I'm not a person who curses, but this type of thing greatly vexes me. Why does any sane educator think we can fit equivalent learning into 20% less time? I feel sorry for you having to figure this out. Semesters were 16 weeks when I first started and now we're down to 13.5. I can't imagine going to 12. Three week mini-terms are impossible in physics at the undergraduate level unless you have highly-motivated A-level students!!! Even then it won't involve senior level topics.
I'm sorry for the rant, but that action is worse than any physics textbook errors which might be out there. At least we can correct those on the fly when we encounter them.
Practically, you're going to have to leave out a lot of material. In the introductory sequence, geometrical optics and magnetic fields are the first to disappear. AC circuits probably wasn't there to begin with, but it's gone, too, with a 12 week class. RC circuits, moment of inertia calculations are next. It's really sad ... Of course, you could leave everything in, pick up the pace, and leave 90% of the students in the dust and hating physics. Sigh...
-----Original Message-----
From: Phys-l [mailto:phys-l-bounces@mail.phys-l.org] On Behalf Of Donald Smith
Sent: Wednesday, February 28, 2018 8:01 PM
To: Phys-L@phys-l.org
Subject: [Phys-L] Semester length and course structure
Good evening,
This is perhaps a bit different from the usual type of question asked here, but my college is about to switch from a 15 week semester to a
12 week semester combined with a 3 week mini-term in which students take one, intensive, 3-credit class at a time. Does anyone here teach at a school that has such a schedule? I would be interested to hear stories about how you made it work for better physics instruction, or if you have any horror stories that suggest what to avoid trying. I have some ideas about short lab classes and computational physics projects, but I would love to hear about what others have tried. If this forum isn't the right venue for that conversation, I would welcome emails sent directly to me.