Applied physics on a roll

Richard Engeln shares his ideas and plans on the base subject applied sciences. Youtube lectures are a serious option!

Walter Levin in action

Applied Physics on a roll
The Physics basic subject for the Bachelor College is being renamed Applied Physics. The content has been agreed on, although this was not a straightforward process. Richard Engeln, senior university lecturer at the department of Applied Physics is responsible for this basic subject. He talks about his plans and ideas.

Picking up speed
The content of the Applied Physics subject is not yet definitive. Richard has shared his plans with other lecturers and made adjustments here and there in the light of this. Richard: “In this way I keep it up to speed a bit. That’s essential given that the process got going a little late on due to the protracted lack of agreement among study program directors. But we have largly got over that hurdle and can now proceed.”

Two variants
The plan is for there to be two variants for the subject: conceptual and formal. The first is descriptive and not many formulas are applicable. Richard: “You can compare it with science quiz caliber questions like ‘What will happen to the water level if the ice cap melts?’ I believe that every TU/e engineer, also those from IE&IS, ID and Computer Science should be able to work out the answer to this, not in precise detail but in such a way that it is based on the laws of nature.” The second variant is more hardcore physics in which formulas are applied and mathematics is involved. The two variants are similar in that the lecture component is demonstration based.

Own choice
Richard stresses that students can choose which variant they want to opt for, with students from B, ID and Computer Science probably being advised to go for the conceptual variant. But this of course is not a given. Richard: “Now it’s up to us to come up with demonstrations that appeal to students.”

Walter Lewin
When it comes to giving demonstrations, Richard cites his role model, Walter Lewin. “That man is able to bring insight into physics concepts with his demonstrations and astound people, wonderful!” Many of Walter Lewin’s lectures are on YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Zc9Nuoe2Ow),   and last year he appeared in the Dutch TV program ‘De Wereld Draait Door’(The World Keeps on Turning). Richard: “What I want to head for in time is to give a demonstration to 600 people, then split the group into smaller groups for the rest of the lecture. To give such a demonstration requires real talent. Perhaps we should just hire Walter Lewin for this … and then put it on YouTube. That would certainly be good advertizing for the Bachelor College and TU/e!”

Ideas in abundance
Another of Richard’s ideas is to have students answer ten questions about the material that will be presented in the lecture before it actually starts. Other TU/e lecturers have already applied this idea in their lessons. Richard: “This way you ensure that students come prepared for the lecture.”

To be continued
Ideas in abundance, that much is obvious. But first, it’s time to get around the table with the lecturers involved. When this newsletter is send, the discussion has taken place. In the next newsletter more inside information.