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Re: How much is too much?



On Mon, 19 Aug 2002 13:46:28 -0500 Tina Fanetti
<FanettT@QUEST.WITCC.CC.IA.US> writes:
Hello all.
I am currently trying to plan this semester's schedule for a first
semester calc based physics course. My dilemma is this: How much
work is too much.

*** Traditionally the average liberal arts college student is expected
to complete 2 hours of homework for each hour in class. Students in
engineering couses are expected to spend a bit more time.
Students toward the lower end of the IQ range and
those at the gifted end should adjust the homework time to
meet their special needs if they desire grades higher than "C"

The students will have each week or so
1 lab report (includes prelab)

*** This depends on your requirements for a student lab report:
A lab report containing the minimum amount of data, conclusions,
and a brief non-statistical error analysis should only require only an
hour or two for the average student. At the other extreme, a lab report
that provides a thorough quantitative error analysis based on several
additional
trials as well as several additional suggestions for improved procedures

and lab equipment modifications might require four hours or more for
the best students.

1-2 homework assignments of about 10 problems.


*** Ten problems which only require a statement of the
appropriate equation, substitution of numbers, and a final answer
with the correct number of significant figures would be good.
Hoever, if problems are either easier or more difficult that the
plug-and-chug variety, the number of problems should be
adjusted accordingly.

They will have a term paper of about 10 pages.

*** Why 10 pages???
The length of a term paper should be closer to the old quip about
the acceptable length for a woman's dress. That is, it should be
" Long enough to cover the subject and short enough to be interesting"

Now, I would like them to do some shorter papers of about 1-2 pages
in length. The topics would come from the further invesitgations
questions in their text books (Reese). I was thinking one paper per
test . So that would mean the students would need to write 4 little
papers. Does this seem like too much work?

*** Whether or not it is too much work depends on factors such as:

1.... your minimum requirements (that you state in advance) for a student
to earn a grade of A, B, C, or just a passing grade for the course?

2 ... how much time you are willing to put in to develop and maintain
a very complicated system of points that are awarded for lab reports,
short tests, short papers, term paper and other items that have to be
weighted, compiled, and adjusted to ensure fairness .

Herb Gottlieb from New York City
(Where the less able students always object to a system that gives them
the
low grades that they deserve)



Tina

Tina Fanetti
Physics Instructor
Western Iowa Technical Community College
4647 Stone Ave
Sioux City IA 51102
712-274-8733 ext 1429