Department of Physics and Astronomy
Cornerstones of effective teaching:
1. Mutual Respect. My
students deserve my respect as much as I deserve theirs. I expect that my
students appreciate my attitude towards the class which, in turn, helps their
attitude in the class.
2. Active learning: Real learning requires active
participation of the student. Giving the students questions at the start
of a course gives them a pursuit, during which much of the material is
learned. Lectures should be interactive; if students end up spaced-out
and miss the key points of a lecture the class was merely a waste of time for
everyone.
3. Inspiration and Challenge: If I succeed in turning the
students on and inspiring them to learn on their own, then they'll learn much
more than I can hope to teach myself. Inspired students that are
challenged will discover the true wonder and power of analytical physics and
will succeed at the next level.
Courses
Current Courses (Spring 2009)
Astronomy 51 Lab (General Education course in Astronomy and Astrophysics)
Other Courses previously taught
at
Physics 100 (quasars module for possible physics majors
freshmen)
Physics 110 lab (introductory
physics for life-sciences majors)
Physics 111 (2nd term of general physics for life-science majors)
Physics 120 (Newtonian Mechanics for Science and Engineering Majors)
Physics 122 (Introduction to Modern Physics: Relativity, Quantum, Solids, Nuclear)
Physics 270 (Electrodynamics for Physics and Math majors)
Physics 490 (senior seminar for physics majors)
Astronomy 50 (General Education
course on the Solar System
Click -->here<--
to learn of a full set of Ancient Astronomy Labs in which the students
measure all the different types of parameters in the Solar System without
reference to
prior knowledge in a textbook.)
Astronomy 51 (General Education course in Astronomy and Astrophysics)
Astronomy 52 (Relativity, Black Holes, and Quasars--for the General Education Curriculum)
Astronomy 200 (Stellar Structure and Evolution for science majors)
Astronomy 220 (Cosmology--for physics and other science majors)
Astronomy 240 (Radio astronomy--for physics and other science majors)
Independent Studies: Radio Astronomy; Cataclysmic Variables; Active
Galactic Nuclei
Home Page for the Department of Physics and Astronomy
Last modified: September 9, 2009