<p>I'm gonna get right to the point...
<a href="http://groups.physics.umn.edu/physed/Research/CRP/crintro.html%5B/url%5D">http://groups.physics.umn.edu/physed/Research/CRP/crintro.html</a>
I'm in the first tier of physics at my California Community College. Throughout the semester the class has been averaging pretty low on the exams (three). The instructor doesn't correct any coursework, and with about 50% of the weight of the exams based on that coursework material (things</a> like this, home</a>), the students aren't as clued into things as they should be. Just last week a petition was organized by a group of students basically saying that the lack of feedback on the coursework is responsible for the poor class averages. The entire class signed it. The petition basically asked for the lowering of the final grade requirements. It was at that point when the instructor basically said, "I am an educational researcher, and the class is the subject of an experiment - how do community college students perform on exams taken by students at Harvard." He bargained with the petitioners in class and said, "I'll give you all a 15-point extra credit quiz next week." He was pretty unreasonable towards the class, with a "take it or leave it" attitude.</p>
<p>Let me say this: Harvard students expect Harvard exams, community college students do not. Is this even allowed? Is there some sort of administrative course of action that can be taken? This is at the expense of the students! A 15-point QUIZ is hardly an equalizer when at least half the class is failing because of this stunt. For reference, here are the course final requirements and the proposed.</p>
<p>WOW I’m taking classes online from Coastline Community College (also in California and part of the same group of colleges as yours). While I certainly understand your problem I agree that having been subjected to this under the BS of comparing us to Harvard students isn’t fair by any strech of my imagination. They take the cream of the crop, the ones that have IQ’s larger than my bank account number. These folks also for the most part come with a silver spoon stuck in their butts. We on the other hand work very hard for what we get and I think we are happier and more confident in our lives then they are. Look at the folks making decisions in the government. Now look at where we are. The solution to most of the issues facing the great country is the lack of common sense that those ivoy league folks don’t have. Maybe they feel they don’t need it since they thing they are so smart. Well the proof is in the pudding.</p>
<p>That is quite interesting. I endorse such experiments!</p>
<p>If everything was standardized it would just be nicer. And high standards, like those of harvard, don’t seem like such a bad idea. Maybe bad for many physics major hopefuls, but not for the community of physicists.</p>
<p>physics is really difficult. It’s already taught probably way too fast in lots of places. You have to be pretty smart to be able to understand the undergrad curriculum, and come away with some sort of picture of physics up to the mid 20th century without everything being all fragmented in your mind and everything. </p>
<p>in the end you would have to take the physics GRE anyway, if you were applying to physics grad school departments. And Everyone takes the same GRE. So why not have the standardization sooner rather than later.</p>
<p>Good luck! if its too hard switch to journalism, or drop out. but you seem to be doing fine :). and you even get to be extra proud of yourself now for doing fine on tests that harvard students take.</p>
<p>In order for his experiment to be valid, he should be teaching the course in exactly the same way the Harvard course is being taught (assuming they are equivalent courses covering equivalent material out of an equivalent textbook). If he is not, then his experiment is seriously flawed at the expense of the students. It does not sound to me like a legitimate experiment - it sounds like a personal curiosity more than a real scientific endeavor. </p>
<p>It is also highly unethical to do this kind of experiment without the participants (students) knowing and consenting, since there is potential harm (low grades and low self-esteem). </p>
<p>However, giving difficult tests in general is not illegal or unethical, or even uncommon. But telling you he is doing an experiment (and a poorly designed one, at that) is not the best reason for upping the standards with no reasonable feedback.</p>
<p>I don’t see what the significance of the Harvard test problems is at all. The physics course you are in is likely transferable as equivalent to a physics course at all of the UCs and CSUs, including Berkeley and UCLA (see [Welcome</a> to ASSIST](<a href=“http://www.assist.org%5DWelcome”>http://www.assist.org) ). It is not like the same physics course is going to be much harder (if it is harder) at Harvard than it is at Berkeley or UCLA (or Minnesota, which is apparently where your instructor is basing the course on from your links). And if you are going to transfer to a UC, CSU, or other four year school, you’ll certainly want a strong physics course now so that you will be able to apply the material in later courses that are based on the physics knowledge.</p>
<p>If the instructor teaches poorly, that is the issue, not the Harvard test problems.</p>
<p>Agreed. I doubt that Harvard uses Pearson text books. Also, he dropped this confession on us a week before the end of the semester. The petition probably overwhelmed him with guilt.</p>
<p>Finals are next week and I’m studying my ass off. I’m considering going to the dean when final grades are released so that there’s statistical evidence that the averages are seriously low, and that it was as a result of this ‘experiment’. I’ve heard of administrative intervention on grades. Although I still stand a chance at an ‘A’, perhaps I’ll get bumped up if I make a good case to the dean. One thing is certain - he saw that the averages were low, knew what this was doing to the class and proceeded anyway. The man is pompous, rude, abrupt, and the entire class feels intimidated by him. My academic record is at the mercy of a delusional pratt.</p>
<p>The question is, would a student doing the first two years of college at a community college expect to be granted credit for first year physics when transferring to a more prestigious 4 year school? </p>