I hope you are all keeping well, safe, and finding ways to have some fun during our extended spring break. As you are probably aware, our campus is going to run the rest of the semester’s courses online, which includes lectures, recitations, and labs.
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I wanted to give you an idea of what to expect for phy 111 / 113.
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FIRST: If you have not signed up for Campuswire, please do so now. If you cannot find your site invitation e-mail, check your junk folder or e-mail me. I will be posting announcements and reminders there, as well as on my course site, located at
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For especially important announcements, I will also send out mass e-mails, but I will not do so for announcements involve homework and exams.
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***Lectures***
I am recording videos of all my lectures. These will display my slides with my voice going through the main points. As you know from lecture, the text of the slides does not always contain the full content of the lecture. My expectation is that you will watch the videos and take notes, just as you would in the ordinary class.
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I will intersperse the slides with video of worked examples—similar to how I do these things on the doc-cam in class.
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These lecture videos will be released during the days we would ordinarily have our lectures. I am exploring creating a private YouTube channel and posting the lecture videos there. The slides will be posted to the usual folders as they have been throughout the semester.
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In place of the usual lectures I will hold virtual office hours via Zoom. I am still trying to work out the best way to schedule these hours so that every one of you has an opportunity to attend at least 2 – 2.5 hours per week. I will send out a poll and use that to help me schedule the times.
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***Recitations***
I am currently working with the TA’s on a plan for holding recitations at the usual scheduled times. I believe that these can be held as Zoom sessions, but we are currently sorting out the details.
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***Labs***
The TA’s and I are working on adapting the labs so that they can be done remotely. Unfortunately, since I cannot be sure that all of you have the same ability to conduct actual experiments at your homes, the current plan is to produce videos that you will then analyze using video tracking software. Guided worksheets will be distributed and you will submit your results and the worksheets. Things may change, but I expect that the labs will go something like I’ve just described.
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***Homework***
Homework will still be done via CAPA. That shouldn’t change very much.
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***Exams***
My current plan (which could change!) is to release the exam on CAPA during our usual lecture period. The CAPA version of the exam will involve no data entry, but just display the questions. The idea is that you would work on the questions on fresh sheets of paper and then scan and submit your work at the end of the exam period using a private link to a shared folder. I will then manually grade the exams according to my usual system.
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Assuming that the above idea is feasible, I will send you a link to a free phone scanner app (CamScanner), which you will use to scan your exam work as a single pdf file.
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NOTE: Our upcoming exam is pushed back by one week. It was originally scheduled for 3/27, but will now be held on 4/3 (April 3rd). More information will be posted on the course site (https://phy111113.sites.umassd.edu) as well as on Campuswire.
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***Other Possibilities***
I am open to suggestions from you. If I have extra time, and there is enough interest, I am happy to produce extra example videos.
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***Parting Thoughts***
What we are all going through right now is unique and historic. All of us have to adapt to these strange circumstances. I want you to know that I am aware of the difficulties that the situation may impose on some of you and I fully intend to be as flexible as possible as we continue through the course. If you need any extra assistance, please do not hesitate to reach out to me to schedule a virtual appointment.
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If you are anxious about grades or other aspects of the course, note that I have a lot of data from past semesters for how the grades typically turn out. If, after we complete the course, I notice that there is a big shift in the score distribution compared to past semesters, I will make adjustments that give you the benefit of the doubt.
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The sudden need to rapidly shift the course to online delivery will mean that there are bugs, errors, and other problems. Please be as patient with me and the TA’s as you would hope that we will be of you. We’re all in this together.
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Stay well, safe, and try to find ways to enjoy your extra break time. Please feel free to contact me if you have any comments, concerns, or questions,
