Other Course Information

Binder Requirements

Binder Organization

  1. Place in the beginning of your notebook the following course information sheets:
  2.  
  3. Organize your notebook by unit/topic. Keep all of your notes, handouts, assignments and projects categorized by topic.
  4. Date and identify all your work.
  5. Organize the work within each unit by date. Put new work after old work.
  6. Place all work, unless otherwise indicated, in the 3 ring binder (no loose papers).
  7. Make a separate section for lab handouts, notes, and reports. Keep labs in chronological order. This forms a record of you work as a scientist in training.

Reading

A tip about reading textbooks and course materials: they are not novels. In a novel you typically read a passage once with full comprehension. The action carries you forward through the text. The materials in this course build sequentially and you will at times need to read a section several times before you can move on to the next section. Be self-aware and check in with yourself: Did I understand that passage? Could I solve problems based on it?


Taking Notes

When you take notes during class you should make sure to write down at least what I write on the board. Also write down things I say that help you to understand. Keep your notes on loose-leaf paper that you can store with your other materials in your binder.

If I go too fast or you don’t understand something raise your hand and ask! Chances are very good that you are not the only one who is confused. If no one asks then I can’t know that you missed something. And trust me, I try to stick only to the things you have to know to pass the quiz!


Metacognition

In this course our motto is FIO (an acronym that I leave to the reader: you will figure it out if you think about it for a bit).

It is important that you evaluate yourself frequently as you work to find out what you have learned. Try repeating to yourself the contents of class discussions. Even better, go over the concepts and problem-solving techniques with your study group: communicating something you have learned forces you to organize your thoughts about it. When you do so, you learn it better yourself. This is true also about writing in the course. Your lab reports and the answers to lab questions are learning opportunities. When you explain what you have learned in writing you often find that you have not learned it as well as you thought you did. Go back and learn it properly and your writing will improve.

Last updated: Aug 25, 2011       Keller Home