Course Syllabus

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Spring 2024 - Math 3A – Calculus I (Class Code 40457)

Instructor: Kelly Pernell       Email: kpernell@peralta.edu  Office Location: Rm 353

Class Meeting Times: Tue & Thu 1:30pm - 3:45pm, at BCC, Rm 322

Canvas Class Web site: https://peralta.instructure.com/courses/70742

Office Hours:

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 1 – 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. If you havee a mobile device with a pencil/stylus, 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 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.

Though a graphing calculator is not required for this course, I strongly encourage students 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.

At the very least, you will need access to a non-graphing scientific calculator that can do trigonometric and logarithmic calculations.

Homework Assignments

The course is separated into Three Parts:

  1. Preliminaries and Limits (12 homework assignments)
  2. Differentiation (10 homework assignments)
  3. Applications of Differentiation and Integrals (13 homework assignments

Homework Parts are each worth 20% 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).

 

  • Part 1, 2, and 3 have a hard deadline to complete all assignments within them.
    • All of Part 1 (12 assignments) is due by October 13th.
    • All of Part 2 (10 assignments) is due by November 10th.
    • All of Part 3 (13 assignments) is due by December 15th.
  • We will cover 2 - 3 sections each week. Each section has an assignment with a due date that is typically the Sunday after it is presented in the Modules and the class
    • You are allowed to work on any homework assignment after its due date without penalty.
    • 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.
    • For each homework assignment, there is at least a 10-day period to complete the assignment after its due date (ie, the time between the assignment's due date and its Part's hard deadline is 10 days or more.)
  • Please be aware of the hard deadline for each Part.  
    • The "Available Until" deadlines you see in Canvas are the same for all homework assignments in a Part (1-3). This date is usually a a week after the exam for that Part.
    • You will not be able to access assignments after their "Available Until" hard deadline.
    • Students are expected to complete each assignment about 5 days after introduction to a topic.
      • The "at least 10-day grace period" for each assignment incorporates all types of emergencies and/or accessibility accommodations that may delay completing an assignment on time.
      • Because I provide adequate grace periods without penalty, I WILL NOT consider any requests to re-open any part or any assignment that is past its hard deadline.
    • Please make every effort to complete homework assignments by their due dates, and ONLY use the "Available Until"  hard 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 I 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 check in with me right away, 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 5 Self Assessments and 5 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. I cannot really provide you with targeted assistance unless you communicate with me your real progress and understanding of the material.
  • My goal is for you to enjoy the course, to succeed and earn the grade you desire, and to learn what concepts the class as a whole finds particularly challenging.

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 3 exams in the course -- one for each Part.

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

  • Exam 1 covers Ch 1 & 2 on Preliminaries and Limits.
  • Exam 2 covers Ch 3 Differentiation
  • Exam 3 covers Ch 4 & 5 Applications of Differentiation and Integrals

Each exam will contain 2 parts - one online component and one in-class writing component.

Each part's online exam contains 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 will be given a 24-hour period to start and finish the timed Exam.
  • You must take each exam.
  • There is no comprehensive Final Exam. You will just take an exam for each Part.

Each part's in-class writing exam will consist of a few problems also taken directly from homework problems.

  • You will be given 60 minutes to complete the exam.
  • You are permittted to access your notes and a non-graphing calculator.
  • You are not permitted to access the Canvas site, homework assignments, or phone/mobile device.
  • Your goal is to provide comprehensive solutions to each problem on the exam. Draw diagrams/graphs. Show all steps. Answer application questions in complete sentences. Organize your work. Circle/box your final answers so they are easy to find.

I DO NOT give Make-up exams.
If you have scheduling conflicts, you must make arrangements
IN ADVANCE of any exam date.

 

 True/False Quizzes

There are four True/False quizzes.

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

  • Quiz 1 covers Ch 2 on Limits. (Due Sep 29th, Closes Oct 13th)
  • Quiz 2 covers Ch 3 on Differentiation. (Due Oct 30, Closes Nov 10)
  • Quiz 3 covers Ch 4 on Applications of Differentiation. (Due Nov 20, Closes Dec 15)
  • Quiz 4 covers Ch 5 on Integrals. (Due Dec 8, Closes Dec 15)
  • You may take each quiz up to three times. Your highest score among the three attempts will be your official score for a 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.

Time Commitment

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

You should dedicate approximately 15 hours per week to read, study, and watch lectures, to attend class, and to complete assignments.

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 regularly study, attend class, and complete homework assignments by their due dates. Please make every effort to complete 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 without a W this term is September 2, 2024.
    • It is very important you attend class and sign in and also 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 you in class or any activity from you by September 2, 2024, I will drop you from the course!
  • The last day to drop this course with a W grade is November 22, 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 November 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 November 22nd, you will receive a letter grade of A, B, C, D, or F.
    • I do not consider requests for an Incomplete Grade.

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)

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

I DO NOT give Make-up exams.

If you have scheduling conflicts, you must make arrangements IN ADVANCE of any exam date.

I do not drop lowest scores for any assignment area. All exams, quizzes, homework assignments, self assessments, and discussions are included in the course grade.

As mentioned above, I do not accept requests for an Incomplete grade.

  • 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 Sunday, December 15, 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.

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.

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.

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.