Syllabus

Schedule

Getting Help

AP50 & Health

Exceptions

Quick Links

Note to visitors

This public Canvas page mirrors the one for the course I'm currently teaching. You may want to start reviewing the Orientation Pages, then use the links in the red bar above to explore additional details. Please email me at mazur@harvard.edu if you find any broken links or have questions.

Also, note that assignments and links to Slack are disabled.

Thank you for your interest in AP50, a year-long, calculus-based physics course for engineering and physics concentrators. It replaces traditional lectures and exams with hands-on, collaborative learning to solve real-world problems. Each semester includes three month-long team projects culminating in a project fair, involving device construction, measurements, simulations, and optional microprocessors. The course promotes self-directed learning and teamwork skills. AP50a is offered in the Fall and AP50b in the Spring; taking both sequentially is recommended for the best experience. Take a look at these Orientation Pages to see if AP50 is a good fit for you. If you still have questions, contact one of the instructors.

JOINING AFTER START OF SEMESTER: If you are considering joining AP50 after the start of the semester, please see this page and note that joining after Sep 6 may negatively impact your grade due to the way assessment works in AP50. Because of the team-based nature of AP50, it is NOT possible to join the course after Sep 13, 2024 — ANY PETITION TO JOIN WILL BE DECLINED.

AP50 meets on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9:45 am to 12:30 pm, covering both curricular and project-related activities. There are no additional scheduled activities like sections or labs. If you are considering AP50, please look at the Course Orientation pages to learn more about the course philosophy. If you decide to enroll, please review the Syllabus. Note that due to its team-based nature, overlapping enrollment with another course is not possible.

The teaching team is excited to meet you and works to continuously improve AP50.

Instructor: Eric Mazur

Is AP50 a good match for you?

Based on our experience teaching AP50 and feedback from past students, this course is for you if you:

Are motivated by learning, not just by grades.
Prefer learning by doing over listening to lectures.
Are comfortable studying material from a textbook.
Enjoy learning with and from peers and developing interpersonal skills.
Like to be in control of your own learning (and your grade).
Are willing to tackle unfamiliar problems without worrying about immediate success.
Are comfortable with calculus at the level of Math 1b (for AP50a) or Math 21a (for AP50b).

This course might not be the best fit for you if you:

Prioritize earning a high grade and meeting a requirement over being intellectually challenged, learning, and developing new skills.
Prefer working alone.
Believe lectures are the best way for you to learn.
Want instructors to present all facts so you know exactly what to learn.
Need the prospect of exams to motivate you to study.
Prefer not to be pushed out of your comfort zone in a physics class.
Approach science classes by memorizing information.
Often postpone work until the deadline or the end of the semester.

Meet Eric and find out more about some of the features of AP50

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Questions? If you have any questions that are not addressed by the Course Orientation or Syllabus (or you need help with an assignment or with physics later in the semester), please know I am here to help. Reach out any time so we can support your success. You can contact me directly via Slack, accessible in the left sidebar, or call or text Eric at +1-978-394-1042. We look forward to hearing from you!