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Syllabus
Calculus I
MATH 125 Section 008
Fall 2015, Lecture
Dr. Andrew Lewis
Prerequisites
Course Description
This course is the first third of the standard calculus sequence. Topics include limits, continuity, derivatives, and integration. Applications of all of these are also covered, including optimization, linear approximations, and computation of areas.
Required Texts
The Supply Store information can be confusing to interpret (it is supposedly listed like it is to ensure all the materials are covered by certain scholarships, e.g. the GI bill). What you must have for this course is two things:
- Either a physical clicker (used is fine), or a license for Responseware which allows you to use your phone or tablet in place of a clicker. Since we are using Responseware in a trial mode, the Supestore was able to get a great discount on the licenses; the catch is that another class may not be using the trial and require you to have a physical clicker.
- Access to Webassign, whether you purchase a standalone code, or one included with your textbook.
Webassign includes an eBook; many (probably most) students find this sufficient for their needs in my course. Whether you feel like you need a physical textbook as well is a personal decision based on cost and your learning style.
Student Learning Outcomes
At the conclusion of this course, students will
- Be able to compute limits of functions of a single variable
- Be able to compute derivatives of functions of a single variable
- Be able to compute simple integrals
- Be able to apply single variable calculus techniques to real world problems such as optimization and linear approximation
- Be able to find the area between two curves.
Outline of Topics
We will cover the first 5 chapters of the book, section 7.1, and part of chapter 6 as time permits.
Standards Based Grading
This course is graded by a methodology called Standards Based Grading. There is a list of 25 learning standards for this course (available in Blackboard), divided into core standards and supplementary standards. Rather than receiving a numerical score on an assessment (e.g. exam or quiz), you will instead be scored as either Mastered or Not yet mastered on each standard that is on that assessment.
Standards will be assessed multiple times throughout the semester. Unlike most classes, these numbers will not be averaged. Instead, your grade will be computed in a way that rewards growth and continued mastery of the material. At the end of the semester, for each standard you will be scored as Not mastered, Mastered, or Continued mastery. These are defined as having demonstrated mastery on 0, 1, or 2+ assessments, respectively.
Reassessment
One key aspect of this system is constant reassessment. This can occur in a couple of different ways. A standard can be reassessed explicitly on another quiz or exam. Secondly, a standard may be assessed again as part of a problem designed to primarily assess a different standard (for example, a problem assessing optimization would also necessarily assess your differentiation skills, as we will learn). Additionally, you can reassess a standard during my office hours. This reassessment can take several forms, depending on the situation:
- If possible, I'll make up a problem or two on the spot and have you work it.
- I might ask you to come back the next day so I can think up a good problem for you to work.
- I might ask you to finish your homework on certain topics before you can reassess.
- I might simply ask you to explain the concept to me on the chalkboard.
A few caveats to office hour reassessments:
- Reassessments are given at the discretion of the instructor, they are not guaranteed opportunities.
- If you come in for help on a standard, you should come back at a later time to reassess it after you have practiced it some more on your own.
- You can reassess one standard a week. This means it is to your advantage to try and reassess a standard early in the week, so that if you do not demonstrate mastery, you can try again later in the week after you study and practice a bit more.
The goal is to view assessments as opportunities for you to demonstrate mastery.
Feedback
Unfortunately, this grading system is far too sophisticated for Blackboard to handle. So you will periodically receive an automatic email from me detailing your current progress in the course. If you have any questions about how to interpret where you stand, come to my office hours to discuss.
Webassign
We will be using WebAssign (http://www.webassign.net) for homework assignments. If you did not purchase an access code bundled with your textbook, you will need to purchase one from the bookstore or directly from WebAssign. I have created a WebAssign account for each student; you should be able to log in simply by clicking the link from our course section in Blackboard.
Homework will be due at noon on most Tuesdays and Thursdays. You should plan on working on homework every day after class.
Grading notes:
- You will have an unlimited number of attempts on each problem, so your homework grade is merely a function of how much effort you want to put into it.
- There is a 5% bonus if you answer correctly on the first attempt.
- There is another 5% bonus if you complete the assignment at least 12 hours early.
- For the first week after an assignment is due, extensions will be automatically granted, no questions asked, at a 20% penalty. Use the "request an extension" button in WebAssign. The penalty is applied on a per-problem basis, so it only affects problems you did not correctly answer by the deadline.
- At the end of the semester, I will drop your four lowest homework scores in computing your homework grade.
It is your responsibility to ensure access to a working computer to complete these assignments. If your personal computer or network is having problems, it is expected that you will be able to use one of the numerous labs on campus to complete the assignment.
Exams and Assignments
Most weeks, we will have a short quiz designed to assess a single standard. Additionally, we will have four longer assessments ("exams") on the following dates:
| Exam 1 | September 10 |
| Exam 2 | October 1 |
| Exam 3 | October 22 |
| Exam 4 | November 24 |
| Final Exam | December 11 |
Grading Policy
At the end of the semester, your grade will be computed in the following manner:
| To earn a letter grade of ... | ... you should at least |
| A |
|
| B |
|
| C |
|
| D |
|
| F |
|
Within each letter grade, plus and minus will be assigned. A minus will be given for barely crossing the threshold, while a plus will be given for falling just beneath the next higher threshold.
Participation/Clickers
One fundamental aspect of my teaching philosophy is the axiom that mathematics is not a spectator sport. For this reason, not only is attendance mandatory for this course, but you are also required to actively participate in learning mathematics in the classroom. Passively observing a lecture and blindly taking notes are not active participation; instead, focus on understanding what is going on, asking questions to clarify misconceptions, and working through the examples in real time with the class.
One tangible way to foster this participation is by working on the clicker questions I scatter through the lectures. Each student is required to bring a working clicker to class each day. Most days, you will be asked to use them to respond to some questions. You will not be graded for correctness, but on if you responded or not. You will receive full credit for the clicker portion of your grade if you answer 80% of the clicker questions over the semester. There will be no makeups for clicker questions for any reason except in the case of a long term excused absence (i.e. more than 20% of the class). Temporary absences for any reason, clicker malfunctions, dead batteries, etc. are accounted for in the "free" 20%.
Policy on Missed Exams & Coursework
Exams and quizzes can only be made up in the event of illness (with a doctor's note), or other emergent situation (with appropriate documentation).
Attendance Policy
Attendance is required for this course, and is measured implicitly by clicker participation.
Calculator Policy
No calculators will be permitted on the exams (they will not be necessary). You are free to use whatever calculator you like for the homework, but I encourage you to work without one.
UAct
The University of Alabama is committed to an ethical, inclusive community defined by respect and civility. The UAct website (www.ua.edu/uact) provides a list of reporting channels that can be used to report incidences of illegal discrimination, harassment, sexual assault, sexual violence, retaliation, threat assessment or fraud
Emergency Contact Information
UA's primary communication tool for sending out information is through its web site at www.ua.edu. In the event of an emergency, students should consult this site for further directions. Additional course information will be posted using Blackboard Learn.
Severe Weather Guidelines
The guiding principle at The University of Alabama is to promote the personal safety of our students, faculty and staff during severe weather events. It is impossible to develop policies which anticipate every weather-related emergency. These guidelines are intended to provide additional assistance for responding to severe weather on campus.
UA is a residential campus with many students living on or near campus. In general classes will remain in session until the National Weather Service issues safety warnings for the city of Tuscaloosa. Clearly, some students and faculty commute from adjacent counties. These counties may experience weather related problems not encountered in Tuscaloosa. Individuals should follow the advice of the National Weather Service for that area taking the necessary precautions to ensure personal safety. Whenever the National Weather Service and the Emergency Management Agency issue a warning, people in the path of the storm (tornado or severe thunderstorm) should take immediate life saving actions.
When West Alabama is under a severe weather advisory, conditions can change rapidly. It is imperative to get to where you can receive information from the National Weather Service and to follow the instructions provided. Personal safety should dictate the actions that faculty, staff and students take.
The Office of University Relations will disseminate the latest information regarding conditions on campus in the following ways:
- Weather advisory posted on the UA homepage
- Weather advisory sent out through UA Alerts to faculty, staff and students
- Weather advisory broadcast over WVUA at 90.7 FM
- Weather advisory broadcast over Alabama Public Radio (WUAL) at 91.5 FM
- Weather advisory broadcast over WVUA-TV/WUOA-TV, and on the website at http://wvuatv.com/content/weather. WVUA-TV Home Team Weather provides a free service you can subscribe to which allows you to receive weather warnings for Tuscaloosa via e-mail or cell phone. Check http://wvuatv.com/content/free-email-weather-alerts for more details and to sign up for weather alerts.
In the case of a tornado warning (tornado has been sighted or detected by radar; sirens activated), all university activities are automatically suspended, including all classes and laboratories. If you are in a building, please move immediately to the lowest level and toward the center of the building away from windows (interior classrooms, offices, or corridors) and remain there until the tornado warning has expired. Classes in session when the tornado warning is issued can resume immediately after the warning has expired at the discretion of the instructor. Classes that have not yet begun will resume 30 minutes after the tornado warning has expired provided at least half of the class period remains.
Disability Statement
If you are registered with the Office of Disability Services, please make an appointment with me as soon as possible to discuss any course accommodations that may be necessary.
If you have a disability, but have not contacted the Office of Disability Services, please call (205) 348-4285 (Voice) or (205) 348-3081 (TTY) or visit 133-B Martha Parham Hall East to register for services. Students who may need course adaptations because of a disability are welcome to make an appointment to see me during office hours. Students with disabilities must be registered with the Office of Disability Services, 133-B Martha Parham Hall East, before receiving academic adjustments.
Policy on Academic Misconduct
All students in attendance at The University of Alabama are expected to be honorable and to observe standards of conduct appropriate to a community of scholars. The University of Alabama expects from its students a higher standard of conduct than the minimum required to avoid discipline. At the beginning of each semester and on examinations and projects, the professor, department, or division may require that each student sign the following Academic Honor Pledge: “I promise or affirm that I will not at any time be involved with cheating, plagiarism, fabrication, or misrepresentation while enrolled as a student at The University of Alabama. I have read the Academic Honor Code, which explains disciplinary procedure resulting from the aforementioned. I understand that violation of this code will result in penalties as severe as indefinite suspension from the University.”
See the Code of Student Conduct for more information.
UAct: Ethical Community Statement
The University of Alabama is committed to an ethical, inclusive community defined by respect and civility. The UAct website (http://www.ua.edu/uact) provides extensive information on how to report or obtain assistance with a variety of issues, including issues related to dating violence, domestic violence, stalking, sexual assault, sexual violence or other Title IX violations, illegal discrimination, harassment, child abuse or neglect, hazing, threat assessment, retaliation, and ethical violations or fraud.