MATH 012 Syllabus Supplement, Term 3, 2006-2007, Harrogate

Faculty Contact Information:

Phil Richardson, Collegiate Associate Professor
Local address: The Old Bakery, Hale Road, Ashill, Thetford, Norfolk IP25 7AX (Great Britain).

LEARNING IS A STUDENT RESPONSIBILITY.

PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE!!

I will guide your learning.

Grading Information:

Exam results will normally be available at the class following the exam. To encourage well reasoned and documented solution procedures, I do give limited partial credit if your work is sufficiently well labeled, organized and accurate. (All worksheets must be turned in with every exam/quiz.) However, I place a premium on the correct answer.

For each test/quiz you will receive all or part of the points on offer depending on your percentage score on the test. For example, for Exam 1, worth 10 points, if you earn 80% on the exam, you earn 8 points toward your final grade. For Exam 3, worth 20 points, 80% correct on the test will earn you 16 points toward your final grade.

Students concerned with slow progress should seek help before getting into grade trouble. Contact me, your instructor, early. "Incompletes" will not be given unless thoroughly justified and backed up by a contract negotiated with the instructor allowing for completion within four weeks.


Other Information

Class Meetings: Tuesday and Thursday, 1630-1930; classroom on Menwith Hill will be announced.

CLASS ROUTINE: The normal form will be
   [a] Questions/open items on prior discussions and problems,
   [b] Quiz (over homework every meeting or two - 15-20 minutes long),
   [c] Discussion of new material and in-class practice, and
   [d] Test (every two weeks).

I believe very strongly in cooperative learning in which each of us helps the others to understand the material. Thus you are encouraged to form your own math study groups.

In general, students are responsible for proper note-taking from both the text and the class, studying and working as many exercises and problems as time allows. If you have difficulty solving problems, make a conscientious effort without being defeated by or in frustration. Your problem statement and solution procedure are very important to your performance on tests so emphasize both when you practice.

There are a number of math study aids starting with the "AIM for Success" part of your text's introduction. Please study it prior to the first class.

Another aid, much older but still useful, is M.C. Hudspeth and L.R. Hirsch's Studying Mathematics (Kendall/ Hunt, Dubuque, Iowa, 1982. ISBN: 0840327684). It has excellent tips on effective processes for classroom and text note-taking, home and group study, problem-solving, review, test preparation and test-taking packed into 64 pages. On Amazon.com recently it was about $5 plus shipping & handling.

Study time (including reading and exercises) can be expected to be 2 to 3 times the amount of lecture time. That is, for every hour in class expect to spend 2 to 3 hours out of class studying.

SUGGESTED HOME STUDY ROUTINE:

Have a set time of day and period of time during which, in a quiet place, you study and work as many problems as possible.

First, review the material covered in the day's class using both the text and your class notes. Amplify your class notes and insert examples where it will help your later review for exams. Ensure you master the material. Check yourself by re-working example problems without reference to the text. Next work new problems, again, 'closed book.'

When practicing for tests, select a representative sample of problems covering major chapter concepts and techniques, set a time limit (try 4 min. per problem on average to start) and work as many as your can 'closed book.' If you run out of time, complete the remaining problems and increase your practice to improve your accuracy, speed and efficiency.

Organize you homework, number all problems, show all steps you will need for review purposes, simplify your answer, clearly identify, interpret and label (dimensions, units, etc.) your answer(s). Check your answer with the back of the book after you have worked the problem for yourself. Circle the number of any problem with which you had special difficulty and need my aid.

Next, read the material assigned for discussion in the upcoming class session, prepare your text Math-Notes, work all the margin exercises, work all the exercises that have a full solution in the back of the text and later compare your method with the text's. Next work at least one problem for each major concept, more problems on areas where you have difficulty, and as many 'word' problems as time allows. Practice, practice, practice.

A HINTS ON PROBLEM SOLVING SHEET IS PROVIDED FOR YOUR CONTINUAL USE FOR HOMEWORK AND ON TESTS. DO NOT WRITE ON IT, PLEASE.

IN GENERAL, FOR PROBLEMS SOLVED WITH CALCULATORS, YOU SHOULD FIRST ESTIMATE THE ANSWER. UPON COMPLETION, COMPARE THE ESTIMATE WITH THE CALCULATED RESULTS TO CONFIRM REASONABLENESS.

REQUIRED EQUIPMENT: Calculator (with exponentials/roots), pencils (colored and black), ruler, compass, graph and ruled paper. In general, agraphing or scientific calculator will be acceptable.

* Please do not tape record class sessions.
* Please turn off telephones before class.

Assignment Policy: Assignments must be completed prior to class so that all students may participate and receive maximum benefit from class attendance.

Attendance Policy: Attendance at each session is expected, roll will be taken and submitted to the UM office.

Using email in this course (when needed): The first element of the subject line of every email in this course will begin "MATH 012 07t3" followed by a brief topic indicating of the content of the email. All electronic mail will be acknowledged so that you will know I have received your message. See also:

http://faculty.ed.umuc.edu/~prichard/crs_guid_gen/email_hints.html
http://faculty.ed.umuc.edu/~prichard/crs_guid_gen/email_attach.html
Phil Richardson, phil.richardson@faculty.ed.umuc.edu, Revised 8 Dec. 2006