Test!!