So,%20you%20are%20new%20to%20the%20School%20of%20Physics,%20USM?

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So, you are new to the School of Physics, USM?

• Talk given to the freshies
• during
• Hari Kelestarian, PP Sains Fizik
• 11 June 10, Sun.
• Yoon Tiem Leong

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Some questions you may want to ask

• What is the prospect of graduating with a physics
  major/ What kind of job can I do after graduated
  as a physics major/ What options do I have after
  graduating as a physics major?
• What kind of quality of a person is required to
  excel in physics study? / Do I need to be super
  smart to be a physics major?
• What are the essential difference between applied
  physics and pure physics?

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Some questions you may want to ask

• Is it difficult to score in physics exams? /
  What is the statistics of academic performance in
  the school of Physics?
• Should I take minor or elective?
• How to excel in studying physics?
• What should I do if my math / physics is weak? /
  How to study math / physics?

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Some questions you may want to ask

• What is physics?
• What is it good for?
• How many kinds of physics are there?
• Can I be a physicist?
• (Are your sure you want to be one?)
• How, and what quality is required to be one?

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Some MORE questions you may want to ask

• What are the physics students problems in USM?
  (This is your problems)
• What are the problems with physics teaching in
  USM? (This is my problems)
• What you should do as a physics student in USM?
• What you should avoid doing?

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My problems

• Students refuses / dont want /dare not want to
  ask questions.
• Students NOT even know what question to ask
  (Because they dont even know what they dont
  know).
• Students try to shunt/dont want to communicate
  with me (too shy?...not a good excuse).

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My problems

• Students mathematics ability is too weak to meet
  with the demands at the undergraduate level
  physics courses.
• Students ability to comprehend abstract concepts
  or logically challenging arguments is poor.
• Students ability to think logically is weak.
• Samples of exam analysis ZCT 207, 10/11, ZCT
  104, 2004/05, ZCA 101, 2003/04, ZCA 110 05/06

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Your problems

• Fail to adapt to University teaching / learning
  style.
• Dont know the correct way to study due to the
  old habits carried over from secondary school ??
  Stress ?? Lost interest in the learning process
  ??Lost in confidence ?? Failure in exams.
• Cant appreciate the significance of physics/math
  you are being taught. (Why am I learning all this
  stuff for?)
• Laziness / Idleness.

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Your problems

• The presence of certain lecturers who simply
  dont know their stuff well / are irresponsible /
  lazy /buzy.
• Standard of teaching is compromised due to a
  non-negligible presence of unmotivated / weak
  students.
• The quality of some undergraduate physics content
  taught / learned is poor / insufficient.

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Your problems

• Play / lepak / idle too much.
• Play too much online game / watch too much online
  movie / spend too much time online chatting ( 5
  hours on average per day?)
• Phak thor too much until study is seriously
  compromised.
• Associate with the wrong people / friends.
• Lost balance between study and society activities.

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Your problems

• Have no gut to challenge the status quo.
• Have no gut to challenge the authorities despite
  being bullied unjustly.
• Do not know the proper ways to deal with
  authorities.

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And the most serious, non-academic problem is

• Lack of soft skills necessary for survival in the
  real life.

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The dos

• Learn to think logically / like a physicist.
• Learn the methodology of doing physics / the
  content of the physics knowledge.
• Learn to adapt to University teaching style.
• Learn how to learn ?? Learn to teach what you
  have learnt.
• Nurture a passion/appreciation for knowledge and
  intellect (as opposed to rote learning / learn
  only for exam purpose).

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The dos

• Talk to your lecturers. Ask them directly. any
  questions related to your academics.
• Know your lecturers, and their styles.
• Master the techniques of scoring exams.
• Learn up essential IT skills ?? Buy a laptop.

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The dos

• Plan your credit units for the next three years.
• Learn to organize your time.
• Learn to handle problems like a mature adult.
• Learn to interact with / handle people.

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The dos

• Learn to be creative and to think out of the box.
• Participate in and be active in your preferred
  society activities.
• Sharpen your English skill.
• Exercise daily.

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The dos

• Strike for a balance between academic and
  non-academic aspects.
• Tour around Penang and enjoy its famous street
  food.
• Throw away the habit of giving up when faced with
  challenges.
• Find your true love
• (or even replace with a better one,
• or two).

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The donts

• Be lazy / Lepak.
• Rely only on lecture notes but not on text books.
• Copy lab reports.
• Practice rote learning.
• Stonewall yourself in hostel rooms.
• Trust you seniors too much.

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Most importantly

• ABANDON YOUR SPOON-FEEDING HABIT