PHYS 102 :: Physics Illinois :: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Challenge and Check Progress:  Discussion

Weekly two (2) hour discussion sections are required. Students select a discussion section during registration.

The discussion cycle (see course schedule) is designed to provide the opportunity to:

• challenge their understanding in a safe, group environment.
• practice scientific communication through team and written work.
• build a community to explore new material together.
• check progress and practice exam skills.

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Each discussion session will consist of the following:

• Group activities:
  • Students organize themselves into small teams of max. four students within their discussion section
  • They will complete a group activity worksheet as a team.
  • Students are required to come to their section prepared:
    • Each small team should answer all questions labeled as "Preparation activities" or "Preparation questions" before their section and bring their proposed solutions with them for discussion in their team
    • Students need to familiarize themselves with the entire worksheet in advance. This includes reviewing the core concepts from the (pre-)lectures and forming a plan on how to solve the worksheet questions.
    • Students are encouraged to use Microsoft Teams to coordinate prework. Prework can be split up equally among the team members.
    • Coming unprepared to the discussion section may result in deduction of credit or being marked ABS for participation.
  • During their sections, each team will produce a consolidated report:
    • Students discuss their pre-prepared solutions with each other and determine correct solutions
    • Students solve, as a team, the in-section problems of the worksheet
    • Students should ask all questions they have about the problems to their TA before the end of their section.
• Participation grade of the week will reflect the following:
  • Receiving full marks will require answering all questions completely and making a good-faith effort.
  • The report must be each team's own work. Copying other people's work is not acceptable.
  • If you show up to discussion 10 or more minutes late, you will lose all participation points associated with that discussion session.
• The individual skill check:
  • Each student should work on their own skill check.
  • The skill check will be given in the first hour of the discussion session. You have to participate in the discussion in order to get credit for the in-discussion skill check.
  • Skill Checks will be given through PrairieLearn using PrairieTest to access the assignment.
  • Explanations of your answers must be clear and organized. Your TA needs to understand your process.
  • Sloppy and incomplete work will result in reduced credit.
  • You will be able to review your skill check once you have completed it and may ask questions of your TA or peers about the questions during class. You can access them through PrairieLearn.