This page gives instructions for registering and using the three online tools that we are using for this course. Please let me know if you have trouble registering, or any other technical difficulties.

McGraw-Hill Connect

Bauer and Westfall cover

"Connect" is McGraw-Hill's online course resource library. You will use Connect to access the eBook textbook for this course, and to complete your online homework assignments. Online assignments will include standard questions and problems, as well as LearnSmart question groups. Connect also offers self-study resources. By special arrangement, Connect is being provided free of charge to students taking PHYS 270 this semester, since Prof. Hill and I have promised to try out the new features of Connect and LearnSmart and give feedback to the developers.

Connect is integrated with ELMS for this course. To register for Connect, log into ELMS and go to the PHYS 270 course area (direct link). Click on the "Modules" item in the navigation menu along the left side, then the "McGraw-Hill" link. That brings up an ELMS page with a button that says "Load McGraw-Hill in a new window". (It may be a new tab rather than a new window, depending on how your browser is configured.) Click on that button. Currently it seems to take ~40 seconds to load (a problem report has been filed to try to improve that). You should then see our course, "PHYS270:GENERAL PHYSICS: ELECTRODYNAMICS, LIGHT, RELATIVITY AND MODERN PHYSICS-FALL 2013 PSHAWHAN". When you first access the course on Connect, you will need to provide a registration code; this will be emailed directly to students enrolled in the class.

After registering, you should be able to access Connect either through ELMS or directly at http://connect.mcgraw-hill.com/.

Piazza

Piazza is a free online discussion forum. If you have a question that you'd like to ask your peers, I encourage you to post it on Piazza -- that way you can get a reply at any hour of the day or night. Naturally, if you see a question posted and have a good answer or comment to contribute, please do so! Just remember that the Policy on collaborating applies to online communications too... Talking about how to approach or work the problem is fine if it helps you and your classmates understand it better, but providing the actual solution is strictly forbidden. The TAs and I might step in too if there is something we think we can clarify. You can even post anonymously if you want (though the TAs and I will still know who made the post). We may also post announcements on Piazza from time to time, so it's important that you be registered.

I will upload student emails to Piazza, so you should get an invitation email. If for some reason you don't get it, you can join the course by going to https://piazza.com/umd/fall2013/phys270/home. Once you have joined the course, you can access Piazza either through ELMS (there's a link in the navigation menu) or directly at piazza.com .

Learning Catalytics

Learning Catalytics is a web-based interactive response system--kind of like clickers, but without the clicker hardware, and with many more capabilities that should help us have productive interactive sessions in the classroom.

The service costs $12 for a 6-month period, which you should pay using a credit card when you register at https://learningcatalytics.com/. You will then need to bring a smartphone, tablet or laptop to each class to use the service to participate in the questions and group activities. (If you're not able to bring one of those devices to class, please contact me to discuss this.)