Physics Online courses over the summer, options?

Click For Summary

Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the feasibility and advisability of taking an online Physics I course during the summer, particularly for a student with a busy schedule due to tennis camps. Participants explore the challenges of learning physics online versus in-person and share their perspectives on the importance of prioritizing commitments.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • One participant expresses concern about the effectiveness of online courses for learning physics, suggesting that it may not be advisable to take Physics I online during the summer.
  • Another participant echoes this sentiment, emphasizing that online learning may not be suitable for physics and suggests considering alternatives.
  • A participant acknowledges their scheduling conflict with tennis camps, indicating that they cannot attend in-person classes due to required absences.
  • One participant advises the original poster to reconsider their priorities between tennis and physics, suggesting that if physics is a priority, they should wait until the fall to take the course.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally disagree on the advisability of taking an online physics course, with some strongly advising against it while others acknowledge the necessity due to scheduling conflicts. The discussion remains unresolved regarding the best course of action.

Contextual Notes

Participants express varying opinions on the effectiveness of online learning for physics, highlighting the importance of in-person instruction. There are assumptions about the impact of scheduling on learning outcomes that remain unexamined.

Elysian
Messages
33
Reaction score
0
Hey guys,

I'm currently looking to take Physics I over the summer to get into AP Physics II C next year, and due to my schedule over the summer with multiple tennis camps and such, I cannot take it at my local community colleges because the professors will not let me miss X number of days, and the fact that one out of the two colleges here canceled their program, I'm left with the choice of an online course..

Is it advisable to do an online course for Physics I? I mean I understand stuff pretty easily and I'm extremely proficient at math, but I don't really know if that matters (Currently taking Calc 2).. But I've just been worried that Physics is a bit too much to cram into an online course and learn well enough..

Also, is there any good online programs that this forum or members of this forum recommend? I mean I've obviously googled some but they don't look too promising..

Thanks a lot

Elysian
 
Physics news on Phys.org
I'll speak for a lot of people here when I say online is NEVER the way to go to learn physics. I strongly advise AGAINST taking it this summer online (if you're taking it at the college then that's a different story). I'm not sure of any way you can make this work over the summer but maybe someone else will have a suggestion.
 
Clever-Name said:
I'll speak for a lot of people here when I say online is NEVER the way to go to learn physics. I strongly advise AGAINST taking it this summer online (if you're taking it at the college then that's a different story). I'm not sure of any way you can make this work over the summer but maybe someone else will have a suggestion.

I was thinking the exact same thing, but due to my summer schedule there's no possible way I can take it at the college. The professor for the course would not let me miss more than 3 days of the course, whereas I have to miss atleast 11 due to tennis. But thanks anyways.
 
Then my advice is rethink your priorities... If tennis is really what you want to do then don't bother taking physics this summer, wait til the next academic year (September). If Physics is what you really want to do then you need to question how important Tennis is to you; If tennis is really that important to you then I suppose you'll have to take the online physics course and hope it turns out ok.

Edit: I just realized this post sounds rather harsh. If it were up to me in your situation I would wait until the Fall to take Physics. I'm not trying to get you to stop playing Tennis.
 

Similar threads

Replies
2
Views
4K
  • · Replies 15 ·
Replies
15
Views
9K
  • · Replies 13 ·
Replies
13
Views
2K
Replies
3
Views
3K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
2K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
2K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
3K
  • · Replies 17 ·
Replies
17
Views
3K
  • · Replies 12 ·
Replies
12
Views
2K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
2K