LAST POST OF THE SEMESTER

WE MADE IT! Congrats to everyone on a great semester of TA-ing.  I hope you all had as much fun as I did and gained a lot from this experience.  Above all, I think I have learned that Murphy's Law should actually be a law of physics, because by my observation it hold very true.

Good luck to everyone on finals! Christmas is around the corner!

Last week of UTAing for the semester :(  I had a great time helping the students with physics, and I hope the rest of you did, too!

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!

This past Tuesday was really really empty. There was no one around but that's okay b/c hopefully they were studying for their 2nd exam or taking some much needed time off. Regardless, Happy thanksgiving to everyone!!!

Second Exam!

I figured with the second exam coming up that more students would come to my office hours, however only one girl showed up again. Regardless, it was still nice to help someone!! I hope the average for this exam is better than the last one!

EXAM TIME

with the second exam approaching, students have more and more questions.   Its nice being able to help them out.  I feel as though most students have a good grip on what is supposed to be done conceptually but have trouble setting up the math.  We went over the algebra and they seemed to pick it up quickly. Sending good thoughts towards the students as they study!

Flu Season

I'm not quite sure how the whole "calling off office hours" works, but due to illness I have needed to skip a whole day of class and my hours. Hopefully this isn't too big of a problem, but I feel bad about not being available if anyone needs help.

Students Seemed Very Nervous About Upcoming Exam

Last week I finally had people (as in PLURAL) attending my hours again.  I got the distinct feeling they were all incredibly nervous about this upcoming exam however (which is not surprising given how the class has been doing as a whole on the exams).  I tried to convey some of my study/test taking tips to see if they would help as well during hours last week (i.e. think about the problem for a second before trying to "plug away" etc.).

Karl

Homework Killer

I don't know if its me or is the webassign homework getting progressively harder? Had a little bit of trouble with it this past week but was able to convey the important points to my student in order for her to complete and understand the material!

And They are Back!

After weeks of no one showing up to my office hours, ONE OF MY REGULARS CAME BACK!!! I was so happy to see her again! She told me that she started "slacking" and was putting her physics homework off till the last minute, but has now gotten back on track.

Today was rough.  There were more homework questions.  There were also two confused UTAs for a while.

last full week

its almost thanksgiving! and the pressure is on.  only 15 more school days left this semester! thats exciting.  but mostly scary.

Bummer

This week was the third week in a row no students came...I'm starting to get nervous that the regulars who used to come to my hours every week wound up withdrawing from the class after the midterms.  I hope not :(  Hopefully students aren't despairing about their grades and thinking they can't be salvaged.

Schedule change!

I really love the schedule change ! I don't have to deal with those buses anymore. However, I hope I get assigned room soon though, Cathedral Commons area can be really busy during the day.

Student size increasing soon?!

This past tuesday was kind of a bummer since I only had 1 student stop by for a little to help them out with the webassign. There seems to definitely be a decrease in the number of kids attending since the last exam. Hopefully, this will pick up as the second midterm rolls around!

Finally Saw a STUDENT!!

After a few weeks of only working with students via txt or email, I finally had a student come to my office hours again!  Its nice to have something to do rather than sit in those uncomfortable nationality room chairs for 3 hours!  Hopefully things pick up for everyone else as well (I get the feeling the number of students going to everyone's office hours has dropped off quite a bit since the last exam).

Cheers,
Karl

hoping to make a difference

Another week of recitation and homework.  I hope to see some new faces as the semester begins to wind down.  Hopefully people will come further away from the test date, so we can help the more.

Weather affecting students coming to review session?

My number of students that I usually have on a consistent basis has slightly dropped. I don't know if it is the cold weather or something else but it's a bummer. Hopefully, next week I'll get more than 1 student for the 3hours!!!

BUSES !

I have 10:30 AM tutoring sessions and almost always, Port Authority Buses are just full when I try to take them. So, this week, I walked 20 minutes to the class. I hope bus schedules work out better this week.

Room Change.. I don't know where to go

Today I was greeted in my normal room not by physics students but by a group of Japanese Ambassadors.  I scooted out of the room but do not know where to go.  If you see this and know where I should be, please help me.   If not I will be in the Austrian room until 5:45.  Thanks!



UPDATE: I need to be in Allen Hall.. I'm on my way

Webassign is a pain

The webassign problems are a real pain. The students and even myself were having some trouble with them. Have to really remember what their asking for (cm NOT meters) haha. But overall it was a good sessions I was able to help out the 2 students I had and complete their homework

Today was rough!  Had to recall the quadratic formula for one of the homework questions! We worked it out, though :)

Exam 1 Thoughts and concerns

So the students just had their first exam (well just got it back) and were not happy with their results. They informed me that the average was really low- in the 50's and that there was a curve. Consequently, they were very concerned about their grades since those grades are basically failing for a normally curved class. I told the couple of students at my session to relax and just focus on the material and doing better the next time around. They will be getting their exams back soon so we can discuss it together and discuss strategies on how to do better next time around.

The homework never ends

homework. homework. homework. everyone always asks about homework. sometimes i get tired of questions about homework.

Mid-semester Lull

I expected to have more students at my office hours this week because exam scores were posted and the average was lower than expected, however no one came. I chalk this up to the "mid-semester" lull many students face and begin to lose motivation after midterms and in anticipation of Thanksgiving break. 

Nour 

Take a Deep Breath

It has been a crazy couple of weeks. Now, with students down to the bare minimum, don't get discouraged! Instead take the time to work on your own projects or sit back and give your brain a break.

Here are a few developments you can chew on if you have the time:

End-of-the-Semester Party

Everyone rushes home as soon as the winter break begins and the week before that, FINALS loom. So, here is the question I pose. Would you prefer your cake the Friday before Thanksgiving, November 22nd, or December 6th, the last day of classes? Post your vote in the comments below. And while gluten-free cake is beyond my budget to bake, I can certainly make an eggless one.

Video Promotional

The week before Thanksgiving, you will have the option to be interviewed via video camera during your office hours. I will ask questions concerning your experience with the UTA Program and why you think it should stay in existence. Don't be shy! This is a good opportunity to bolster your internet presence for future employers and graduate schools.

If you have any more ideas to help spread the word about the UTA Program, please let me know!

Best,
Hannah Sweetser

Post Exam Thoughts

So what I heard from many of the students, was that they all felt the exam was really hard. I response to this I think I'm going to have every office hour have a really hard question related to the week's topic to prepare them better for the exam. I'm going to use the challenge problems in different text book for a source of question. Anyone is welcomed to borrow it if they want! 

Sean

Half Way There

I have a feeling that the students who attend my recitation are going to be a bit more on edge than normal.  I have heard circulating rumors that the exam grades are lower than expected, although nothing has been confirmed.  I am hoping that the people who have been keeping on top of their work and completing the homework have done sufficiently well.  

With the semester half way over, the pressure is on. 

The Numbers Drop

After September's extra credit and the October exams, it has become a 1 person per night max. It becomes tiring as I sit in a room for an hour and a half hoping to help someone but nothing seems to develop. Oh well, looks like I'm gonna get more studying in now.

Final Remarks on 1st Exam Preparation Last Week

Last week seemed to be a very tense week for the students since it was the night before their first exam. They believed to be still struggling with some basic concepts such as 2D kinematics and tension forces still. We reviewed the web assign problems to make sure that they understand that material since it is relevant to the class (clearly!) and hopefully the test. I made the students reassured that they will do a great job and knock this first exam out of the ball park!

Comments on Exam and this Adjusted Hours this Week

Hey everyone,

First, I figured I would mention that I texted a few students who are my regulars, and they thought the exam had gone fairly well (though I suppose it would have helped more to post that quite a few days ago haha).  Also, this week I had to adjust my hours because I am not in Oakland today or Thurs. (with a 2 hour commute, it did not seem like it was worth keeping the usual hours when my commute is double the hours I would be there).  I get the feeling all the students are happy to be done with their exam!

Karl

EXAMS ARE OVER

CONGRATULATIONS OF SURVIVING EXAM WEEK EVERYONE!

Just helped students with practice exam questions!  I think a concept students coming in this year have had a problem with is kinematics equations and when to use them.  It wasn't a big focus in lectures, but it seems to come up often in practice problems.  Anyone else notice this?

midterms begin

Midterms are officially upon us.  And as the tests approach, I predict UTA office hours will be a little more full than usual.  Hopefully all the students can get their questions answered and be prepared by test day. Good luck everyone!

Midterms

My last week's session was another fun blast, but a more serious tone this time since the students were preparing for their midterms. I was able to help them gain a fine understand on centripetal motion and the forces behind it. Also, it seems that the students want a deeper understanding than just knowing the numbers to a particular problem-chug and plug! I find that to be really super and can't wait for the next Tuesday!

Teaching, and Students

I actually had lot of students to come to my office hour to solve their homework problem. They are not extremely hard, but not easy either. Also, students are really worried about their first midterm. I hope they do well.

Actually Teaching

For a couple of weeks I've only had one student come in regularly. We'll work through the homework problems as well as some in-class questions and past quiz questions. It's really nice to see his progress as he learns how to think about the questions himself and needs my help less and less.

I doubled my class size!

Hey everyone,

Through the semester I have only seen one student, she comes in every week for the full 3 hours. On Monday I had not just her, but another student drop in! However, I do think the number of students coming to my offices hours is going to steadily increase as the first midterm approaches.

Midterms

Reading all of your posts is incredibly encouraging! Just the fact that this program is able to help one student achieve a better understanding is physics makes it worth the sitting in hard chairs 3 hours a week. At least with midterms now you can take a break from attending class.

Now that midterms are coming and going, some students may want to take a break from attending your sessions. Maybe, maybe not. I wanted to make this post so that you know that even if people stop attending your sessions after the midterm for a bit, they will be back. After all, there is still a final looming ahead of them in December.

Other than that, keep up the good work! I am hoping to provide all of you with cake at the end of the term. Any requests on what flavors?

Best,
Hannah

Two students just came to office hours, and we helped them with torque! Got to brush up on my knowledge of it as well :)

success

just helped two lovely ladies with some torque problems! feels great to make an impact!

Week 2 UTA

This week I had 3 students. Record high! (and climbing). I helped them review some work on forces along with questions that they had from the PEC. It pretty fun helping the students and watching them understand the material in both a conceptual and quantitative manner. Can't wait for tomorrow's tutoring session!

Getting ready for their first exam

I had the same student come to my office hours on Monday for the full three hours. She was showing some concern for the upcoming exam. I was thinking about different places, other than old exams, that I could find good exam questions. I checked out a physics book from Carnegie Library the other day. If anyone wants to borrow it they are welcome to!

Best,
Sean

A long week

I have had a few people come to my office hours and they all seem to be struggling with the same problems.  I think they are still unsure about what "conservative forces" actually means so that has been tripping them up.  A few kids have asked to meet again today so I am just about t get started with them again.  Happy Friday!

Familiar Faces

The same couple of students continue to attend my office hours which is nice because I am starting to develop a relationship with them and its really cool to see their continuos understanding of the material. I hope they continue to come and I hope a few new faces stop by as well! 

Nour Shahab 

Week 2 UTA Phys. 0110 - Karl Gibson

Hey everyone, I hope your week has gone well.  This week I only had one student come to my office hours this week, and the vast majority of the time was spent going over concepts from the homework.  In general, I have been trying to emphasize how one should look at these problems/attempt them, and that has seemed to help a bit rather than just go over homework problems the entire time.

Karl

Official Week 1 (Last week)

Hey guys, this is my first post on here, (just a tad late!). My name is Andrew Kalman and I'm a molecular biology major. I am tutoring in the cathedral of learning on Tuesday nights from 7-10. Last week, I only had 1 student show up :( . I helped her out with the webassign and she went on her way. Hopefully, more people come tonight!

20+ People Every Day

After the first hours on Monday last week, it seems that almost every single person in the PHYS 0175 class has at least stopped in for half an hour to ask a question on a concept or home work. I am very grateful because it makes time go so much faster

One student, three hours, holy cow.

Hey everyone,

So my offices hours are on Mondays from 4 to 7. I had one student the whole time with nonstop physics, it was awesome. She came in uncertain about the concept of tension and kinematics but came out a champ at it. I was about to pull up some exam questions because I felt she was ready for some, but we ran out of time. I'm really excited for my next offices hours to have something like that again.

Progress

People are finally starting to filter in to ask questions about not just homework, but concepts in general. I like this feeling of knowing that I'm trying to help people learn how to think about physics, instead of giving them straight answers.

Guess its not all about the homework

This past week students have continued to come to my office hours. I was expecting most of them to have questions about the current homework but a lot of them asked questions about examples from lecture, recitation questions, or even homework assignments that were already due. I was pleasantly surprised to see students actually wanting to understand the material rather than just worrying about finishing WebAssign! 

Nour 

Week 1 UTA Phys. 0110 - Karl Gibson

Hey everyone, I hope your first few weeks of school haven't been too insane!  My name is Karl Gibson and I am ... Well I guess I am a super senior by credit amount (134 not including this 16 credit semester), but I have another year and a half before I complete my duel degree (B.S Psychology and B.Phil Sociology).

Anyhow, I am currently a UTU for chemistry, and I was a UTA last term for Professor Levy (I had Physics 0110 with Professor Daley about a year or so ago), and am looking forward to this term!  So far I have only met with a small handful of students, and we have gone over static and kinetic friction in extreme detail, as this seemed to be a problem area in the homework and end of book problems.  If this term is anything like last term, I am expecting quite a few questions regarding kinematics as well this upcoming week.

Have a great week!
Karl

Success

Last week I had my first student! It was very rewarding to see a student benefit from coming to office hours.  I feel like she really appreciated it.  Hopefully more students will join in and do the same! Good luck this week!

GOOD LUCK

Good Luck PHYS 0175

Although I'm pretty sure that no one will see this, i wish good luck to everyone in PHYS 0175 who is taking their first test tomorrow. I hope it goes will and... maybe an average that is in the 70's?

UTAing Week 1

Hey Everyone,

I'm Sean Harrington. I took physics with Levy last year in the spring semester. I was excited to get started with helping other students, unfortunately I didn't get the chance to work with anyone this week. :(. Hopefully next week will be something different!

Sean

My First Physics I UTA Post !

Hi All!  My name is Jessica McCullough, I took Physics 1 with professor Levy last year and I'm excited for the experience to be a UTA!  My office hours are a 3 hour block on Friday afternoons, which in hindsight I thought might be a poor decision - who wants to come to office hours on a Friday?  But today I was pleasantly surprised, 5 students stopped by and we worked through a majority of the Webassign problems together.  It was exciting to see students already digging in to the material; in past classes where I was a TA most did not stop by until we had an exam.  I'm glad they find it helpful and hopefully more keep coming!

My First Post

Hi everyone. I'm Saniya Sabnis. I am a junior chemistry major and took physics 0110 with Dr. Levy last semester. I think being a UTA will be both a rewarding and fun experience. Unfortunately no one has stopped by office hours yet this week. We'll see if anyone stops by on Friday.

Keep up the Good Job!

For those of you who have begun posting, thank you and keep up the good work! For those of you who do not know, this is a whole new era of the UTA Program. What you post here may help not only one another here and now, but also those UTA's of the future.

The UTA Program was started six years ago to give free help to struggling students. It started only in the Resource Room, where a handful of students would be responsible for being able to help all those who were struggling, but there was too much demand for it and not enough supply. Dr. Levy started a new branch of UTA's around this time, one that would not require majors to fulfill it but would still provide the help students desperately needed. That torch has been handed to me, but now there are even more students than ever who still need help.

 That's where you come in! Partial teachers, partial students still trying to impress grad schools, partial intellectual volunteers, you have the ability to fulfill the demand we desperately need. And I know, days are tough when no one needs help, and I don't blame you for doing other homework during an empty UTA hour, but for those of you who have helped a student, can you match that feeling with anything else?

It's pretty awesome.

 Best,
Hannah Sweetser

First Post !

Hi everyone,

My name is Sool Lee and I'm junior Biochemistry major and a UTA for PHYS 0110. I look PHY 0110 with Dr. Levy last semester. I hope everything goes well this semester !

So far . . no one came to my office hour . . I hope someone actually shows up tomorrow !

My Very First Post!

Hi Y'all!

My name is Nour Shahab and I am a junior psychology major on the pre-PA track and I am a UTA for PHYS 0110. I took PHYS 0110 last semester and I am currently enrolled in PHYS 0111. This is also my first time serving as a UTA for a class and I am really excited about it!

I held my first office hours yesterday and was pleasantly surprised to actually have someone show up! I hope more people show up in the future!

"First" Post... I hope third time is the charm

Hello All!

I hope this works because my last posts are no where to be found!

My name is Ali Cameron.  I am a junior studying neuroscience and I am a UTA for PHYS 0110.  I took the course last semester with Professor Levy.

I can't wait to start and I hope everyone has a great semester!

So this is really just a test post to see if things are working correctly for my computer and Blogger, I will start with an introduction.

My name is Kevin Woeppel, I am a sophomore Bio engineering student, and I am a UTA for the physics 0175 Basic physics for engineers 2, my hours will be from 7:30-9:00 pm in cathedral of learning. If anyone wants to contact me just go through my pitt mail, kmw103@pitt.edu, I check it quite regularly and will try my best to get back as soon as possible.

Anyway, I hope to have a great year with everyone!

Welcome!

And congratulations on your UTA nomination and appointment!

This site is the go-to for most of your UTA needs. As mentioned in my earlier email, once a week you will be required to write either a blog post or response to someone else's blog post. Your blog posts can be as short as a tweet or as long as a historical soapbox rant--it just lets other UTA's know what might be a problem among the students or shares an encouraging moment you experienced during your UTA hours.

Sharing your teaching tips and the positive and negative experiences as they occur is essential to growth as an instructor and a teaching community. This site is to remind you that you are not alone with an 18-credit class load and grad school worries and tutoring stress; its goals are to encourage and inspire and relieve some of the weight you may experience. Keep that in mind as you post and discuss among yourselves.

So... How was your week?