Students,
Course announcement for Physics 104
A course designed for students taking Physics 121
Fall Quarter 2024
Enhancing understanding in introductory physics
(SLN 20507): Facilitated Group Inquiry)
l would like to let you know that the Physics Department is pleased to announce that during Spring quarter, 2023 Physics 104 (Enhancing understanding in introductory physics) will once again be offered for students enrolled in Physics 121. All of the students currently registered for Physics 121 have received several email regarding the course and additional emails will be sent out as the start of the quarter approaches. The goal of Physics 104 will be to help strengthen understanding of, and facility with, core concepts and skills that are essential to success in university physics courses and ultimately for STEM courses more broadly. The course will provide structured practice in applying key concepts, in articulating the reasoning behind their application to a wide range of physical contexts, and in developing facility with representations commonly used in physics and other sciences (e.g., graphing, vectors, mathematical equations, etc.). Support will also be given in forming study groups and in developing effective collaboration skills. This class has been well received by students for the past 3 years and in end-of-the quarter interviews, students highly recommend it.
There are several components to Physics 104, all of which are designed to complement Physics 121 coursework. These include structured, hands-on activities that are completed in small groups; activities that develop reasoning skills and facility in expressing ideas in writing and orally; and the ability to apply problem-solving skills in a timed situation (such as when taking exams). There is no homework nor exams for the Physics 104 course.
Physics 104 is a 2-credit, CR/NC course that will meet Tuesdays and Thursdays from 5:00-6:20 PM.
I have attached additional information about the course.
Note: There is overlap of course meetings times between Physics 121 and Physics 104 on Thursday evenings. (No class time for Physics 121 will be missed due to this overlap.) Students will need to complete the UW Registration Transaction Form to obtain permission to take the courses concurrently. Please contact Donna Messina (dmessina@uw.edu) for additional information on the course.