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Well, I'm in the first Calculus-based introductory physics course. It's my first physics course since high school in 2002. I think I'm doing fairly well. The first exam is next Thursday. I want to do the very best that I can in this course as it is laying the foundation for the road ahead. What key concepts should I focus on? What problem-solving skills should I make sure I acquire? Any advice is greatly appreciated. Thanks.
1) Do you want a good grade? If yes, try to acquire old tests. They are a huge advantage.
2) Do you want to learn the material? Read the notes. Do some example problems. Think esoterically about the topics at hand. Do someone completely uncalled for research on Otto's original engine (or whatever).
I absolutely do want good grades, as I want more to understand the material implicitly. Our notes are just mainly example problems. I want to understand the logic and reasoning behind everything that I do in the problems, so I typically read through the textbook. I enjoy it as well. I had to force myself read my history, government, geography, etc., textbooks. lol.
I'd also offer up that maybe you should go to office hours, too (not before problem sets are due when the prof's going to be busy). Ask for details on things you find interesting. You'll get into some good philosophical physics discussions with more enthusiastic profs, and you'll make some good contacts.
I usually read the material before going to lecture, I do lots of extra problems, and I always go to office hours. The last thing has been super helpful; my professor has gotten to know me (and my learning/thinking styles, so to speak) really well, so she usually can figure out where I'm going wrong even if I can't articulate it.
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