Wednesday, December 17, 2008

Writing C

For some reason, the Webcourses gradebook would not let me upload your grades for Writing C.

But I did slot them into the spreadsheet on my Powerbook in which I compute grades, so it is all squared away, and the letter grades I posted to the registrar yesterday by 5 PM deadline are based calculations with those Writing C points.

I will try to force them into the gradebook somehow, a little later today. But for right now, I feel it is time for a nap. My semester is now over! ;)

Monday, December 1, 2008

Create a question for the final, for bonus points.

I just set up a discussion area in Webcourses, wherein you can suggest a multiple choice for the final exam. For students who create really good questions, I will award 2 bonus points if I include your question on the final. Meg and I will read and comment in the discussion area, too, so make sure it is a good question.

I posted an example question to go by.

By the way, this bank of questions can be a really good study tool, to get yourself ready for the final.

Have fun.

Chapter 22 concept guide is now up.

The concept guide for chapter 22 is short but sweet. It is now available for study purposes in Webcourses.

Tuesday, November 18, 2008

General feedback for exam 2

If you go to Assessments in Webcourses, and then select "View Submission" and look at the General Feedback for each question. We cannot publish the exact questions, but these feedback blurbs will help you study for the final exam.

Right now we only have a few of the questions set up with feedback, but we will add feedback for all of them by finals week if not sooner.

Chapters 20 and 21 concept guides are UP.

You can now use the concept guides for chapters 20 and 21 in Webcourses. These cover several concepts about electromagnetism, leading up to our last module next week: Chapter 22.

ALSO: You can try the chapter 21 mini-quiz now, too, as you study.

Friday, November 14, 2008

Exam 2 average: 34/50

OK, your exam 2 scores are now on the books. Class average was 34/50, which, if I were to give a letter grade to it, would be a C.

Monday, November 3, 2008

Entropy chapter's concept guide is now UP.

The entire concept of entropy, at the end of chapter 14, is the target for physicists trying to understand
  1. atmospheric physics like hurricanes,
  2. quantum physics applied to communication and cryptography systems
  3. black holes and other exotic astrophysical objects
  4. many other phenomena
So this chapter is a good one to make a high priority target, intellectually speaking. That is, your wisdom will be very omnivorous if you can get a hold of the concept of entropy.

The concept guide is now available for chapter 14, the entropy chapter. So, have at it!!
Simulation of supernova explosion at the core of a large star.

Chapter 12 mini-quiz

For those of you that got stranded by the chapter 12 mini-quiz, I re-opened it for you til 11:30 PM tomorrow night, Tuesday, Nov. 4.

The chapter 14 mini-quiz is now available, on schedule, and the concept guide will be up a little later this afternoon.

Thursday, October 30, 2008

Concept guide for chapter 13 is up.


The chapter 13 mini-quiz has been available for a few days, and now the concept guide is ready, too. Look in the Concepts Guides page or the learning module for week 10.

Thursday, October 23, 2008

Your chapter 12 concept guide is ready.

By now you could probably piece together what my concept guides will look like before I post them, but here we go.

Your concept guide for the aerodynamics/Bernoulli Effect chapter, Ch. 12, is now UP. Look in Webcourses and do not forget the podcasting site for detailed homework exercises worked out with visual diagrams and equations plus narration.

Monday, October 13, 2008

New module is UP, with podcasting

We now skip forward to chapter 11, for which the week 8 module is now ready:
  1. Concept guide for chapter 11, "Structure of Matter"
  2. Ch. 11 mini-quiz
  3. Podcasting links
The podcasting is visual content to reinforce and supplement your reading, especially the exercises at the end of each chapter.

NOTE: The podcasting site is from a long ago semester, Summer 2007, so ignore all the old announcements and such, but definitely use the visual podcasts, because they are still right on the mark. Some of these podcasts are for earlier chapters, so you can actually use them in Nov. to prepare for the final exam!

Tuesday, October 7, 2008

Study groups ready to go

Right now there are three people looking to start study groups:
  1. Kissimmee
  2. Daytona Beach/Palm Coast
  3. Altamonte Springs
Look at the Discussions area in Webcourses.

Monday, October 6, 2008

Concept guide UP for chapter 8, angular momentum.

I love angular momentum, since it is so important to the behavior of atoms and galaxies and everything in between. It puts together everything we have studied so far about
  1. forces
  2. momentum
  3. energy


So look over the Concept Guide for Chapter 8, which is now available on the home page and in Learning Modules.

Organize and find study group members near you

Sometimes the best study strategy is to find a study partner or a small group of study partners. It helps to talk and review together, because
  1. talking and reviewing with one other person force you to THINK, and
  2. you stay organized a little bit better when you have someone to "synch" with regularly.
Trouble is, in online PSC1121 it is tough to find a study partner.

So go to the Discussion area, Study groups - find someone in your geographical area, type in a message with your geographic area in the Subject box, and see if you can make a new friend to study with.

From my previous semesters in PSC1121, it really helps a LOT.

As an example, I typed in a discussion posting for a study group on my home planet. :)

Friday, October 3, 2008

Exam scores are UP

Your first midterm exam scores are now UP. Look in the "Grade Book" page.

Tuesday, September 30, 2008

Exam procedure for Thursday

Midterm examinations take place on Thursdays, Oct. 2 and Nov. 13.

  1. You will have 60 minutes for each midterm exam

  2. and the exams will be available between 12:05 PM (lunchtime) and
    11:59 PM (the midnight oil).

  3. So you must schedule a one hour block of your time starting after lunch and before 11:00 PM, if you want the full hour to take the exam.


You will take the exam online, inside Webcourses, a lot like the mini-quizzes, only longer. So work out your schedule to be in front of a good computer for the test.

Exam 1 this Thursday, chapters 2-6

Your first online midterm exam is this Thursday, covering concepts and a few calculations in chapters 2-6.

Your review plan should include:
  1. chapter 2, concept guide and mini-quiz for starters.
  2. chapter 3, concept guide and mini-quiz
  3. chapter 4, concept guide and mini-quiz
  4. chapter 5, concept guide and mini-quiz
  5. chapter 6, concept guide and mini-quiz


Note: Even though you have chapter 7 to work on this week, the exam will only cover material we finished last Saturday, up to chapter 6. So get in some work on chapter 7 as a break for exam prep, but make doubly sure to be ready on chapters 2-6 by Thursday, and then finish chapter 7 stuff after that.

Wednesday, September 24, 2008

Concept guide, Chapter 6 ready to roll.

Concept guide chapter 6 is good to go. Look in Learning module for week 5. Sorry, it is about 48 hours late.

Monday, September 15, 2008

Concept guide is UP for Chapter 5, Gravitation.

The Learning Module for Week 4 is now up and running. It has
  1. concept guide for chapter 5
  2. mini-quiz
  3. writing assignment which will appear when you snag 18 points or more on the mini-quiz
  4. and a new Flash file with audio of some extra practice with subtracting vectors
  5. plus a PDF version of the same file, with narration notes instead of audio.

Saturday, September 13, 2008

Do over

I think a significant percentage of you did not understand the wording of Writing Assignment C's question.

So I reworked it and set up a new version, due Wednesday night, 10 PM, "Writing Assignment C, no messing around version."
  1. Click into the no messing around version and carefully read the new wording in red lettering.
  2. It is just a rewording of the original, so you might be able to re-cycle the wording of your initial attempt.
  3. To nab your initial attempt from the old version, just click into Assessments, and select "View Submission" for Writing Assignment C. I have set the initial version to allow you to do this.
  4. But as always, we want you to think about the question, so read those red letters carefully.
  5. And for paybacks, I will give everybody an extra point, a bonus point. So a perfect sentence would go down as 6/5 instead of 5/5. SWEEEEEEEEET.
  6. ALSO: We won't be grading the stinky initial version, only the new no messing around version.

Sunday, September 7, 2008

Grading on writing tasks begins this week.

My two TAs for the semester just got hired in last Friday, so we are now getting ready to work on all tasks in the online exams. You will see, for example, that our writing tasks start getting graded. Also, new study tools will be put in place, lots of new stuff. Stay tuned here to Announcements.

Chapter 4 concept guide is UP.

Your learning module for this week is now UP and ready. Right now you can look over the concept guide for chapter 4. On Monday morning, the mini-quiz will open up, and when your mini-quiz score is greater than or equal to 10, the writing assignment C for this week will appear.

Look in Learning Modules in Webcourses.

Tuesday, September 2, 2008

Writing tasks synchronized with mini-quizzes

Some of you complained about the Writing Task A being due before the mini-quiz to which it refers. I have now fixed that for all the writing assignments, A - D. the mini-quiz that refers to each writing task is now due at the same time as its writing task.

Ch. 2 mini-quiz also extended until Thursday morning

OK, I just extended the due date for Writing Task A and the chapter 2 mini-quiz until Thursday morning, 8:00 AM.

You guys with textbook troubles, it might be a strategic move right now to get yourself chapter 2 and chapter 3 as i-chapters (PDF), from the Course Smart textbook site. The link is on the home page (and right here!), then on Course Smart, page down to the "More Info" link for purchasing the individual i-chapters etc. They are pretty good. I have tried them myself, and $4.49 is not too expensive.

Course Smart site
Physics: A World View, 6th Edition

Saturday, August 30, 2008

Writing assignment A

I will make an extension of Writing assignment A, being as how so many of you got tripped up, textbook-wise. Not unusual here at UCF.

Anyway, I will re-open the Writing Assignment A for 48 hours, starting Tuesday morning at 8 AM.

But until then, make sure to enjoy the weekend!

Sunday, August 24, 2008

Welcome to Fall 2008 online PSC1121

Bookmark this page, so that you can keep up with all my announcements.

For this week, you can start by
  1. Reading through all pages, calendars, schedules and other areas in our Webcourses area.
  2. Begin studying chapter 2. See the chapter two concept guide inside Webcourses.
  3. Work on the chapter 2 mini-quiz, a study tool for this week.
  4. After you have done well on the chapter 2 mini-quiz, your Writing Assignment A will activate. One attempt, take your time.
  5. For busy bees among you, I have set up some chapter 3 study materials, too: chapter 3 concept guide and mini-quiz.

You can click into the Week 1 Learning Module for most of this.

Always keep an eye on announcements here!

Wednesday, August 6, 2008

Semester grades are IN


Your semester grades are IN at the registrar's website.

Tuesday, August 5, 2008

Writing task 2.2 is finished. YAY

OK, now that Webcourses has settled its conniption fits, I have been able to get all the grading done on Writing Task 2.2.

YAY

Next task for me: calculate everybody's bonus point totals and then semester grades.

After that: figure out a new super-secret strategy to get Brett Favre back on the field for Green Bay Packers domination of NFC North! :)

Monday, August 4, 2008

Server Downtime Extended

Students: Here is another trouble alert on the Webcourses system. I
am sure glad we did not run into this last week! Hang in there.

> Dear faculty,
>
> The server admins are extending the downtime until 11 pm tonight to
> complete necessary work on the server.
>
> Thank you again for your patience while we resolve this issue,
>
> CDWS

Webcourses@UCF Downtime - 4 pm today

Students: I am emailing in this announcement about Webcourses being
off the air today.

> Dear faculty,
>
> It has become necessary to bring down Webcourses@UCF for a time this
> afternoon, from 4 pm until 8 pm, to address a storage issue.
>
> Our apologies for the short notice, and we thank you for your
> patience while we perform this necessary service.
>
> CDWS

Task 2.1 is now finished.

Your writing task 2.1 scores are now finished and UP.

Next: Finish up task 2.2 grading!

Saturday, August 2, 2008

Writing task 2.1

I will be finishing up writing task 2.1 grades today, then get moving on 2.2.

Do not pester Dr. B about grades. :)

Exam 3 grades UP

Your exam 3 grades are UP.

While waiting for your semester grades, catch up on your ZZZZZZZ, get some sunshine and fresh air, and most importantly, avoid PESTERING Dr. B about grades!! :)

Instead, you could catch up on your UFO research maybe, or figure out how to get Brett Favre back on the field. Meanwhile, do not telephone, email, course mail or post discussion thread about where your grades are, or you will be flagged for illegal procedure, 5 yard penalty.

OFFICIALS' JURISDICTIONS, POSITIONS, AND DUTIES

Referee—General oversight and control of game. Gives signals for all fouls and is final authority for rule interpretations. Takes a position in backfield 10 to 12 yards behind line of scrimmage, favors right side (if quarterback is right-handed passer). Determines legality of snap, observes deep back(s) for legal motion.

Friday, August 1, 2008

Deadline is extended one hour into Saturday morning.

Due to the network hiccups at noon, and the difficulty of getting the exam back on the air, I am extending the deadline for exam 3 by one hour. The new deadline is 1:00 AM tomorrow (Saturday) morning.

OK, go for it: exam 3, 38 questions, 50 points

Sorry that the network was semi-kaput for a while there.

Exam 3 is ready to go. It has 38 questions and 50 points total. I also slapped in a bonus exam, too.

GO FOR IT!!!

Serious trouble on Webcourses

Not sure what is happening, but it looks like there is some serious trouble on the Webcourses server.

Hold on everybody!

Exam 3 a bit late

I am running a few minutes late on Exam 3.

Hold on, it is almost ready.

Exam 3 today, after lunch

Today you take Exam 3 after lunch. Be ready for a regular 50 point exam PLUS something extra.

You'll have 60 minutes, one hour, for the exam, so get started before 11 PM if you want full time to take it.

Note: this is not cumulative, like a regular final. It is more like a midterm exam, covering only concepts from Module 3.

GO FOR IT!!

Tuesday, July 29, 2008

Writing task 2.1, one more day

I decided this morning to extend writing task 2.1 until Wednesday night, another 24 hours from original deadline.

So this makes the following deadlines:

  • Writing task 2.1 due Wednesday, 11:59 PM
  • Writing task 2.2 due Thursday, 11:59 PM
And don't forget: Exam 3 is Friday!

Writing assignment 2.2 is ready!

We now have the last writing assignment in place, Writing Task 2.2, due Thursday, 11:59 PM, 15 points, one or two sentences.

Sneak peek: it is about compasses and electric currents.

Look in Module 3 part B.

Make it part of your exam prep.

Monday, July 28, 2008

Concept guide 3 B is ready.

The last concept guide is up and ready, Concept Guide 3B. Look in Learning Module 3 B.

It covers just one chapter for this week. Exam 3 on Friday is not cumulative like a final exam. It only covers Module 3, parts A and B.

Saturday, July 26, 2008

Extra iTunes U podcast about resistors, Chapter 21

I just created a new podcast about the reisstors exercise #9 in ch. 21 of the problem solving manual. It is in the "Electromagnetism" folder of the iTunes U area.

It is extra, above and beyond the concept guide 3A, but I think I will ask a bonus question or two on the final over this topic. It is centered on concepts in the textbook, p. 437 and thereabouts.

Friday, July 25, 2008

New podcast episode, coffeemaker exercise, p. 445

I just made a new visual podcast episode about the coffeemaker exercise on p. 445 of Chapter 21. It involves "I2R heating" which is part of concept guide 3 A. Look in Discussions, and use the link to our iTunes U to view this podcast.

Wednesday, July 23, 2008

UCF has iTunes U, and I have podcasts there.

UCF recently activated an iTunes U service. Our course is the very first on UCF's iTunes U.

I have two podcasts on there now: Pressure, density, thermodynamics and Electromagnetism. I published the link and some basic specs in the new iTunes U discussion area inside Webcourses. let me know, in Discussions, how it goes for you.
iTunes download page

Writing task 2.1, on thermodynamics


Writing task 2.1 is ready for you to work on, due next Tuesday, July 29.

However, it is a deluxe task, so you should read the instructions page, "Read before attempting Writing Task 2.1," or you might blow your one attempt.

Look in Module 3 part A.

Exam 2 grades are now UP

Look at your My Grades page to see your Exam 2 grade.

I will try to set up some Writing Task 2 items today, but not with TurnItIn... they will be normal Webcourses items. Keep an eye here on Announcements for news that the new writing items are activated.

Tuesday, July 22, 2008

41 questions on Exam 2, 50 points

Exam 2 will open up for business at lunchtime today. You will have 60 minutes to earn 50 points.

Note: there are a few matching items, which, in Webcourses, have to be for points greater than 1, so instead of 50 questions, there are only 41. Don't worry, though, because the total pointage is still 50 points!

Be prepared for action!

Monday, July 21, 2008

Exam 2 on Tuesday after lunch

Your exam 2 will open for business tomorrow, July 22, at 12:05 PM, during the lunch hour. It is a one-hour test and will have to be finished, saved and submitted by 11:59 PM. So schedule out a 60 minute block of time that starts after 12:05 PM and ends by 11:59 PM.

You will have one attempt only, so make sure your web browser and internet service are ROCK solid. Use the battlefield mini-quiz again if necessary.

Serious trouble in GradeMark: further writing tasks postponed until Wednesday or later.

It is the Monday before a midterm, so naturally, there is another serious software problem on Webcourses. This time it is in GradeMark.

For this reason I am postponing further writing tasks until Wednesday or later. This means the Writing Task 2.

So get ready for tomorrow afternoon's exam 2. It will be available at 12:05 PM right at lunch time, and get it finished and submitted by 11:59 PM. (This means you have to start by before 11:00 PM to get a full hour to take it and CRUSH it.)

Concept guide 3 A is now UP


Your third module formally starts today, a combo module of thermodynamics and some more electromagnetism. There are also three new mini-quizzes.

Look in the Module 3 part A page.

By the by, next week is Easy Week -- one last chapter, "Electromagnetism," chapter 22.

Pop ups

I notice lately that popup blocking in my browser, Safari 3, really shuts down a lot of Webcourses features like my mini-quizzes and other features that we faculty have. Maybe I am just imagining things, but Webcourses did not seem so blockable earlier this summer.

Anyway, be careful about your settings for blocking popups. AOL is especially heinous in this regard.

Wednesday, July 16, 2008

Writing task 1A, item 2 is done. YAY

YAY. I just finished grade both versions of writing task 1A, item 2:
  1. fuzzy dice
  2. net forces
Everybody got one or the other. However, both lines exist in your My Grades page, unfortunately, so you will have a regular score for one of them, and a 0/5 for the other. Ignore that 0/5.

Tuesday, July 15, 2008

Webcourses down...again! and back UP

Students, I just got an email from the webcourses admin:

Notice from UCF to faculty:
Beginning at approximately 1:05 pm this afternoon, Webcourses@UCF began experiencing a connection issue. The server admins are already working on the problem. An update will be posted here as soon as there is more information.


So we wait to do our work this afternoon!
more:

Dear faculty,

Webcourses@UCF was restored at 1:30 pm today. Thank you again for your patience.


So I guess we can get back to work....maybe.

GradeMark comments icon

When you look at your TurnitIn assignments, and if it is graded, you should be able to see a little icon. Click on it and you will see my comments, and exactly where and why you might have gotten points taken off.

Monday, July 14, 2008

Typos in chapter 8 mini-quiz are fixed

Go take the chapter 8 mini-quiz again. There were two questions that were all discombobulated with typos. I just fixed them, but it changes the correct answer for them, so go back in and run through it again, just to be sure.

Sorry for the mixup!

WHEEEW, writing task 1A, item 1 is done.

I just finished grading writing task 1A, item 1.

Be careful next time when submitting your answers. Type carefully or cut-and-paste carefully, because I had a few students with time on the attempt but nothing actually submitted.

Concept guide for Module 2 part B is UP

I just activated your concept guide for this week, "Concept guide for Module 2 part B," which
  1. starts us on the topics of pressure, temperature and density and
  2. begins the sequence of electromagnetism topics.
There is a ton of exercises to work on, vocabulary to learn and pages to read.

P.S. I am still working on grading the writing assignments. Stay alert.

Friday, July 11, 2008

Code for Writing Task 1A, item 1

Writing task 1A, item 1 is actually a Webcourses assessment, so it does not have a built-in rubric like the other tasks. But it is easy to grade if I use a simple code.

If you see that you have 5/5, then you snagged each item on the rubric. Everything A-OK, and many of you are doing so.

If you are 4/5 or less, then you got dinged for one or more of the rubric items. If you click on your "attempt" you can read my comments. It will look a bit like this page (click for full size), which is my demo-student page. Here is the code that you will see in my comments:

  • -D if I take -1 point off on the DETAIL criterion.
  • -G if I take -1 point off on the GRACE criterion.
  • -C if I take -1 point off on the COMP criterion.
  • -O if I take -1 point off on the ONTPC criterion.
  • -T if I take -1 point off on the TRUE criterion.

If I take off more than that, it will look like -DG for points off on the DETAIL and GRACE criterion.

For the other writing tasks, you will see the criteria directly, no codes.

Remember, be patient as the writing task grades come dribbling in over the next few days, and concentrate on plenty of study concepts in concept guide 2A.

Wednesday, July 9, 2008

Writing task scores

Just so you know: you ought to start seeing writing tasks scores showing up in your My Grades page in dribs and drabs after the deadline passes tonight.

After the deadline passes, I will start grading about 500 sentences, one at a time. So if you get antsy, resist the urge to ask me about them -- the more you pester me, the less time I have to grade... slows things down like crazy.

So buckle down on your Module 2 part A studies.

Blurb sheet on momentum and kinetic energy

I just activated a new blurb sheet that combines chapter 6 and chapter 7 concepts in a short workout. You can review it and check through your other calculations from the main study tool, Concept Gide for Module 2 part A.

Look in the learning module 2 part A.

Enigma machine for some chapter 6 work

There is now a weblink in Module 2 part A that links to an Enigma Machine on the UCF Game Server. It is like a sideways version of Jeopardy, and it walks you through a brain-burner recoil problem, step by step,
  1. from basic tasks with the momentum formula for 100 points
  2. to the the high level target calculation that depends on the three previous steps... which snags you 400 points.
It is just a practice tool, so no points on your semester grade come from it, but you can take it any number of times and you might find it helpful by the time Exam 2 rolls around.

Exam 1 scores are UP

Exam average was 76%, and there were some good questions that...
  1. distinguished higher performing students from lower performing students, and
  2. over half the class answered correctly.
The two matching sets, which covered basic vocabulary and concepts and which everyone had, were good, averaging 75% correct for the big one and 70% for the smaller one.

OK, get moving on the writing tasks, if you have not already done so. They are due tonight, 11:59 PM.

ALSO: time to dig in on module 2 part A!!!!

Tuesday, July 8, 2008

Scores on the books but not visible til sunrise tomorrow

By the by, your exam 1 scores will not show up until tomorrow morning first thing.

This is normal. I have to look over all the attempts and verify that everything was done in a kosher manner, and I do not verify at midnight. I usually do all that first thing in the morning.

So if your exam score seems to have disappeared from your My Grades page tonight, do not panic. Get some shuteye and check back in first thing Wednesday.

Exam 1 is open for business

Exam 1 is now open for business, until 11:59 PM.

Excellent.

Webcourses looks better now: Exam 1 is GO for launch.

As of about 9 AM, Webcourses looks better, no more conniptions, so we are looking good for Exam 1.

Time t -2 hours 37 minutes.
PSC1121 students, you are looking GOOD for launch.

Mini-quizzes open today until 11:30 AM

Since Webcourses was so messed up last night, I re-opened the mini-quizzes so that you can use them until 11:30 AM this morning for some extra study.

Be ready for exam 1 during the 12:05 PM - 11:59 PM time window today.

Emergency version of Concept guide 2A

In case the Webcourses server continues to have conniptions today, I have parked an emergency version of Concept guide for Module 2 part A on the Physics Dept. server. If things "go south" today for Webcourses, you will at least be able to study ahead in Module 2.

Monday, July 7, 2008

Writing tasks postponed; exam is ON.

Due to the Webcourses service being off the air tonight, I have decided to postpone the due date for writing tasks until Wednesday. More about that tomorrow, as soon as Webcourses is back on the air.

So get ready for the midterm exam 1. I expect Webcourses to be ready by lunchtime tomorrow for sure, so plan on taking the exam. Exam 1 is still ON.

If you want some old help files from last summer and if you have iTunes, you can look at some of the homework podcasts from last summer. if they work for you, great. If not, you still have the concept guides.

Be ready for 12:05 PM tomorrow, when the first exam becomes available.

I am sorry we have had this UCF network meltdown on this night!

Webcourses down, part 2

Another message from the computer guys at UCF:

We are having a partial networking issue, affecting webcourses and some other services. Our staff are actively working to resolve the issue at this time.

--Director, Systems and Operations
Computer Services and Telecommunications


Stay alert and be ready to scamper back in as soon as Webcourses goes back ON.

Webcourses down

"The server is currently unavailable. Please try again later. Thank you." ← Not sure why this is happening right now.

Be ready to hit your writing tasks later tonight, as soon as Webcourses goes back on the air.

Reset battlefield version of chapter 3 mini-quiz

I modified the battlefield version of the chapter 3 mini-quiz, so that it has more graphics files embedded. These will make it an even better test tool. The new version is capitalized:
BATTLEFIELD version, ch. 3 mini-quiz.

To do the new graphics, I had to re-set all attempts. A bunch of you have already tried the battlefield version, but re-setting means I had to ditch your attempts. So: If you have already tried it, do it a few more times, just to be extra sure.

REMEMBER: make sure to take the "battlefield" version of the chapter 3 mini-quiz, before you take exam 1, to make double sure that your browser and internet service can handle the exam process. If your computer flakes out on you in the middle of the exam, there is noting I can do, and you'll be stuck with whatever points you have scored before the failure.

If your web browser or internet sevice cannot handle this one, you had better make it your business to find a place to take the test.

Our first exam: Tuesday after lunch

July 8, Exam 1 specs:
  1. 50 points, approximately 50 questions*
  2. Time to take exam 1: 60 minutes.
  3. Availability: 12:05 - 11:59 PM.
  4. Schedule yourself for a one hour block of time that begins after lunch and ends before 11:59 PM.
  5. You see questions one at a time and Webcourses allows questions to be revisited.
  6. One attempt only.
  7. No re-takes, no make-ups, no early takes.
  8. Topics, concepts, diagrams and calculations from Module 1 only.
  9. Be ready to think. ← will be your biggest challenge.

Make sure to take the "battlefield" version of the chapter 3 mini-quiz, to make double sure that your browser and internet service can handle the exam process. If your computer flakes out on you in the middle of the exam, there is noting I can do, and you'll be stuck with whatever points you have scored before the failure.

* Sometimes a matching question will have several items to match, so the question count goes down. I.e., Webcourses counts 4-item matching as one question. So if that were on the test it would be a 4-point question, and there would be only 47 questions. So no matter how this exam stacks up, you will have 50 points.

MODULE 2 ready to go


We are now in the middle two weeks of Summer B. Time to start working on Module 2.

Look in Module 2 part A for the new concept guide and some mini-quizzes. Our exam over module 2 is in two weeks from tomorrow.

TOMORROW: Exam 1, covering module 1. In case you are a bit behind schedule, you have today and tomorrow to get finished up with module 1.



Photo: Corey Dellenbach, Shawano Leader/AP

Thursday, July 3, 2008

Writing task 1B item 2 is GO for launch.

OK, students. Writing task 1B item 2 is UP and ready to work on. I made it a two-sentence assignment, so it is worth ten points on your semester grade, and for this reason, it completes the writing tasks for module 1.

Make sure to read the full instructions for this assignment.

It is due July 7, and I will use same grading criteria as on all writing assignments.

Some extra blurbs

I just set up three extra study blurbs on chapter 4 and chapter 5 topics. They have some numbers worked out to help with some of the exercises in the concept guide for module 1 part B.

Look in Learning Module 1 part B.

Wednesday, July 2, 2008

Writing Task 1B, item 1: one sentence about projectile motion.

OK, the next writing task is up and ready to go, one sentence about projectile motion. It is due next Monday evening. Look for this in learning module 1B.

It is a TurnitIn assignment, so it works a bit differently than the previous tasks. But just click through and look over the assignment, then upload a text file, one sentence only, when you are ready.

Note: there will be two more writing tasks this week, so get this one finished and out of the way.

Time for more bonus points: question for first midterm exam

OK, time to open up the discussion area for suggesting a question for midterm exam 1. Post a question that you think will represent a fair challenge to your classmates. If it is good enough, I will include it on midterm exam 1, July 8, and give you 2 bonus points.

We will do this again for exams 2 and 3.