Student Testimonials
on
Learning Physics Online

The students who contributed testimonials to this page all took Physics 2A from me at San Jose City College the spring semester of 1999.

This was not a fully online course. I met with the students in class two evenings each week. However, much of the work was done online. The students used e-mail, did their homework through a web site and collaborated with each other on a Discussion Group web site. Their grade status was posted on a web site which they could monitor throughout the semester.

Many of the students in the class had very little computer and Internet experience when the class began. Also, for many of the students, English was not their native language. A number of them were from Asia and Latin America. Many of the students were apprehensive about the difficulty of using the Internet and communicating online in English.

However, by the end of the semester, they appreciated the value of their new Internet skills and felt that communicating over the Internet had helped them greatly in learning the physics.

Here is what they had to say:

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Hi Dr. Ray,

First of all, I have to tell you that you are very nice and thoughfull instructor. I'm glad to be your student.

Regarding to the internet tools, I really appreciated that you give me and other students a change to work with computer. I have learned a lot of thing from using the internet tools. sometimes, I got troubles, but I learned from my mistake. I think that being your student, I got valuable skills for using the computer in the future.

In my opinion, I think that using the Giancoli web site was very helpful. It likes that I have a instructor sit side by side when I did my homework. I'm sorry if my English is not good enough to explain what I want to say. However, participation at discussion group web site help me to improve my English skill. Sometimes, It is very hard for me to explain thing to other student or to you, but I just try my best. Using the Giancoli web site I got many benefit such as learning from other student's mistake, improving my knowgled about physic field...... I have a lot of things to said, but I'm affraid that you will hard to understand what did I say. One more thing that I have to say that thanks a lot for helping me to learn many things in this class.

Have a nice day, Dr. Ray,

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X-Originating-IP: [138.202.122.60]
From: "Andrew Achondoa" <andrewachondoa@hotmail.com>
To: ray@kronquist.com
Subject: Re: Feedback on Internet Tools
Date: Wed, 26 May 1999 17:00:26 PDT

Dr. Kronquist,

I would just like to start off by saying that I really appreciate the way you taught our class. You took away my initial fear of this class with your friendly demeanor and caring attitude towards your students. As for the internet usage in the class: I thought it was helpful in a variety of ways. It enabled those who were not familiar with the internet to learn about it, it gave us another means of communicating with you and other students(also convenient for those who work),and I believe it helped in our own communication skills. I'll see you in 2B.

Sincerely,

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Date: Wed, 26 May 1999 17:16:07 -0700 (PDT)
From: hoang nguyen <hnpro@yahoo.com>
Subject: Re: Feedback on Internet Tools
To: Ray Kronquist <ray@kronquist.com>

I feel very satisfy with the course that i have been taken. from your class i have learn alot, especially, is the assingments that you have given over the internet. I think it will help the student alot.

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X-Originating-IP: [12.72.54.210]
To: ray@kronquist.com
Cc: anhdung52@hotmail.com
Subject: Re: Feedback on Internet Tools
Date: Thu, 27 May 1999 01:23:09 PDT

Dear Professor,

This semester is almost finished. During this semester I've learned a lot of new thing from you. I've had good time working with you. I remember for the first day I came to the class, and you required the students doing homework on the internet and your website. I really so scare and I want to drop the class right away, because I didn't usually use the computer before. I spent at least 2 hrs for typing essay and often getting trouble as loosing my work. After a few time working with the computer by following your guides. I'm valuable myself that I improve so much in the computer and internet skill. I feel comfortable when I work with computer, because I can do my work no shy, no pressure, and I can ask any question that I want in anytime. For example, the homework of Giancoli on website is clear, that help me to understand more after reading the textbook and do homework. Moreover, the discussion group on website is really good material and well organize for my studied. Before the test, I've always opened it for review or posting my questions to any one who can help me to solve them. The discussion group is a good tool to help me contact to each others for communicate, because the time in class is not enough for students ask their questions. In addition, the grade board has update all the time that I can see which one I need to improve. And all the informations from the teacher send to us that I get on e-mail, so I never miss anything of my benefit. Although my computer skill is still poor, I like to work on it because I can learn a new thing when I get trouble. Time after time, I fell familiar with computer and internet. I have habit to open the internet everyday to search something. One more thing, I have an idea to suggest your website. I often seat beside the computer a long time for doing homework, sometime I feel boring. So, outside the participation on group discussion, I think you have another recreation group to reduce a tension in studying. We can discuss to friends about hobbies such as music, movi

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X-Originating-IP: [204.160.32.12]
From: "son tran" <sontran50@hotmail.com>
To: ray@kronquist.com
Subject: Thanks
Date: Fri, 28 May 1999 12:08:53 PDT

Hello Doctor,

Until now, I didn't receive any email from you about the evaluation or something.

Personally, I like to study in your class,I learned alot and I feel comfortable there,you really help all of us to study and your way of group discussion and on-line homework was a good way to help.

Thanks a lot for your time with us.

Best Regards

Son Tran

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X-Originating-IP: [136.152.88.68]
From: "Kevin Galvin" <krgalvin@hotmail.com>
To: ray@kronquist.com
Subject: Re: Feedback on Internet Tools
Date: Sun, 30 May 1999 01:11:52 PDT

Hello, Dr. Kronquist

I am just responding to the e-mail you sent out. I feel that the internet skills gained in this class are very valuable. Before this class I had no prior internet skills and not much computer experience. This class got me involved in the internet and since I have use internet skills such as e-mail in each of my classes. It allows for easier access to information and communication.

I think the greatest challenge to using the internet as a teaching tool is getting people involved in a method that they may not ordinarily use. That was my problem. I think that the on-line homework assignments were great. The animation (when working) helped me visualize what was going on in the problem. Thanks for the class, I enjoyed it

Thanks Again,

Kevin Galvin

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From: darylmc@us.ibm.com
X-Lotus-FromDomain: IBMUS
To: Ray Kronquist <ray@kronquist.com>
Date: Mon, 31 May 1999 21:32:40 -0600
Subject: Class Evaluation

Hello Mr. Kronquist,

This is my evaluation of the class of Physics 2A taken at San Jose City College. This class was to be initially instructed under the sense of collaborative learning and it happens just that way throughout the semester.

The class not only encompassed active participation among us students while class was in session but we had a tool in which we consulted while at home. This tool was the internet access that we called the chat session which was a valuable player in the subject of Physics which everyone believes is challenging. This gave us the opportunity to resolve any confusion while at home and allowed other students to answer the questions that will give them a better understanding as well. The class had three other tools that were major players in our learning which were the homework, class experiments and work on the computer. All facets were helpful to us students and brought a liking to the subject.

I personally feel that this class should be implemented to other classes and schools to broad the knowledge of the subjects at hand. I have learned to appreciate the subject of Physics more than any other subject because of the understanding that was gained through the different tools that were used for my understanding. I enjoyed going to class and had fun doing so and many would ask (" How could you like going to Physics when it is such a hard subject?") I tell them that the class is not as difficult as it may appear. I feel that any class can be exciting when the professor who is teaching the course is knowledgeable and cares about the students understanding of the material. Good luck in the future of getting other classes to take this approach and I had a great semester taking your class

Respectfully,

Daryl L. McChristian

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From: "Calvin Leung" <CSLeung@worldnet.att.net>
To: <ray@kronquist.com>
Subject: Physics online
Date: Tue, 1 Jun 1999 20:09:11 -0700
X-MSMail-Priority: Normal
X-Mailer: Microsoft Outlook Express 4.72.3110.1
X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V4.72.3110.3

I feel that the discussion group and the website was extremely helpful, especially for someone like myself who is always busy and tired by the time I get to the 6:30 class. It was good.

~Calvin

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From: SHAMSHIRIN@aol.com
Date: Wed, 9 Jun 1999 01:14:59 EDT
Subject: Re: Feedback on Internet Tools
To: ray@kronquist.com
X-Mailer: AOL 4.0 for Windows 95 sub 13

THIS PHYSICS COURSE WAS EXCELLENT. I BELIEVE LEARNED ALOT MORE ABOUT PHYSICS USING THE GIANCOLI WEBSITE, IN ADDITION TO THE DISCUSSION GROUPS. PRIOR TO THIS COURSE I WAS PRETTY ILLITERATE AS FAR AS THE INTERNET WAS CONCERNED. I DID NOT KNOW HOW TO E-MAIL NOR NEED I EVER RARELY USE THE INTERNET. AFTER TAKING THIS COUSE I AM HOOKED ON TO THE INTERNET. WITH THE INTERNET WAS ABLE TO STUDY AT TIME OF THE NIGHT OR DAY. I PLAN ON TAKING THE SECOND HALF OF THIS PHYSICS COURSE IN THE FALL AND I AM PREPARING MY BY STUDYING OFF THE IANCOLI WEB SITE DURING THE SUMMER. IT GRADES YOU PRACTICE QUESTIONS AND PROBLEMS IMMEDIATELY AND HELPS ME TO UNDERSTAND THE PROBLEMS WITH THE HINTS GIVEN BY THE WEBSITE. I FEEL THAT ACADEMICS THROUGH THE INTERNET DEFINETLY IS A PROGRESSION INTO THE FUTURE.

ANTONIO RIOS

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