SPRING 2012: SCALE-UP Physics 2049C Physics For Engineers & Scientists - SyllabusDr. Jeffrey B. Bindell, Instructor([email protected])Class schedule and locationMonday, Wednesday and Friday, 2:30PM – 4:20 PMClassroom Building I, Room 218Course descriptionSCALE-UP is a relatively new way to teach physics which combines classroom work (in teams)with coordinated laboratory exercises and which eliminates almost all lectures. This is in keepingwith studied over the past 10 years or so that show lectures to be a very poor way to conveyknowledge or fundamental understandings. This method used team (peer) instruction methods toallow students to work in groups to solve problems or perform simple experiments to provideconceptual insights into the material.Because this is the second offering of this course format, schedules may not be accurate andalthough every attempt will be made to keep to what is outlined below, some changes may beunavoidable.Content: This is a four credit-hour, calculus-based physics course that is the 2nd part of a two-semester sequence required for all UCF students majoring in engineering, computer science,biological science, and the physical sciences. This course covers electricity and magnetism andpossibly waves and optics (time permitting). The SCALE-UP (Student Centered Activities forLarge Enrollment Undergraduate Physics) sections at UCF are different formats of the course’snormal sections that cover similar but not identical content.Philosophy: This class will provide you with an enhanced opportunity to acquire a goodphysical understanding of the course material and to learn how to apply that understanding ofphysics to use in this course and beyond. This course places significant emphasis on qualitativephysical reasoning as a complement to the mathematical quantitative aspects. It also centers on amicroscopic model of electricity and magnetism. Research has shown that while traditionallecture does help many, it is not the best approach. Activity-based instruction like SCALE-UPcan result in significantly improved understanding of concepts and a greater ability to solveproblems. SCALE-UP is being introduced all over the country and has, for example, beenadopted by MIT as well as other high profile universities.1 | P a g e S C A L E - U P S p r i n g 2 0 1 2Approach: This is an integrated lecture/laboratory course with minimal lecture (no more than 1hour out of 6 hours of class time per week). Like a class in Shakespeare, you are expected to readand begin understanding the course material to prepare for each class. (Assignments will bemade for these readings.) The majority of class time is planned to be spent on class activities tohelp you learn to understand and apply the material from the readings. The course willemphasize rigorous problem-solving in physics using interactive instruction, educationalsoftware, computer applications important for science and engineering students, and cooperativelearning. Class time will require students to be responsive, to think, and to perform hands-ontasks. Lab time will be interspersed with classroom discussion. Good preparation is essential forsuccessful classroom activities.If you devote a modest amount of time each day to studying physics, you will be in a position toattack class activities and physics problems efficiently, based on a clear understanding of thefundamental physical principles that underlie all successful analyses. Students from similarofferings have made suggestions to help you succeed. Collaborative Work: Scientists and engineers work in groups as well as alone. Socialinteractions are critical to their success. Most good ideas grow out of discussions withcolleagues. This course encourages collaborative teamwork, a skill that is valued by mostemployers of scientists, engineers, and technicians. As you work and study together you shouldhelp your partners to get over confusions, ask each other questions, and critique your grouphomework and lab write-ups. Teach each other! You can learn a great deal by teaching yourteammates. And they can learn much from you as well.While collaboration is the rule in technical work, evaluation of individual performance also playsan important role in science and engineering. Individual quizzes, and exams are to be donewithout help from others; group quizzes and test problems are to be done only with members ofyour group/team. Textbooks:This course uses a different textbook than does the other PHY-2049 sections. Specifically, we will be usingChabay and Sherwood, “Matter and Interactions”, Volume II – Electric and Magnetic Interactions. 3rd Edition, Wiley, (2011).This course also uses the “i-clicker-2” classroom technology. It will benecessary for you to purchase the new NUMERICAL version of the i-clickerthat is available in the bookstore. This is a new device so do not purchaseone on the used market. The older i-clickers are being phased out.http://www.iclicker.com/iclicker2/. If you still have the receipt for the originali-clicker purchase, let your instructor know and he might be able to get you a$10 rebate!2 | P a g e S C A L E - U P S p r i n g 2 0 1 2You will also need to purchase WebAssign Access. You do not need the Physics 2049Laboratory Manual or any of the Course Paks in the bookstore. Materials will be provided inclass, as needed.AssignmentsAssignments will be announced in class and posted on the class website or in WebAssign. Besure to check WA for last minute assignments and messages. Changes and hints may bedistributed also by email, so you should plan on checking your Knights email at least once perday. You are responsible for reading the textbook and working assigned the problems. Keepingup with the homework and the reading is essential for getting the most out of this or any otherclass. If you don't come to class prepared, we won't be able to as much in class to prepare you forthe homework assignments. HW will take much longer if you don't keep up. Remember that because this is a combined