Dear Student,

My name is Dr. Eltahry Elghandour , and I will be your instructor in the upcoming online version of Dynamics (ENGR251). This letter is to inform you of some important details prior to the commencement of this online class.  Please make sure you do not have any conflicts with the exam times listed below.  Please read this page carefully!!

For many of you this will be your second  true engineering class and I would like to congratulate you on making it to this point. It is quite an achievement to have passed all of the math, physics and statics classes required to take this class, you are the "cream of the crop"!

Tentative Test Dates (you must clear your schedule to take the tests at these times):

You do not need to come to San Luis Obispo, CA for the tests.  Make sure you don't have any conflicts with the exam (see below).  The final will be online but that may change.  In any case, everyone will be taking the test on the same day and time.

Tests may last up to two hours:

Final: Friday July 26th, 2024 via online (You will have a 2-hour window to complete once you open the exam).  The exam window will be between 6am to 6pm PST.

Time Requirement

The average student should set aside about 15 hours a week (30+ during the condensed summer format) to be successful in this class.

Book Requirements

Option: The textbook "Vector Mechanics for Engineers- Dynamics, 7^th ed. by Beer/Johnston" is an optional text.  You can pick up your hard copy for the semester at the Reserve Desk in the library.  Please return it at the end of the term, otherwise you will be billed $50 for it.  This book is completely option and all homework problems will be assigned from 7th edition textbook.  This is an older edition and cannot be purchased in the bookstore.  You are free to use the reserve copies or go online to amazon.com and buy a used copy for a fraction of what the current version is selling for, about $240.

Web Site Requirements

We will be using Canvas (https://cuesta.instructure.com/) as this is the site that will be managing the course and it is required.  It will have the weekly activities including quizzes, videos, and homework assignments.  I will send you more information as we get closer to the start of the class.

How to use Canvas

Canvas is an online classroom management system that this class will be using.  For more information on how to use it check out the "How-To" links here: 

https://www.cuesta.edu/about/depts/compserv/howto_materials_students.htmlLinks to an external site.

Resources for Learning

-Post questions in the class discussion forum.

-Watch the assigned video lectures online on Canvas.

-Read the book or the various links provided.

-Visit the Tutorial Center: https://www.cuesta.edu/student/resources/ssc/index.htmlLinks to an external site.

-Homework and quizzes.

-Study groups.

-Disabled Student Services: https://www.cuesta.edu/student/studentservices/dsps/index.htmlLinks to an external site.

 Contacting the Instructor

If you have a non-private question then please post it in the class discussion forum on Canvas, this way other students can benefit from my reply.  If it is a private message then please use the messaging system from within Canvas rather than sending an email via my Cuesta account.  Using the messaging system within Canvas will allow me to have a record of our conversation associated with the class and also won't get marked as spam that may happen with the Cuesta email account.  If none of the above contact options work then you can email me at my Cuesta email account: eelghand@cuesta.edu

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

 FAQs: https://cuesta.instructure.com/eportfolios/135/FAQs