Course Syllabus

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Spring 2024

Math 3B – Calculus II (Class Code 24770)

Instructor: Claudia Abadia & Kelly Pernell     Email: cabadia@peralta.edu  kpernell@peralta.edu  Office Location: Rm 355/353

Class Hours: Asynchronous (100% Online)

Canvas Class Web site: https://peralta.instructure.com/courses/70033

Office Hours:

  • Tue & Thu 3:45 - 4:45 pm (US Pacific Standard Time) in person at BCC, Rm 321 (with Kelly Pernell)
  • Tues & The 8:30-9:50 am (US Pacific Standard Time) in person at BCC Rm 355 (with Claudia Abadia)
  • Wed 2 - 5 pm (US Pacific Standard Time) in person at BCC, Rm (still waiting) 
    online: https://peralta-edu.zoom.us/j/81901769197
  • Discord for Applied Mathematics at BCC: https://discord.gg/wTwDWFdq

Instructor Web Site for additional learning resources: http://www.berkeleycitycollege.edu/wp/kpernell

YouTube Channel:
https://www.youtube.com/@kellypernell3298/playlists

Textbook and Required Materials

This course uses the following textbook as a guide and schedule to present the content of the course:

Calculus, Early Transcendentals, 9th Edition
by James Stewart, Daniel Clegg, Saleem Watson
Cengage
ISBN 978-1-337-61392-7

Chapters 6 – 11 and a few sections from Chapter 5 will be covered.

Please see the Modules section of the Canvas Class web site for a calendar/schedule of the specific sections and topics that we will work on each week.

To save textbook costs, you are NOT required to purchase the textbook. Your assignments will not come from the textbook. In the last few modules of the Canvas class website, you will find a free online textbook from OpenStax. It contains instruction and examples for all the content.

You should create a system to take notes as well as to organize and save your work. A binder with dividers, spiral notebook, or folders will work very well. Using a writing app like Notability or Good Notes on a tablet is a very good way to organize your written math work.

You will be able to access your notes for all of the exams. Start organizing and saving your work from the first day of class!

You will need access to a non-graphing scientific calculator that can do trigonometric and logarithmic calculations. Most smart phones include adequate scientific calculators, particularly in landscape mode. The TI 30x, available at most drug stores for about $15, will be fine.

Technology Requirements

You will need a laptop or mobile device and an internet connection to access the Canvas site, connect to YouTube and Zoom videos, and to submit your assignments.

You will also need an app or tool to scan written work to a PDF file. Adobe Scan is a free application that will allow you to easily take photos of your written work and convert to a PDF file. There are many other applications available for mobile devices.

Although PDFs of your scanned work are preferred, I will also accept picture (jpeg) uploads. Please do not submit HEIC files, though.

Though a graphing calculator is not required for this course, you are encouraged to use one as a learning tool. Mobile graphing calculator apps are decent and can be purchased at low costs ($2 - $10).

The online free app Desmos.com is a wonderful graphing calculator tool to use for the class.

Homework Assignments

The course is separated into Four Parts:

  1. Techniques of Integration (9 homework assignments)
  2. Applications of Integration (8 homework assignments)
  3. Series (11 homework assignments)
  4. Differential, Parametric, and Polar Equations (8 homework assignments)

Each homework assignment contains between 8 and 16 problems.

Homework Parts are each worth 15% of your course grade, making all homework worth a total of 60% of your grade.

HW assignments are designed as mastery-based assessments of your knowledge.

  • For each problem in an assignment, you have 3 chances to enter the correct answer.
    • If you do not get the correct answer after the third try, you can click the button "get a similar question" to try again.
  • When you start an assignment, you do not need to finish all the problems in one session. You can always return later to resume work on them.
  • You can move through an assignment and complete problems in any order (ie you can skip challenging problems and come back).

Please make every effort to complete homework assignments by their due dates.

  • You are allowed to work on any homework assignment after its due date without penalty up until a certain date!
    • Please be aware of the "Available Until" deadlines associated with each homework assignment.
      • The "Available Until" deadlines are the same for all homework assignments in a specific Part (1-4). This date is usually a few days after the exam for that Part.
      • "Available Until" dates are hard deadlines.
        • You will not be able to access assignments after their "Available Until" dates.
          • They will be closed for the remainder of the course.
        • You will have to move onto studying and completing the next Part's assignments.
  • For each homework assignment, there is at least a 10-day period to complete the assignment after its due date (ie, the time between its due date and its "Available Until" deadline is 10 days or more.)
    • To work on an assignment that is past due, please click the "Use Late Passes" button on the assignment's home page.
      • You will not lose points for using Late Passes.
    • Students are expected to complete each assignment about 3 days after introduction to a topic.
    • Please make every effort to complete homework assignments by their due dates, and ONLY use the "Available Until" deadlines for what they are really for, as a reasonable final deadline to finish all assignments in the Part and move onto the next one.

Please remember that Calculus II is a 5-unit intense math course that requires consistent work/progress to enjoy it, maximize learning, and ultimately do well.

It is very easy to fall behind in this course yet very hard to catch up.

If you are two or more weeks behind on assignments, please seek tutorial assistance, come to office hours, and dedicate more time per week to studying and completing assignments.

Self-Assessments Discussion Assignments

There are a total of 6 Self Assessments and 6 Discussion Assignments worth a combined 10% of your overall course grade.

NOTE:

  • These assignments are VERY EASY to complete.
  • They usually take no more than 15 minutes to do.
  • Self Assessments Discussion Assignments have HARD deadlines. You must complete them on time. They will NOT be re-opened for completion at any time.

At the end of a chapter, you will be given a self-assessment assignment to report on your learning, understanding of concepts and to show one example.

  • There are no incorrect answers for the self-assessment. Each one consists of 5 questions, most of which are are multiple choice/option questions. You will be asked which topics you can explain to a friend, which topics are most challenging, how much time you are spending on the class each week, and what things you can do to make improvements if any.
  • You will automatically receive the full 5 points for completing each self assessment.
  • Please be honest in your self-assessments. Targeted assistance cannot be provided unless you communicate your real progress and understanding of the material.

Connected to each self-assessment assignment is a Discussion assignment. In the self-assessments you are asked to scan and upload one math problem to demonstrate your understanding of a topic you believe you know well. You are then asked to share that same math problem to the Discussion for that chapter.

  • You earn one point for sharing your example.
  • You earn another point for reviewing and commenting on another classmate's shared solution.

Please be positive, constructive, and supportive in your comments to other classmate's work.

Please take the time to review other student work and take note of where you may improve your own written work. Look for comprehensive, thorough examples. They will help you prepare for exams.

Try to make your own examples comprehensive and thorough. Write all steps. Draw diagrams/graphs if applicable. Try the more challenging problems so you get the practice and also so you help others in the class.

Exams and Written Work

There a total of 4 exams in the course -- one for each Part.

Exams are worth 20% of your overall grade (5% each).

  • Exam 1 covers Ch 5 & 7 on Techniques of Integration.
  • Exam 2 covers Ch 6 & 8 on Applications of Integration
  • Exam 3 covers Ch 11 on Sequences and Series
  • Exam 4 covers Ch 9 & 10 on Differential, Parametric, and Polar Equations

Each exam will contain 9 problems that come directly from the homework assignments for that Part .

  • You will be given 60 minutes to complete the exam. It is a timed exam!
  • You must take each exam.
  • There is no Final Exam. You will just take an exam for each Part.

At the end of each exam, you will be asked to scan and upload your written work for all exam problems.

  • You will submit this file in a separate assignment than the exam itself.
  • A PDF scan of all problems in order from 1 - 9 is desired. JPEG photos are acceptable and a close second.
  • The online part of an exam is worth 9 points. The written work part is worth 8 points.
    • At the end of the course, any online exam score between 30% and 50% will be raised to 50%.
    •  For the Written Work part, you must provide comprehensive solutions to at least 3 problems to qualify for the minimum grade of 50% (4 out of 8) on the Written Work Part.

Each exam and associated Written Work assignment will only be open for 24 hours.

  • You have 24 hours to start and finish a 60-minute exam and organize, perfect, and upload your written work.
  • Please pay close attention to the due dates and times!
  • Late submissions of Written Work via email will not be accepted for any reason, technical difficulties at the final minute included!
    • Give yourself the full time to take each exam. There is a 10-minute grace period after the 60 minutes to finish the online part.
    • Give yourself enough time after the exam to organize and perfect the written work. Shortest Recommended Time: 30 minutes.
    • Start earlier in the day. Do NOT wait until the last minute to take the exam.
      • In other words, aim to finish both parts no later than 11pm!

NO Make-up exams.
If you have scheduling conflicts, you must make arrangements IN ADVANCE of any exam date.

True/False/Multiple Choice Quizzes

There are four True/False/Multiple Choice quizzes -- one for each Part, as well!

Quizzes are worth 10% of your overall course grade (2.5% each).

  • Quiz 1 covers Ch 5 & 7 on Techniques of Integration.
  • Quiz 2 covers Ch 6 & 8 on Applications of Integration
  • Quiz 3 covers Ch 11 on Sequences and Series
  • Quiz 4 covers Ch 9 and 10 on Differential, Parametric, and Polar Equations

You may take each quiz three times, with your highest score among the three attempts being your official score for that quiz.

Each attempt will be slightly different. Questions will not be in order. Some questions may change.

There is no time limit to complete an attempt.

You may complete a quiz after its due date without penalty.

Please note the "Available Until" deadline for each quiz. You will not be able to access the quiz after this date.

Time Commitment

As I mention above, this is a rather intense 5-unit course.

Because this is a late-start 14-week course, you should dedicate approximately 18 hours per week to read, study, watch lectures, and complete assignments (as opposed to 15 hours per week for a 17.5 week course).

If you are serious about pursuing a career in mathematics, science, technology, or business, please fully commit to this course. It will help you beyond measure.

Please see the Modules section of the Canvas Class site for a list of topics to study and work on each week.

The best way to learn the material is to watch the Lecture videos from my YouTube Channel, read the textbook/optional free text, and complete homework assignments on time.

Attend Office Hours to ask questions! I'm here for you! I am happy to review prerequisite concepts, go over any homework problem, etc.

  • Try not to work alone!
  • Ask questions as soon as you need help.
  • Make friends with people in the class.

Important Dates:

  • The last day to drop a class this term is February 29, 2024.
    • It is very important you log onto the Canvas site and begin work on the first assignment. That way I will know you have intentions of taking the course. If I do not see any activity from you by February 29, 2024, I will drop you from the course at this time!
  • The last day to drop this course with a W grade is May 2, 2024.
    • It is YOUR responsibility to drop a class if you feel you cannot complete it with the grade you wish to earn.
    • I will not drop anyone from the course in April because I've had too many requests from students to be reinstated after I've done so. Therefore, please understand, you need to make this decision for yourself. If you remain in the class after April 26th, you will receive a letter grade of A, B, C, D, or F.
    • Incomplete Grade requests for any other reason than a true emergency outside of a student's control will not be considered. In general, most Incomplete Grade requests will be denied because it is often not in the best interest of the student.

Grading Policy

  • 90 - 100% = A (Exceeds Standards)
  • 80 - 89% = B, (Above Average)
  • 70 - 79% = C, (Meets Standards)
  • 60 - 69% = D (Below Standards)
  • < 60% = F (Missing Work and Below Standards)

At the end of the course, any homework assignment, exam, or quiz with a score greater than 30% but less than 50% will be raised to 50%.

Any missing assignment, quiz, or exam will be assigned a grade of 0%.

NO Make-up exams. If you have scheduling conflicts, you must make arrangements IN ADVANCE of any exam date.

All exams, quizzes, homework assignments, self assessments, and discussions are included in the course grade.

As mentioned above, Incomplete Grade requests will rarely be considered. Most requests are denied because it is in the best interest of the student to start and complete the course in one semester.

  • Homework Assignments: 60% (of course grade)
  • Self Assessments and Discussions: 10%
  • Exams: 20%
  • Quizzes: 10%

The Course and the Canvas Site will officially end on Saturday, May 26, 2024 at 11:59pm (close to midnight).

No one will be given time extensions beyond the end of the course to complete assignments.

Cheating Policy

Cheating is a very serious offense that I will not tolerate.

  • Please write up your own solutions for the written work submissions in the course.
  • There is no way of assessing your learning or knowledge from copied solutions. No other conclusion can be made than you copied solutions, either from someone in the class or from the Internet.
  • Honestly, no one simplifies algebraic expressions and solves problems in exactly the same way.
    • Therefore, it is very easy to spot AI or online App solution write-ups because many students will submit the same solution write-up.

If you are caught cheating on an exam or quiz,

  • You will automatically be given a 0% grade for that exam.
  • Your overall course grade will be lowered by one grade level (From A to B, B to C, C to D, or D to F). It will be impossible to earn an A in the class.
  • All parties involved in the incident will be charged.

Learning Resources

My faculty web site contains a few online resources, sample problems, and lecture notes from previous courses that may be helpful to you. The Math 3B Calculus II page is a nice place to find resources for this course

Please come to online and/or in-person Office Hours to ask questions and to request additional examples.

BCC Online Tutoring is available from our Canvas site. From there, please click on the Learning Resources Center link for more information. Otherwise, please visit: https://www.berkeleycitycollege.edu/lrc/.

Online Tutoring is available to you via your Canvas site's navigation as well.

Finally, consider joining the Discord for Applied Mathematics at BCC. Here is the invitation link: https://discord.gg/wTwDWFdq

Student Accessibility Services (SAS)

Berkeley City College is committed to providing reasonable accommodations for all individuals. This syllabus and the course materials are available in alternate formats upon request. If you have a disability that may have some impact on your work in this class and for which you may need accommodations, please contact a staff member in Student Accessibility Services (SAS) to request accommodations. For students that receive accommodation letters, please contact me to discuss academic arrangements as early in the term as possible.

For more information, please visit Student Accessibility Services at https://www.berkeleycitycollege.edu/wp/pssd/ or by phone at (510) 981-2812 or (510) 981- 2813.

Student Learning Outcomes

Representation: Represent relevant information in various mathematical or algorithmic forms.

Calculation: Calculate accurately and comprehensively.

Interpretation: Interpret information presented in mathematical or algorithmic forms.

Application/Analysis: Draw appropriate conclusions based on the quantitative analysis of data, while recognizing the limits of this analysis.

Communication: Explain quantitative evidence and analysis.

Justification for the Course

Satisfies the General Education and Analytical Thinking requirement for Associate Degrees. Provides foundation for more advanced study in mathematics and related fields, such as physics, engineering, and computer science. Satisfies the Quantitative Reasoning component required for transfer to UC, CSUC, and some independent four-year institutions. Acceptable for credit: CSU, UC.

Berkeley City College Campus Policies Regarding COVID-19 Health and Safety Protocols

Current information regarding the District and College efforts to secure health and safety for everyone can be found at Safe Peralta: https://safe.peralta.edu/.