January 11, 2011
The website for the online sections is: http://www.pa.msu.edu/courses/2011spring/phy232c/
The website contains useful information for the course, including links to the syllabus; class announcements; the class calendar provides detailed reading assignments and due dates; instructions for using Lon-Capa; exam policies; textbook information; and the grading criteria for the course.
Prof. Tollefson
January 10, 2011
Welcome to the spring 2011 session of PHY 232C,
You are receiving this message because you are enrolled in PHY 232C section 730 or section 731.
The required text book is Knight-Jones-Field: College Physics (A Strategic Approach), Second Edition, Volume 2. It is sold at the MSU bookstore and at SBS on Grand River. If you already have the first edition of volume 2 of this text, you will not need to purchase the second edition.
This class will use LON-CAPA. LON-CAPA is a computerized homework and exam management system developed right here at MSU. We will NOT use Angel or Mastering Physics from the textbook. Since this is an online class, you are not required to purchase an i-clicker.
Please visit www.loncapa.msu.edu and log in using your MSU Net ID and password. Select the "PHY 232/232C Fall 2010" class. The first item on the top is the syllabus. You can also review the syllabus without logging in to Lon-Capa here: https://s10.lite.msu.edu/public/msu/3v211900030224da4msua4/syllabus Read it carefully. This is the official syllabus of the class.
The next two items are folders containing the lectures for the course. The “Classroom Lectures” folder will contain the slides used in the traditional lecture, PHY 232, and are provided here for you as an additional resource. The “Online Lectures” folder contains the lectures specifically designed for this online course; they are in the form of narrated PowerPoint presentations with example problems. A high speed internet connection (i.e. not dial-up) and a computer with the ability to view flash video are required. All of the online lectures for the course are currently available.
The next folder will contain the homework for the course. There are weekly homework sets that are due on Wednesdays at 11:59PM. The first homework set is due Wednesday, January 19 at 11:59PM. Currently, only homework set 1 is available. Subsequent homework sets will open the morning (Thursdays) after the previous one was due.
If you are living or traveling far from the MSU campus at the time of the exam, beyond a reasonable commuting distance, or if you are traveling with an MSU-sponsored program, you may be able to arrange a proctored off-campus exam. Arrangements must be made well in advance of the exam – requests made after the deadline will not be accommodated and you will have to take the exam at MSU. For arrangement details and deadlines: http://www.pa.msu.edu/courses/2011spring/PHY232C/Off-campus exams/off-campus.htm
You are encouraged to come to the help room (BPS 1248) with your questions. Our Teaching Assistants will be more than happy to answer your questions. Starting next week, the help room will be open Monday through Thursday from 9:00AM to 9:00PM and Friday 9:00AM to 6:00PM. TAs assigned to help with PHY232 specifically will be available all day Wednesdays and most of the day on Tuesdays. A detailed schedule for the PHY232 TAs will be available by the end of the first week of class.
You are also encouraged to use the discussion board inside LON-CAPA. If you don't understand a problem or you need help, just click on the "Post discussion" link and post your question. If you are seeking electronic help on a homework problem, use the post discussion option. More likely than not, others will have the same question and unlike email, everyone can then benefit from your question and subsequent response(s). If you know the answer to another student's posted question, just post your answer. Don't forget: The best way to learn is to teach. (Doscendo discimus).
Prof. Tollefson
Last updated: Jan. 8, 2011