Physics 606: How Things Work II A Distance Learning Course for K-12 Teachers in Physical Science and its Applications

Problem Sets

Several conceptual questions per problem set. Questions will require independent thought on your part in order to answer them correctly. You are encouraged to discuss problems with one another, but you must write up your answers separately and in your own words. Points will be deducted from your problem set if you use someone else's words or allow them to use your words. Most homework problems and exam questions will be taken from your textbook or CDs.

Homework:

Exams:

Exams 1 & 2

You will take two 2-hour closed-book exams using WebAssign on the material on the CDs including the demos; the material in the appropriate chapters that you have been asked to read; and particularly the exercises, problems, and cases in those chapters that you have been assigned. The exam will emphasize understanding of concepts so that memorization will be far less valuable for answering the questions than basic insight into how things work. The exams will be multiple choice with 4 incorrect answers and 1 correct answer. You will submit exams using WebAssign. You may take Exam 1 or 2 any 2 hour period between the dates given above. A proctor is required for each exam. If you take the exam without notifying me who your proctor is, you will fail the exam. 

Proctors

A proctor can be a supervisor, principal, superintendent, Department Chair, or professional colleague. No relatives, in-laws, spouses or social friends are allowed to be proctors. It is the proctor's responsibility to assure me you took the exam according to the given instructions and that you abided by the UVa honor code. The proctor does not have to be present during the entire time you are taking the exam. Before taking any exam you will email me your proctor's name, professional relationship with you, title, email address, telephone, and snail mail address if no email is available. I will email the proctor and give him/her the instructions for you to take the exam. After you have submitted the exam electronically, your proctor will email me to inform me that you took the exam according to the honor system.

Honor Code

All UVa Students are bound by the UVa Honor code. Please familiarize yourself with it in the University of Virginia Graduate Record Catalog. In accordance with the UVa honor code, a student normally writes on the exam that they neither gave or received aid and sign it. It is not possible for the student to sign the exam, since it is submitted electronically. As a substitute procedure, the last question on the exam will be in effect " I pledge that I took the exam without violation of the honor code". The student must answer that question yes or no. You are expected to make arrangements with your supervisor, principal, or superintendent, to proctor your exam. Ground rules and policy for proctoring the exam will be given to you and the proctor.

Exam 3

Exam 3 is the exam that you create. You make up an exam consisting of 14 multiple choice questions with 3 wrong answers and 1 right answer. Submit the exam through email as a Microsoft word attachment. The level of difficulty and style should be similar to the class exams. The exam will be graded based on how well you follow these guidelines:

• Write 14 multiple choice questions with three wrong answers and one right answer. Do not use the answer choice "none of these" or "all of these." Do not use pictures.
• Construct your question from the physics on the CDs and power point slides. Take two questions from each Lecture 27 -33.
• Wrong answers should not be obviously wrong or so ridiculous that they can be easily guessed as wrong. The object is to test as much relevant science knowledge as possible through the right answer and the three wrong answers.
• The level of difficulty should be set at the level of the present class.
• Personalize your questions so I know you made them up. Use situations in your classroom or with your family to make up your question and answers, but take the physics itself from the lectures.
• Do not copy questions from previous years. Do not copy questions from your book or any other book.
• How well do your questions test the physics knowledge of the individual?
• No time limit
• Each answer is worth 0, 1, or 2 pts. and each question is worth 0, 2, or 4 pts. Total number of points on exam is 12 x 14 = 168. If your answer to your question is wrong, you will lose all 12 points regardless of anything else.
• I will choose some of the best questions from each of you for the final exam.
• Arrange your answers so that your correct answer is the first answer. Use the same style of presentation of questions and answers as I gave you.
• Each question is no longer than 4 lines, arial font, size 11.
• Each answer is no longer than 1 line, arial font, size 11.

Final Exam

You will take a three-hour exam at a time convenient for you and your proctor between the dates given above. You will be responsible for all material on the CDs and in the  chapters that you have been asked to read as well as exercises, problems, and cases in those chapters. The exam will emphasize understanding of concepts so that memorization will be far less valuable for answering the questions than basic insight into how things work.