Physics 126
Advice regarding the lectures
Lectures: General
Lectures: Attendance
Lectures: Taking Notes
Lectures: General
The lectures are where you should learn the concepts of the course.
To help, we will include a large number of demonstrations, and
many very detailed worked-out examples.
Lectures: Attendance
Although attendance at
lecture is not mandatory, it is strongly suggested that you
do attend. Not only will it be easier for you to keep pace with
the course, but also it will help you on the exams.
- First, some of these demonstrations and examples will appear
(though possibly slightly altered) on exams. When these appear,
they should be very easy for those who attend lecture, and quite
difficult for those who do not.
- Second, by attending lecture you "get a feel" for what material
we consider important. We cannot help it. By being human beings,
we simply emphasize more that material we think is more important.
This emphasis (for those in lecture to pick it up), provides an
important clue for what material to study.
Lectures: Taking Notes
Taking notes in lecture sometimes seems like a chore. It is
very easy to get into the habit of feverishly trying to scribble
down everything that the professor says. Please, do not
do this.
Since the goal of lecture is to teach the concepts, it is
in your best interests to follow the following procedure:
- LISTEN to the material for understanding
- While the professor is talking, also ask yourself questions
about the material, like "Is this a general idea that always
works, or just a specific example?", or "What assumptions
went into this?", or "What is the main unifying thing that
is common about everything the professor said today?"
- Take notes on what the professor says -- making notations
of those things that are important, and those
things that you don't understand (for later reference).
If you have any questions, or comments, please e-mail them to me at
doty@denison.edu. Thanks!