Syllabus for Calculus with Applications
MWF 8:45-9:50 – Spring 2002

Rohr Science 220 – (619) 849-2604 – gcrow@ptloma.edu

• Calculator: A scientific calculator is recommended (in the $20 to $25 range).
• Supplies: About five 3.5" computer disks.

Comment
We will try and avoid the following pitfall:

At the beginning college level, visualization is a big part of understanding. Consequently, students who are operating with few mental pictures are not really learning mathematics. Their calculus consists of a vast series of algorithms and a complicated cataloging system which tells them which procedure is used when. The effort put into this kind of teaching and learning is largely wasted: memorized algorithms are soon forgotten and, worse still, such courses perpetuate the idea that math involves doing calculations rather than thinking [emphasis added].

(by Deborah Hughes Hallet in Visualization and Calculus Reform, in the collection Visualization in Teaching and Learning Mathematics, edited by Zimmerman and Cunningham (MAA notes \#19))

Homework
The homework and labs are designed to allow you to grasp the concepts of Calculus; they are not ends in themselves. Assignments will be announced on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. The work will be due on the following Wednesday. The labs assigned on Thursday will also be due on that Wednesday. There will be two parts to each assignment. The first part will be problems from the text, and may be submitted entirely on paper in written or in Maple format. The second part will be lab reports of your investigations in the computer lab and these may only be submitted by e-mail in Maple format. Each file submitted by e-mail must have an eight character name (or shorter) with Your Three Initials and then numbers indicating which assignment is being submitted. If You were submitting Lab 3.4 and 3.5 then the name should be "YTI3-45.mws"

Groups
There is almost a century of research showing that academic achievement, productivity, and self-esteem improve dramatically when students work together in groups. This method emphasizes teamwork, cooperation and support by others, rather than isolation and competition in learning.

You will be randomly assigned to a group on a monthly basis. Certain homework problems will be assigned to each group. If selected, your group will present their assigned problems to the class. Absence or obvious lack of participation will lower your semester homework grade by up to 10% per week.

Examinations
There will be five classroom exams, two lab skill exams, and a comprehensive Final exam. No examination shall be missed without an official excuse. A score of zero will be assigned for a test that is missed without an official excuse. The exam schedule is included in the daily schedule. I do not intend to accept excuses such as poor communication with parents and/or travel agents.

GRADING POLICIES

Other factors that affect grades are

• Late work. A written assignment or computer assignment is late if it is not received at the beginning of class on the due date. Late work need not be accepted. Work accepted late may be assessed a penalty. Make-up tests (or the exam) will be given only by arrangement with the instructor for reasons of documented emergency.
• Questions on written assignments and exams: Written assignments and test/exam questions and problems must be formulated carefully in terms of words and symbols used in the course. Credit is determined by the degree to which answers and solutions respond to the specific question or problem stated. Maximize your credit by learning the language and symbols of the course.
• Written Assignments. Assignments collected must be prepared in a style suitable for grading. The following guidelines are used to determine credit:
  • the organization must be easy to follow
  • the work must be legible
  • complete solutions must be written for problems (not just answers); answers must be clearly marked
  • use complete sentences to answer questions
• Exams and Final Examination. Exams and the final exam will include problems and questions over material assigned in the text, readings and handouts, as well as material presented in class.