Mth 271, Applied Calculus I: Presents limits, continuity, differentiation of algebraic and transcendental functions with applications, and an introduction to integration.
Prerequisite: MTH 163 or MTH 166 or equivalent. (Credit will not be awarded for MTH 270 and MTH 271).
Lecture 3 hours per week.
Required Prerequisite Knowledge: To succeed in this course a student must have good mastery of Precalculus and first-semester Calculus.
This course is offered via the Internet and via distributed DVD's in an asynchronous mode. The student will receive instructional information and assignments via these modes and will respond to assignments by submitting work through web forms.
The student must have standard access to the Internet and must have the ability to access the content on the DVD's. The material on the DVD's is accessible using a variety of media players (e.g., Windows Media Player).
The instructor is available via web forms (to which students will be introduced at the very beginning of the course), and will normally respond by the end of the day following your submission (and more typically on the same day) with answers to properly posed questions, feedback on your efforts, and other information. Exceptions may occur in the event of Internet problems or other technical events.
Broad goals and Purpose of the CourseThe broad goals and purpose of the course include the following:
The student will learn how to use the concepts of the integral, the derivative, the differential and differential equations to relate various dynamically changing quantities to rates of change. The student will learn the basic techniques for calculating derivatives, and will also learn to use computer algebra utilities to efficiently create and solve mathematical models involving rates and related to the study of business, economics, management, and the social and life sciences.
Module 1 (corresponds to Chapter 0 of the text and supplementary materials)
Module 2 (corresponds to Chapter 1 of the text and supplementary materials)
Module 3 (corresponds to Chapter 2 of the text)
Module 4 (corresponds to Chapter 3 of the text)
Each assigned task and problem constitutes a specific objective, which is to complete that problem or task and understand as fully as possible its relationship to the stated goals of the assignment and to other concepts, problems and situations encountered in the course.
More detailed specific objectives are listed for each assignment on the Assignments Page for the course.
Regular communication is required of the student. This includes turning in assignments in a timely fashion and responding in a timely manner to feedback on these assignments. Any deviation of more than three days from the chosen schedule of the course must be approved in advance by the instructor. Exceptions will of course be made in the event of documented illness or other unexpected emergencies, but the instructor should be informed of such situations within a reasonable time of occurrence.
After registering for the course you will get an email, sent to your VCCS email account, with instructions for Orientation and Startup. This process will constitute appropriately the first week's assignments for your course (about the first half of the week during the shorter summer term), and will show you the basic navigation of the website including how to communicate, submit work, locate assignments and due dates, and more.
The text for the course is Larson and Edwards' Calculus: An Applied Approach.
Class notes are included online will be distributed, with additional working video links, in DVD format.
The student will be required to purchase the DVD's, which are sold at low cost through the VHCC bookstore.
Areas to be CoveredText material includes Chapters 0-3 inclusive, plus supplementary material posted by instructor.
Chapter titles are as follows:
Chapter 0: A Precalculus Review (more properly should be labeled Algebra Review)
Chapter 1: Functions, Graphs and Limits (consists largely of precalculus material)
Chapter 2: Differentiation
Chapter 3: Applications of the Derivative
A more complete and detailed set of measurable objectives is included in the Assignment Page for the course, with which you will become acquainted through the Orientation and Startup.
Instructional methodsStudents will complete and submit the assignments specified on the homepage.
The instructor will respond in a timely fashion to any work submitted, making suggestions where improvement is needed and posing questions designed to enhance the student's learning experience. The student will be required to respond to all critiques, except those designated otherwise.
Questions posed by students and the instructor's responses will be posted to a site, specified in at the beginning of the course, for the student's review.
Students may on occasion be asked to critique work done by other students. Full student anonymity will be preserved, with no reference to the identity of any party in this exchange.
The instructor is available via web forms (to which you will be introduced at the very beginning of the course), and will normally respond by the end of the day following your submission (and more typically on the same day) with answers to properly posed questions, feedback on your efforts, and other information. Exceptions may occur in the event of Internet problems or other technical events.
Use of email: Prior to registration and receipt of initial instructions students my use Email to communicate with the instructor. However email is much less reliable than web forms, and after registration and receipt of initial instructions anything sent through email should first be sent using the appropriate form.
Grading policyA Major Quiz, two tests and a final exam will be administered. The final examination will given the same weight as a regular test; however, if it is to the advantage of the student this final examination will be given double the weight of a regular test. The Major Quiz will be given half the weight of a test, but if the score ends up helping the student's grade it will be given the full weight of one test.
A student's portfolio, consisting of instructor responses to assigned work and/or daily quizzes, will at the end of the term be assigned a grade. A student who completes all assigned work in the prescribed manner can expect to make an A on this aspect of the course. The average of grades assigned on this work will count as 1/4 of a test grade. If this average is higher than the average on other tests, it will be counted as 1/2 of a test grade.
Raw test scores will be normalized to the following scale, according to the difficulty of the test, as specified in advance of each test by the instructor:
A: 90 - 100
B: 80 - 90
C: 70 - 80
D: 60 - 70
F: Less than 60.
The final grade will be a weighted average according to the above guidelines. A summary of the weighting is as follows:
Major Quiz: Weight .5 or 1.0, to the advantage of the student
Test #1: Weight 1.0
Test #2: Weight 1.0
Comprehensive Final Exam: Weight 1.0 or 2.0, to the advantage of the student
Assignment/Quiz Grade Average: Weight .25 or .5, to the advantage of the student.
The table below summarized the calculation of course grades:
assessment weighting contribution to total score major quiz 1/2 <= m_weigh <= 1 test score * m_weight test 1 1 test score * 1 test 2 1 test score * 1 test 3 (Final Exam) 1 <= f_weight <= 2 final exam score * f_weight portfolio 1/4 <= p_weight <= 1/2 portfolio score * p_weight total of weightings total of contributions Final average = total of contributions / total of weightings
Criteria for Grading of Tests:
Tests will consist of problems designed to measure the level of your achievement of the course goals.
Each problem is graded on a 10-point scale, with the following guidelines:
In the event of a college-wide emergency
In the event of a College-wide emergency, course requirements, classes, deadlines, and grading schemes are subject to changes that may include alternative delivery methods, alternative methods of interaction with the instructor, class materials, and/or classmates, a revised attendance policy, and a revised semester calendar and/or grading scheme.
In the case of a College-wide emergency, please refer to the following about changes in this course:
· Course web page http://vhmthphy.vhcc.edu/ (click on your course)
· Instructor’s email dsmith@vhcc.edu (however, you should use your access page for the most reliable responses)
For more general information about the emergency situation, please refer to:
· Web site - vhcc2.vhcc.edu
· Telephone Number - 276-739-2400
· Emergency Text Messaging or Phone System- Virginia Highlands Community College uses VHCC Alert to immediately contact you during a major crisis or emergency. VHCC Alert delivers important emergency alerts, notifications and updates to you on your E-mail account (work, home, other), cell phone, pager or smartphone/PDA (BlackBerry, Treo & other handhelds). VHCC Alert is a free service offered by VHCC. Your wireless carrier may charge you a fee to receive messages on your wireless device. VHCC will test the alert system each semester. Register online at alert.vhcc.edu or by sending a text message to 411911 keyword: VHCC
In the event of an emergency just regarding this class, the instructor will contact all students via email, and may post information to your access site. You should check both email and your access site.