Trigonometry Mania Days for homework

The Sept. 4 assignment is now up in WebAssign for your trigonometric enjoyment. Kind of crazy amount of trig, but we need to be ultra-sharp with it all through physics and engineering.

So... GO! GO! GO!

Group theory

Now that we have tools for solving problems, the lecture process will begin to modify, with small group activity sprinkled in -- groups of two or three students sitting together and working on a problem together.

That being the case,

1. if you have a friend in lecture, try to sit with your friend, but
2. if you do not have a friend in lecture yet, make friends with the person sitting next to you!

 

It is your nature to learn, and the more interactions you have, the more you will learn, just like a Terminator. Guided and coached student-to-student interaction in lecture, breaking out of the "lecture" mode for a few minutes, is a good, efficient way for you to learn the art of solving problems.

So be mindful of grouping when you get to the lecture hall.

Podcast UP, also HW2 and document cam.

You can download the PDF of Homework 2, due on Thursday, 3 PM. Look in the Homework folder in Webcourses. Also the document camera work is UP in Webcourses, too.

The first lecture podcast is now up in iTunes U. View the short YouTube in the iTunes U folder in Webcourses, then open the podcast. Subscribe and all new lectures will be downloaded automatically.

Assigned readings

Also, do not forget the assigned readings:

1. All of CH. 1, and
2. Ch. 2, sec. 1 and 2.

The links, notes and highlights I embedded will be visible to you in the WebAssign eBook.

I will be asking iClicker questions about these readings on Tuesday.

Students are getting in attempts. Good.

OK, I just took a peek. There are several students who have successfully taken an attempt at the Aug. 28 assignment. SO... it is working normally.

Get your HW squared away before 3 PM, Aug. 28, next Tuesday.

Homework is in place, but

The homework for Tuesday, Aug. 28, is in place on WebAssign.

However, I cannot verify that it is visible for you guys. So if it is not visible by noon, be patient -- we will be getting it visified asap.

And do not worry -- it is a teeny assignment, 4 questions.

MEANWHILE: You have assigned reading in Ch. 1, all of it, and Ch. 2, the first two sections. You can see my links, notes and highlights on the reading if you use the eBook on WebAssign.

We shall prevail!

Free fall

The length of our currency is about 15.6 cm. In free fall, how long does it take to move 15.6 cm? If you want free money, you must beat gravity.

Bonus points, iClicker 2 early registration

As is my custom, I reward students who hustle and get the iClicker 2 registered in Webcourses before the deadline. About 30 of you had registered as of yesterday, so you earned a bonus point.

There are two more days, tomorrow (Thursday) and next Tuesday, on which to snag a bonus point. Every lecture prior to 8/30, next Thursday, that you've registered your iClicker 2 in Webcourses, you earn a bonus point.

The official start of regular iClicker 2 pointage is Thursday next week, 8/30/2012.

Remember:

1. Only the iClicker 2 with display screen may be used; the older versions -- just 6 buttons -- will not be counted.
2. You must register in Webcourses, nowhere else, if you want to earn pointage for your semester grade.

Three handouts

What a hectic class today. WHEEEWWWW!!! Glad it's over.

If you did not get one of the three handouts, you can grab them in PDF from Webcourses. They are in the light bulb folder linked to the homepage.

iClicker 2 bonus time

Several students have already registered their iClicker 2, thereby earning a bonus point. Nice.

Walk to my office, PS156 in the Physical Sciences Building.

Here is a short YouTube about how to track me down at my office, room PS156 in the Physical Sciences Building.

We will be using a lot of tools in PHY2048C section 0002 for acquisition of insight, problem-solving skill and wisdom:

1. Webcourses for communication, file storage, discussions;
2. WebAssign, for weekly online homework practice;
3. scantrons for midterm exam and final exam;
4. regular paper and pencil for
   1. weekly written homework to turn in;
   2. written problems on midterm exam and final exam;
5. iClicker 2 for classroom participation;
6. a scientific calculator;
7. iTunes for enhanced podcast of lecture, with all equations, diagrams, notes etc. embedded in the artwork track;
8. Serway/Jewett textbook;
9. most important: your brain.

Welcome aboard!