From ddale@uwyo.edu 
Subject: Re: Homework

XXXX,

I'm glad you brought this to my attention.  I sympathize.  In fact, in the
very first lecture I stated that I am probably like most people in that I
cannot learn the material by simply passively listening to a lecture.
Rather, I must go through and do several problems before I can begin to
efficiently solve problems.  I claim that most everyone is like this.
Given that physics is both mathematically and conceptually demanding, how
can one expect to learn the material from just listening to another
person lecture?

So you may ask "What's the point of lecture?"  It is to provide further
insight from an experienced problem solver.  I give hints, shortcuts,
conceptual ideas, analogies, etc, stuff that I've built up over the
years.  Moreover, I give demonstrations and show computer simulations and
videos because some people learn by these methods and not by "chalk
talk."  The concept questions are also not covered in the book; I force
you to teach & learn as teams, which is yet another way some people
prefer to learn.

You should expect physics to be tough, but not un-conquerable.  I'm not
going to patronize you by simply saying physics is tough, though.  I'm
sure most of your colleagues are struggling with the material as well.
That is expected.  But most people do learn enough in this short course to
pick up the basic concepts and problem-solving skills.  That's what I
shoot for in such a short timespan, covering such difficult material.

Others have done it before, and I'm sure you will succeed likewise.  If
you need extra help, come see me any day at 11:00, or go to Physics at
Night, or go to the engineering help sessions, or your discussion TA's
office hours, etc.  There's lots of help out there.

By the way, I smiled when I read "...causing me to teach myself
every Sunday night..."  That is EXACTLY what I expect.  You shouldn't feel
inferior/unqualified/etc.  A normal student must learn how to solve
physics problems on his/her own.  Otherwise it won't sink in.

Sincerely,
Danny

> I have just submitted the homework for this week.  After spending four hours
> on it yesterday and another today, I would be lying if I said I wasn't
> disappointed with a 45%.  I am having serious problems tying the lecture
> material together with the homework.  This fact is causing me to teach
> myself out of the book every Sunday night.  I don't mind doing this, I would
> just like to receive some value from the three hours a week I spend in
> lecture.  If I am the only one with these problems, let me know, and I will
> start going to your office to help tie the two together.  From what I have
> heard from talking with classmates, however, is that I am not the only one
> with these issues.  If you would like to get back to me to address this, I
> would appreciate it.