How well are the "theoretical classes" taught?

<p>Hi, I am an avid user of OCW, and I am a big fan of walter lewin, the lecture for 8.01/8.02/8.03. Are the equivalents 8.012/8.022 just as well taught? How do the class size compare? Also, where can I find lectures on 8.012? It doesn't seem to be available on ocw.</p>

<p>In my experience, 8.01 was VERY poorly taught; the Lewin days are over. I'm taking 8.022 now, and though the class is exponentially more difficult than 8.01 was, I'm enjoying it tons more. It's very well taught, with great demos and stuff. The class as a whole is very different, since 8.01 is taught with TEAL, in which you don't have conventional "lectures"... but more people take 8.01 than 8.012.</p>

<p>If the lectures aren't available on OCW there's probably no way to get them. Sorry!</p>

<p>MIT</a> OpenCourseWare | Physics | 8.012 Physics I: Classical Mechanics, Fall 2005 | Home
MIT</a> OpenCourseWare | Physics | 8.022 Physics II: Electricity and Magnetism, Fall 2006 | Home</p>

<p>Hope that helps...</p>

<p>I took the classes by watching videos of Walter Lewin after the first month or so. The TEAL program was very poorly structured: it is designed to encourage plagiarism on homeworks (I've literally never seen someone bother to do an entire Mastering physics on their own in the past 3 years), and theres a non-zero probability that you will spend at least a few classes sitting in a corner facing a wall. </p>

<p>If I could try again, I would take 8.012 and 8.022.</p>

<p>Thanks everyone.</p>

<p>BTW, I can't find video lectures on ocw for 8.012 etc... But I guess Kleppner&Kolenkow by itself is enough to master mechanics :D</p>

<p>I also need some clarification: la montagne, what do you mean by theh days ofWalter Lewin are over?? Arghh!! He was one of the reasons why I like MIT! I wanted him to teach me how to draw perfect circles with chalk on the board! Anyways, does he no longer teach 8.01/8.02/8.03? And what is the TEAL program?</p>

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Anyways, does he no longer teach 8.01/8.02/8.03?

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<p>He sometimes teaches 8.03, or at least he did when I was there.</p>

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In my experience, 8.01 was VERY poorly taught...

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<p>Same here. And it wasn't because of TEAL, either...I didn't take it under TEAL. The prof was beyond horrible. Also, Mastering Physics is not an invention of TEAL; we had it in lecture-style 8.01, and yes, it is a pain, though I <em>did</em> do the psets on my own.</p>

<p>I didn't mind 8.02. TEAL gets a lot of negative reviews, but it didn't bother me (though I don't think it should be mandatory). I liked the frequent conceptual questions and the visualizations. My prof was a lot better than my 8.01 prof.</p>

<p>I've heard a lot of good things about the teaching of 8.012 and 8.022.</p>

<p>Another way to get around problems of the mainstream classes (8.01 and 8.02) is to join ESG (the Experimental Study Group) and take them through ESG's program.</p>

<p>I don't mean that all of a sudden all teaching at MIT sucks... I mean that no, Walter Lewin does not teach 8.01 or 8.02 anymore. If you search through the old threads in the MIT forum you'll find some wonderful exposees about TEAL related to the recent NYT article about it. Basically, almost everyone dislikes it, it's very poorly structured, and, at least in my experience and that of my close friends, it's generally poorly taught. If you look at when the Lewin lectures are from, it's almost 10 years ago... I don't think he's taught 8.01 in a while.</p>

<p>Of course, there's nothing stopping you from just watching all his lectures anyway and learning physics that way. Or stopping by Walter Lewin's office to tell him how awesome he is and ask him to teach you how to draw a perfect chalk circle, for that matter. But no, he doesn't teach 8.01 or 8.02 anymore, as far as I know.</p>

<p>would it be a bad idea to jump directly to 8.022 1st semester, if i have credit for 8.01?</p>

<p>So I know I'm in a huge minority here, but I actually like TEAL. I completely understand why some people wouldn't like it, but it works for me. I <em>hate</em> sitting in a lecture hall and watching some professor lecture at the front for an hour, I'd much rather be involved, be it through group problems, conceptual questions, or the demos and labs that we do. And honestly, I <em>gasp</em> don't even mind mastering physics. It's not actually worth too much, but it's a nice way to get introduced to new material before we cover it in lecture (and no, I've never copied someone's mastering physics, and I know many other people who haven't either...). Again, totally see why so many people hate it, but it does work for some people. </p>

<p>Basically what I'm trying to say is, don't worry. There are a ton of options for the GIRs, ranging from testing out of 8.01 all together, to taking 8.012 (although I wouldn't recommend it just to avoid TEAL, but if you really like physics), to concourse or ESG, to 8.01 TEAL mainstream. One of these options will work for you, you just have to figure out which one is best for you.</p>

<p>anyway we can find more info about those? like, can we find out more during CPW?</p>

<p>Sure, you can find out more during CPW, or you can wait til orientation. You can discuss it with your advisor then. Also, I remember during orientation they had a whole presentation about the core and what you should take based on what you're like. That might be helpful.</p>

<p>For now, don't sweat it.</p>