- Welcome! Thanks for signing up! I'm glad that you're here.
- Today we'll handle basic logistics, then we'll undertake
a diagnostic test (dirty trick!:).
The test (which has no impact on your grade!) will help me to detect any weaknesses that you may have as you undertake the study of calculus. I will also be able to tell you something about your probability of success in the course, based on your preparedness (results next time).
I want to give you lots of time for that, so today's introductions will be brief!
- You have an assignment for next time (please begin prior to class
on Wednesday):
begin work on our first handout -- "Linear Things" -- for next time.
The great thing about calculus is that it's really about straight lines! At least that much gets you a long, long way in calculus. So let's understand "line-like things" well....
- I am hearing-impaired (wear hearing aids): if I don't
understand your question, please be patient with me;
or, if I misunderstand what you've said, just let me
know that I'm off track!
If you think that I'm ignoring you, it's quite likely that I just didn't hear what you said....
- Roll and 3x5 cards: Please fill out the card, indicating
- Name (that you want me to call you)
- Hometown
- What is your calling? ("a calling has to do with one's larger purpose, personhood, deepest values, and the gift one wishes to give the world.... A calling is about the use one makes of a career." David Orr, Earth in Mind)
- What is your dream job?
- What is something special about you?
- Because of scenes like this:
I ask that you keep the phones out of sight. If, for some reason, you need to use your phone, please leave the classroom.
It's really distracting for me to see someone playing on their phone during class. And if I get too distracted, I absent-mindedly begin making your quizzes and tests a lot harder....:)
- The course website will be useful:
http://www.nku.edu/~longa/classes/mat128
- Note: I will only be using Canvas to provide a home for
your WebWork exercises -- I am planning to use it for nothing
else! Everything else will be found on our website.
- Syllabus (logistics, etc.)
- The plan of attack: we'll get through (much of) chapters one
through three in our text.
Assignments will be updated on the website.
- We'll be using
- a free, on-line textbook, called Active Calculus; and
- a free, on-line homework system, called WebWork. WebWork examples appear throughout
your text, and one of my goals for this semester is to create some
assignments of my own using WebWork.
I am new to creating my own WebWork homework sets, and I'll be getting the kinks out, for sure. Note, however, that you are not going to be receiving a grade for your WebWork -- but that these exercises will be preparing you for your quizzes and exams. Please do your homework!
But there's a second operative word: active (and activities). I hope that you will be active in this class. Come expecting to work in class, on your own and with others.
- You may want to use a tablet or laptop in class, but it's not
required.
Technology really reduces the tedium associated with some aspects of advanced mathematics, allows you to check your work, and facilitates exploration. That being said, you'll have access to only a graphing calculator for the exams, so you want to use these other tools as aids, not as crutches. Locate a calculator now, so that you're ready when it's time for the exams.
- Our departmental Tutoring
lab (MEP 457) may prove helpful. Run by the Mathematics Department
out of MEP457 and staffed by our upper level students, it provides free
tutoring to Calculus students in our department. More to come.
- You should do the reading in advance of our discussion of
each section in class. That's why I usually assign the
"preview" questions. These should be completed before class:
they prep you with the "big idea" of a section.
- There will be weekly quizzes (although none this week). These will cover the material from the week before (and our first one will be Friday of next week). They will occur at the end of Friday's class (I'll alot around 20 minutes). They will cover the readings from the text, your homework, and our work in class.
- This is a calculator-free test.
- Please don't write on the exam itself (so I can reuse these). Please use the scratch paper I have available, as needed.
- Please try your hardest, even though this will not be counted in your course grade. It is simply designed to help you to assess your preparation for this course.