Re: Physics lab and lecture grade

["Frohne, Vickie" <VFrohne@BEN.EDU>]

In our university the lab and lecture are separate courses. Some students
take the lab a year or two after they take the lecture, which I view as NOT
a good thing. Pedagogically, I much prefer having the lab and lecture
integrated into one course. This works best if the lecture classes are
sufficiently small that one instructor is responsible for teaching the
lecture and all of its associated labs. As a practical matter, administering
the lecture and lab as separate courses may be a necessity if the lecture
and labs are taught by different or multiple instructors. In that case, the
lecture and labs should be co-requisites. Students who do not take the
lecture and lab in the same year do not receive the full benefit of either.

Advantages for lecture/lab being a single course:
        Better integration of lecture and lab
        Better timeliness in discussing students' questions.
        Can use lab time to give homework hints, etc. for the lecture
        Can use lecture time to discuss labs.

Advantages for separate lecture and lab courses:
        Students who pass the lab but fail lecture can re-take just the
lecture.
        Transfer students who took the lecture but not the lab can take just
the lab.
        Easier bookkeeping when there are multiple instructors for the
lecture/labs.

----Vickie Frohne


-----Original Message-----
From: Jerry Lisantti [mailto:lisantti@CENTENARY.EDU]
Sent: Thursday, September 04, 2003 1:32 PM
To: PHYS-L@lists.nau.edu
Subject: Re: Physics lab and lecture grade


In all of our physics classes with lab we separate the grades.  One grade
for three credit hour course and on grade for one credit hour lab.

"Gonzalez-Espada, Wilson" wrote:

> Hello all:
>
> In my department we are debating our grading system in physics. Currently,
students enroll in a 4-credit intro physics course and receive one grade
that integrates lecture and lab performance (25% lab; 75% lecture). In our
physical science courses, students enroll in a lecture section (PHSC 1013)
and an independent lab section (PHSC 1021). They receive a grade for lecture
and a separate grade for lab. We would like to standardize our grading
system.
> I will appreciate any information about how grading is done in your
physics departments and the rationale behind it. If you feel strongly one
way or the other, even though your university does not assign grades that
way, your contribution is also appreciated. Thanks for your time.
> Wilson J. Gonzalez-Espada, Ph.D.
> Asst Professor of Physical Science/Science Education
> School of Physical and Life Sciences
> Arkansas Tech University
> 1701 N. Boulder Ave. (McEver Hall)
> Russellville, AR  72801
> (479) 968-0293
> (479) 964-0837 fax
>
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