An upper level lecture course. This example demonstrates how a divided class might work and incorporate significant group work.
Course type
Upper level Physics course
Examples
Physics 374,375,376
Class size
10 – 20
Room capacity
~ 15
Asynchronous
3-4 weekly lecture videos about 15 minutes apiece
Synchronous
Synchronous classroom activities with ½ of class meet on alternate class days. Mixed discovery activities (group work), short clarifying presentations by instructor
Assessments
2 midterm exams + Final Exam – Done in class using lab space to create spacing.
Assignments
Weekly homework submitted electronically in pdf form.
- Moodle
- Zoom
- Electronic Whiteboard for student group work
- Online Mathematica? A way for students to create and share Mathematica workbooks.
- Faculty and each student has some sort of writable screen with a stylus. For example, iPad with Apple Pencil, Surface with stylus, etc.
- Camera for the classroom. – Only if students must attend remotely
This course is a small section upper level physics course. Significant course time is allocated to group work from students working on challenging multi-step problems. By dividing the course into two sub-groups, students can still come to the class every other day when the classroom does not allow for all students to be in attendance.
Since group activities might be allowed in the traditional way, students could work on laptops with virtual whiteboards and Mathematica workbooks to work together. Faculty member can supervise either by walking around to students (if allowed) or using a separate computer to see work.
If needed, the in-person in class activities could be moved online.
Personal whiteboards could be used to make work large enough to see from 4-6’
Maintain in person contact for all students while allowing for social distancing.
- Relatively high degree of technical dexterity
- Uniform hardware/software for faculty and students
- Requires more independent work from students.