MATH 1271 (Calculus I) INSTRUCTOR: SCOT ADAMS
(course expectations)
Course expectations:
- CHEATING: Students will not cheat.
Generally, a student caught cheating (on any quiz, homework or
exam) is given an "F" for the course. In addition, a report on the
incident is filed with the
Office for Student Conduct and Academic Integrity.
Do not let anyone else use your clicker during a clicker quiz.
That is always considered to be blatant cheating, and, if you are
discovered to have done it, you will receive an "F" grade for the
course.
- PREREQUISITES: Students will enter this course with a mastery of precalculus,
including high-school algebra, trigonometry, plane geometry and analytic geometry.
- WORK LOAD: Students will work 12 hours per week on this course, on average.
Typically students who like mathematics (and learn it quickly) may
need a little less time, but those who have difficulty with the subject
should be ready to spend more than the average of 12 hours/week.
(This average time commitment follows University standards for four credit courses.)
- ATTENDANCE: Students will attend every class (both lectures and recitations),
arriving on time and staying until the end, paying attention.
During class, please turn off all electronic devices and avoid conversation.
I may not be able to end every class exactly on time,
but I should not run over by more than a minute or two.
- HOMEWORK: Students will turn in every homework assignment,
by its due date.
- VIDEOS: Students will watch every course video,
from start to finish, by its due
date, paying attention. Keep in mind that there are 55 hours
of video to watch, spread out over 15 weeks.
- I recommend watching these videos, minimizing interruptions,
in a place with no distractions (e.g., at a library,
turning off all access to text messaging, email, phone
calls, etc.). For some of the longer videos, you may want
to watch in two sittings, but, again, repeated interruptions
should be avoided.
- It is typically not so helpful to take notes, but, if notes are
important to you, then it makes sense to print out the pdf file
of the slides, and write your notes on that printout. The
topics summaries
can also provide you with a basis for notes.
- I recommend against repeatedly stopping and starting the videos,
unless you have a lot of time to spend on them. (More power to
you, if you do!) For some of the longer videos, you may want to
watch in two sittings, but, again, repeated stopping and starting
should be avoided.
- The most important material on the videos is mentioned more than
once, so, if you don't understand something, bear in mind that
you may well see it again later. Some students will watch certain
videos more than once for improved understanding, but that of
course takes time, and the videos were not planned with that in
mind. The most difficult material for most students is in Topics
0480, 0510 and 0520, so those are the ones for which a second
viewing would be most recommended.
- Of course, feel free to write to your instructor or TA with
questions about the video material. Be sure to note the topic
number and slide number in question.
If you cannot meet these expectations, then it would be better for you
either to move to a precalculus course, or to find a different lecture
section of MATH 1271.
This course is pitched at responsible, hardworking students who:
- have a mastery of precalculus,
- are willing to spend a lot of time on video instruction,
- can, when necessary, concentrate on mathematics for up to two hours at a time and
- seek mastery of the MATH 1271 course material, not just a passing grade.
This course is not for everyone.