This course uses a combination of video and hands-on experiments, problem sets, video clips of lectures and problem solutions, the textbook, and instructor-student dialogue via email to work toward a deep understanding of physics at the appropriate level.  The core of this understanding is obtained by experiencing and analyzing the experiments and by solving problems.

In this course you will do Experiments and master Introductory Problem Sets, submitting your work (usually but not always in the form of responses to questionnaires), submit Randomized Homework Problems and Questions in a similar manner, read the Lecture Notes and answer questions as appropriate, read the Textbook to gain the knowledge and understanding necessary to perform well on tests.  When something is not clear you Ask Questions using email.  It is suggested that as you complete this work you monitor your progress in terms of your understanding of the Linked Outline and the Synopsis of the topics of the course.  You will be graded on the work you submit and on the tests and exams, which are generated from a large problem bank and refreshed to the homepage every five minutes.

You should understand that your knowledge of physics is cumulative and that short-term memorization and temporary understanding do not provide the foundation you will need to build on later in the course.  The knowledge and understanding you gain in one part of the course will almost always be used later.

The following features characterize the learning model recommended for the course:

• Experiments and Introductory Problem Sets introduce various situations and ways of thinking about those situations.

• In an experiment you carefully observe what happens in a specific situation, work to understand the physics of that situation, and use your insights and appropriate mathematical tools to analyze the situation and deepen your knowledge of physics.  The experiments give you a tangible experience to provide a reference point for the explanations in the video clips and in your textbook.

• In the Introductory Problem Sets you will encounter worked problems, usually with at least two solutions.  These problems are designed to give you the tools to analyze the experiments and to extend the insights you gain.   These problem sets are accompanied by Explanations of the Introductory Problem Sets on the video clips. 

• You will study these problem sets then submit solutions of randomly selected problems from these sets as homework, using a computerized questionnaire to report selected details of your solution.  
• Your instructor will give you feedback on your work and, where appropriate, offer comments and suggestions.  
• If your solution of a problem or a set of problems fails to exhibit the necessary insight, solution technique or accuracy you will typically be asked to either rework and resubmit the problem(s) or to work related problem(s) selected to lead you to the necessary knowledge.

Randomized Homework Problems and Questions will be due with every assignment. 

• These problems and questions extend the Introductory Problem Sets to the level appropriate to the course in which you are enrolled.  You submit work on these problems in a manner similar to that of the Introductory Problem Sets.

The Lecture Notes appear on the homepage without video clips, and on your CD's with the clips.

• The Lecture Notes are not designed to cover the material in a comprehensive fashion, but rather to present interesting situations and to illustrate the sort of thinking and analysis expected in the course. 
• You will typically have questions to answer related to the assigned notes.
• In many of the lecture clips I have assigned experiments and other work.  These assignments are not official unless they appear on the homepage under Assignments.  They may, however, be done at your option and the instructor will be happy to evaluate your work with no threat of penalty.

The Textbook amplifies on the material covered in the experiments, problem sets and lectures. 

• The text presents the material in a coherent and, for the level of the course, complete manner. 
• After doing the experiments, mastering the Introductory Problem Sets, doing the Randomized Homework Problems and viewing the Lecture Notes, you should ideally be able to read your textbook and the end-of-chapter problems fluently.

If you have difficulty with a problem, an experiment, the lecture notes or the textbook, you Ask Questions using e-mail.

• The instructor will respond to your questions and help you clarify the things with which you are having trouble.
• If a question submitted by email can be resolved more efficiently in a face-to-face meeting or a telephone conversation, arrangements can usually be made to do so.

A Linked Outline is provided, as is a Synopsis of the topics of the course.  

• These materials are important for helping you maintain your focus on the flow of ideas. 
• After completing the assigned work you should be able to read these documents with deep understanding.

Tests are generated from a large problem bank and refreshed every five minutes.

• The problem bank consists of problems randomly generated and selected from the Randomized Homework Problems, Introductory Problem Sets and problems closely related to the end-of-chapter problems in the text.