Wednesday, June 30, 2010

try iTunes U again

In case iTunes U refused you access earlier this afternoon: Go try again, with Method 1.

I just updated the roster for iTunes U, so they are expecting people in this section, PSC1121-BW59. It had still been set to the spring semester section, which is probably why it refused you guys access earlier.

Give it another shot, using Method 1, and post your results and findings in the "Getting on iTunes U" discussion area in Webcourses.

New podcast: How to use the concept guide

I just set up a pair of links to our podcast area in iTunes U. See which one works for you.

Also, there is a special PDF blurb for extra tips to students who use Internet Exploder as your web browser.

The first podcast for the semester is "How to use the concept guide," and there are a few leftovers from last semester, covering exercises. These latter podcasts are oriented to the 6th edition for exercise number and page number. However, you should be able to figure out which exercise in the 7th edition corresponds to the podcast.

GO FOR IT.

Tuesday, June 29, 2010

Mini-assignment

You can start working on the chapter 2 concept guide. It is in the Learning Module folder on the Webcourses home page, with the blinking light bulb icon.

Along with the concept guide is a mini-quiz where you can test yourself on basic concepts and calculations.

Monday, June 28, 2010

Your My Grades page in Webcourses


I just set up the basic structure of your My Grades page in Webcourses. Right now it consists of midterms, final and some bonus opportunities that will unfold over the next 6 weeks, plus a few rows for subtotals.

Below the blue part, your chapter mini-quizzes and other study activity will show up, for reference, even though they are not formally part of the grade scheme.

Use course mail.

By the way, I do not use that Yahoo email address after the first day of classes. So if you want to contact me, please use course mail, in Webcourses.

Sunday, June 27, 2010

Summer B students

Your first day of Summer B session begins tomorrow, June 28. We will have some basic activities to do for the first day or so, then fire up "on all cylinders" by Wednesday.

Here is a list of things to do for first day of Summer B:
  1. Bookmark this Announcements page. I use it frequently for announcing additions, changes, study suggestions etc. If you have a question for me, look here first for the answer.
  2. Exam dates to memorize:
    July 8, 12:05 - 11:59 PM
    July 15, 12:05 - 11:59 PM
    July 22, 12:05 - 11:59 PM
    July 29, 12:05 - 11:59 PM
    Final Exam: August 6, 12:05 - 11:59 PM
    Four Thursdays and a Friday for the final exam. Exams are 60 minutes, available in the twelve hour windows on this list. Clear your schedule for those time slots. We have no room for error during summer.
  3. By lunch time Monday, log in to Webcourses, where all our work will be. You can use the myUCF portal or the Webcourses "back door" which I prefer.
  4. Get your UCF library card "activated" so that you can study the online journal articles from Nature and Science we will use to support the textbook readings.
  5. Get your textbook squared away asap.
    1. 7th edition of Kirkpatrick & Francis, Physics: A Conceptual World View, and
    2. Problem Solving for Physics: A World View
    Both are required texts.
    Buyer beware: Amazon, eBay etc. can be too slow for summer B, but the publisher's website, Cengage Brain, is fast and has several modes for buying, renting or downloading eChapters. They ship very quickly.
  6. I will have a mini-assignment on Tuesday morning for you, just to give you something to work on before the drop/add deadline.
First week is always come and go, start and stop, drop and add, and fussing with the registrar. Wednesday afternoon and Thursday, expect to see the main components roll out for the first big week of work prior to exam 1.

Welcome aboard.