Updated December 26, 2000
There is a social aspect of learning that is often missing in much of education today. I believe that your participation in small cooperative work groups both during our class meeting time, as well as outside of class can facilitate learning calculus. It is critical that you, as a beginning student of the calculus, begin to talk about calculus as you share your solutions and explanations with others, as well as ask questions of others when you are experiencing difficulties. Watching me do calculus will make you good at watching me do calculus (and maybe even a better copier of notes off the chalkboard or overhead or computer)! Though I certainly hope that my prepared lectures/presentations will make your task of mastering the knowledge, skills, and understandings associated with calculus enjoyable and meaningful, the only way for you to become good at calculus is to engage in "doing" calculus. Be sure to read your text book, study the examples therein and do all the problems assigned; make it a point to attend class regularly, not only to take advantage of the lectures, but also to take advantage of participating in the "doing" of calculus with your group members during class time; do not hesitate to ask questions of me or your group members; study your class notes regularly; get together with some class members to "do" your calculus or share what you have already done; do not let yourself fall so far behind in your task of learning calculus that you feel you must give up. Do not expect me to hold your hand page by page as we "cover" the text. Such will not be the case. I will provide instruction on basic and important concepts and then guide you to build on that foundation. As such, your textbook and my lectures and assignments will complement one another. One without the other will not be sufficient. Your text will help you understand my instruction and my instruction will help you understand your text. Learning to read mathematics is an important outcome of this course.
Your final grade will be based on several exams (in-class, group,take-home), collected homework assignments, small group problem solving exercises, and a comprehensive common final exam.
You can expect to display and explain aspects of the calculus through a variety of suitable means, such as via a overhead transparancy, a created solution you post on the wall of the classroom, a demonstration with your graphics calculator, or using the chalkboard.
The in-class exams will emphasize the knowledge, skills, and understandings that result from the class lectures, the reading assignments, the written assignments, and the group exercises. They will be announced at least one week in advance. Makeup exams are not agreeable to me except in the severest of circumstances. The final exam will be scheduled at a later date. It is usually on Saturday from 11am to 1 pm
Each week, you will be provided with a list of exercises to work and submit for grading. I recommend that you get together with classmates and work through these assignments together. Obviously, simply copying one person's assignment will not do much to enhance the learning effort--you must PARTICIPATE in these group sessions with gusto! The assignments are meant to get you to "do" and "talk" calculus regularly. Graded assignments must be submitted on time in order to receive credit for them.
Your regular attendance to class is of the utmost importance. Though it may be easy to get someone's lecture notes, you will miss out on classroom interaction and the opportunities to engage in group exercises (and you can not get any credit for them if you are not in class!).
It is expected that you do not engage in any activity that would compromise the integrity of the grade you earn in this course. If you take advantage of coming to class to listen to the presentations/lectures, participate in the group activities, and work through the assignments (especially as a group!), you should be successful in this course. Any form of cheating on the class exams or final exam will not be tolerated and can lead to a failing mark for the course. I will provide opportunities for you to be successful; YOU must take advantage of them.
I would encourage you to acquire a good graphics calculator (I strongly recommend a TI-82 or TI-83 or TI-86) and use it. I plan to have you use your calculator often during class meetings and assign problems to do that require the use of your graphics calculator. A good graphics calculator will enable you to make conjectures which you can later algebraically substantiate. It will also let you verify what you have found algebraically. In general, a good graphics calculator will enable you to gain insights and build confidence as you study the calculus. I shall be using the TI-83. Learning to use it is quite simple if you read the documentation and follow the examples that comes with it. This is a terrific group activity to get started with! A graphics calculator is NOT absolutely required, but you will probably find it useful throughout your undergraduate career. Calculators ARE permitted on the in-class examinations and on the final exam.