[Phys-L] Re: Goals of the Introductory Course

[Rick Tarara <rtarara@SAINTMARYS.EDU>]

----- Original Message -----
From: "Rodney Dunning" <rdunning@BSC.EDU>



> Colleagues,
>
> When teaching the introductory course, what are the essential lessons
> you would like students to learn through having taken the course?


These are straight from my syllabi for two different level courses:



GENERAL GOALS:  (GENERAL EDUCATION COURSE)



1)       To provide a window onto the way a scientist 'knows'.  To
accomplish this, a conceptual study of motion is undertaken following a
historical development of the topic, from Aristotle to Einstein.

2)       To apply the basic concepts involved with motion to understand
familiar phenomenon and to aid in understanding more complex physical
concepts and concepts from other scientific fields.

3)       To become familiar with the experimental and analytical techniques
of physics through laboratory investigations of a variety of physical
phenomenon.

4)       To build an understanding of how science (and in particular,
physics) helps shape out daily lives.



GENERAL GOALS:  (SCIENCE MAJOR--CALCULUS LEVEL COURSE)



1)       To provide a strong conceptual framework for understanding the
basics of force, motion, electrical interactions, thermal phenomenon, and
basic optics.

2)       To develop strong analytical problem solving skills that can be
applied outside the narrow confines of 'physics problems'.

3)       To provide training and practice with the experimental and
analytical techniques of physics/science through laboratory investigations
of a variety of physical phenomenon.

4)       To apply advanced math skills to the understanding of science and
to use the science to deepen the understanding of the math.





Rick



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Richard W. Tarara
Professor of Physics
Saint Mary's College
Notre Dame, Indiana
rtarara@saintmarys.edu
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