Course Information
Calculus I, Math 170 - Section 2
Kriloff, Spring, 2003

Office Hours: W,F 10:00-11:00am, M 12:00-1:00pm and by e-mail or appointment at other times.
I will hold one office hour from 11:00am-12:00pm on Thursdays in PS 306 specifically for this course.
Supplemental Instruction (SI) Sessions run by a student who will be sitting in on the course will provide additional free help specifically tailored to this section of Math 170 on how to study and what to study.

You should use office hours (for all your classes) as an ongoing resource to address questions or difficulties that were not addressed in class.  Knowing your professor is also a great motivator and a good way to get advice on courses and other education and career related decisions.

Free tutoring is available from the Math Center in the Center for Teaching and Learning, Museum 433 in Pocatello, CHE Room 306 in Idaho Falls.  Hours and information at www.isu.edu/ctl/math/math1.html.

Objectives:
Mathematics is an important part of a broad education, is used in all science and many social science fields, and is crucial in thinking logically and critically.  Mathematical literacy includes not only mastering various technical principles but also developing the ability to use the precise language of mathematics, and can help you both in your future career and in daily decisions.  Learning these skills can be difficult and frustrating at times.  But solving a problem, expressing an answer clearly, and making a decision based on understanding mathematical evidence are all rewarding processes that contribute to becoming a well educated and well rounded person.
This course focuses on finding instantaneous rates of change and areas underneath curves, both of which involve taking limits of functions.  Emphasis will be placed on material, concepts, and skills needed in Math 175, for which this course is a prerequisite.

By the end of this course you should:

• Thoroughly understand the concepts of differentiation, integration, and their relationship.
• Be able to solve problems related to limits, derivatives, and integrals and communicate clear solutions.
• Be confident formulating questions, solving problems, and presenting solutions clearly.
• Have developed learning and study skills to succeed in this course and beyond.

Prerequisite: Math 147 or Math 143/144 or demonstrated equivalent background in Precalculus is required.  If you did not earn a C- or better in one of these options, you are strongly advised to repeat it since Math 170 assumes and uses most of the ideas from algebra and trigonometry.

Format and Evaluation
Class time will include a mixture of brief lectures and cooperative group work.  I expect you to come to class prepared by having read and thought about the material and attempted the homework ahead of time.  You are responsible for material covered in all class sessions regardless of whether you have reason to be absent.

Homework will be assigned but not collected.  You should come to each class prepared with questions from the reading and homework for the section marked on the calendar for that class.

Studying together and discussing problems are encouraged, after you have worked hard on the material or problem yourself, since this can be a very effective and rewarding way to learn mathematics.  You will find such sessions most useful if you write up solutions yourself.  Answers in the book or a study guide are also most valuable when used after completing a problem.

Quizzes will be given almost every Tuesday and Friday.  These will consist of problems taken directly from the suggested homework exercises and possibly a problem that requires you to write a precise definition of a term.  Calculators may not be allowed for some quizzes.  Since your lowest quiz score will be dropped, there will be no make-up quizzes. A correct answer with no supporting work on quizzes or exams will result in no or almost no credit.  Exams will be closed book with graphing calculators allowed.  Each will include some questions that involve applying familiar concepts in new situations. If an emergency requires you to miss an exam, you should contact me or have someone else contact me before the exam if at all possible and must provide documentation.  The final date is firm, so please mark it down now.

Grades of A, B, C, D will be guaranteed by earning overall percentages of 90%, 80%, 70%, 60%.  Cutoffs for +/- will be determined at the end of the semester, but will be within 3 percentage points of these values.
 

Philosophy: All of you have the potential to succeed in this course and hard work counts for a great deal (the example of writing your name with your other hand is meant to illustrate these ideas).  I continue to learn by expanding my knowledge of mathematics and its connections with other subjects, by doing original mathematical research, by understanding more about learning and teaching, and by working to teach in ever more effective ways.  I expect that you will also deepen your knowledge of mathematics and its applications, will learn to formulate questions that lead you to construct your own understanding of mathematics, and will know more about the process of learning and solving problems after you complete this course.  The most important skill you can gain from college is the ability to learn independently.

Accommodations: If you have a disability or think you have a disability (physical, learning disability, hearing, vision, psychiatric) which may need a reasonable accommodation, please contact the ADA Disabilities & Resource Center located in Graveley Hall, Room 123, 282-3599 as early as possible.

How to Succeed:  You will need to work hard and learn a great deal outside of the classroom.  (This is how college is most different from high school.  The pace is faster - perhaps two to three times as fast - and the understanding expected is deeper - beyond working template problems.)  Some habits that will help you learn actively (both in and outside of class) and succeed in this course are:

• Read the section before we discuss it in class.  Do not expect to understand everything the first time.  But reading the material ahead of time and trying some problems will help you

(1) be familiar with the basic ideas so you can participate and understand more in class, and
(2) identify what you do not understand so you can ask questions in class or office hours.
 
• Read actively so you will understand and retain the material better.  As you read, write down all questions you have, observations you make, and examples or computations you work out.  Take notes, make outlines, summaries, and lists of results in your own words.  Read when you are alert.

 
• Form study teams and discuss what you read and learn with others.  Talking to someone about the material will strengthen your knowledge and make studying more fun, even if that person is not in the class.  Working together you can get further than you can separately.

 
• Formulate, record, and ask questions.  If you work hard on a problem yourself and become stuck or do not understand an idea, seek out help from me, the Math Center, or fellow students.  Attempt assigned homework early so you have time to ask questions about it.

 
• Attend every class session on time if at all possible.

 
• Participate actively in group work and discussion during class.

 
• Take thorough notes in class, using your own shorthand and abbreviations in order to keep up.

 
• Re-read the material again after it is covered in class. Nearly everyone (including me) must read mathematics several times and think hard about it to fully understand it.  You will understand the material more deeply when you re-read it and connect it to ideas in this and other classes.

 
• Focus on definitions, conclusions, and methods. Mathematics is a language and it is absolutely necessary to understand the precise definitions of key terms.  Understanding why statements are true is also crucial.

 
• Learn from mistakes of your own and others (including me) made on homework or in class.

 
• Be organized, clear, and accurate.

 
• Work productively by developing efficient and effective study and problem solving skills.  Work at least 2-3 hours (on average) outside of class for every hour in class.  Keep a time log of how you spend each half hour of the day for a couple weeks to become more aware of your use of time.

I look forward to a successful and rewarding semester of learning together!