Home, 3/29
Exam 2 turned out better than the first one, but I am afraid that's the best I can say about it. Too many people are still struggling with too basic material, even though every type of problem is worked on at least three times. Keep working on it, students, see me or free tutoring services for help, turn in joysheets and MyLab homework and don't miss class: those are ingredients for improvement.
MyLab for section 3.1 is due tonight and Joysheet 7 is due on Monday. (If you did not get it in class, you know where to find it.)
On Monday we start the new section 3.2.
Home, 3/14
After the exam, take a breather! We will start with new material after the break.
I noticed that many people have not done MyLab homework for section 2.5. I reopened this section, due on Monday after the break.
Have a nice spring break!
Home, 3/7
Exam 2 is scheduled for Friday to give us enough time to finish the last section and go over its homework plus turn around one more joysheet. Check out sample exam 2 on the "scores and docs" page and find more exams on the Motherlode. The more you practice, the better you will do.
MyLabs for section 2.4 are due on Monday. I have also reopened homework in sections 2.2-2.3 so that students can practice these problems before the exam, if they haven't already. These are due on Sunday.
Joysheet 5 was due today, but you can bring it to me on Monday, too.
Home, 3/1
Exam 1 turned out rather poorly, most likely due to the snow week, which many students appear to have taken off. If you did poorly on this exam, improve your preparations for the next one: do several sample exams to test yourself. Put everything away, try to do a sample exam on your own as though you were taking it and see how you do. If you are stumped on many problems, more practice is needed!
The first update of your grades on Canvas has been done. Exam 1 is the biggest factor in your grade, but joysheets have a role, too (each is about 1% of your overall grade). Too many people are not turning them in, losing out on points too easily. You are always welcome during my office hours for help with joysheets or anything else!
As we are not far from the end of chapter 2, I am planning for an exam before spring break. Please try to stay current on the material so you can do better on this exam.
Homework in section 2.1 is due tonight and 2.2 and 2.3 are due next week. On Monday, we continue with homework discussion in sections 2.2 and 2.3, with an anticipated in-class joysheet during the week, most likely on Wednesday.
Home, 2/22
Due to weather-related circumstances, exam 1 has been rescheduled to Tuesday (2/25). On Monday we will review for the exam.
Because some people did not have access to power or internet, I extended the deadline for MyLabs to Tuesday for JIT 18 and 1.6. Since these sections are covered by the exam, I strongly recommend you finish them before the exam. Also, please keep in mind that when you are on campus, there are computer labs in many places where you can go to do homework if your own computer is not working or does not have power.
We covered sections 2.1-2.3 last week, one hour in class and two on Zoom. Zoom class participation was quite low, but you can find recordings of the sessions on Canvas/files/recordings to get up to speed for homework. MyLabs for 2.1-2.3 have been assigned - they start coming due on Friday at the earliest. We will start working on homework in those sections on Wednesday.
Home, 2/14
Exam 1, covering chapter 1 is scheduled for Tuesday. Problems will be similar to problems done in class and on MyLab.
You can find a sample exam on the "scores and docs" page. Try to do it on your own, and time yourself to see if you can do it in 50 minutes. If not, further practice is needed. Exam problems will be similar to the ones on the sample exams, but will not just be changing the numbers. For more practice exams, check the "Motherlode" - link is in the "scores and docs" page. Joysheet questions are also good practice - solutions to joysheets 1-3 are also on the "scores and docs page".
Joysheet 4 was handed out this week, due on Monday. Sections JIT 18 and 1.6 are due on MyLab on Saturday.
On Monday we will work on the practice exam.
Home, 2/7
Section 1.5 has been assigned on MyLab, due Wednesday. We will start discussing this homework on Monday.
Joysheet 3 was handed out this week, due on Monday. If you did not get a printed copy, you can find it at the link above.
When we finish chapter 1, we will have our first exam, early in the week after next. Check out a sample exam on the "scores and docs" page!
Home, 1/31
Section 1.3 is due on MyLab on Monday. Joysheet 2 was due today, but you can bring it on Monday if you did not give it to me today.
On Monday, we will finish section 1.4 and start working on homework from it on Tuesday. It is already assigned on MyLab if you would like to get started on it.
Home, 1/24
Various sections are due on MyLab over the next several days: JIT 6, 7 (Saturday), JIT 9, 14 (Monday) and JIT 15 and 1.2 (Tuesday). Also, I distributed a worksheet today, due on Tuesday. If you did not get it and would like to see it before Monday, check "joysheets."
On Monday, we will continue discussion of homework in JIT 15 and 1.2.
Tutoring information for spring has been posted - you can go to two places: the Ross Center and the Lowry Center. See schedules on the "free tutoring" page. Don't forget that you can see me for help, too! No one has been yet, and I know you need it.
Home, 1/17
Homework on MyLab is due on Wednesday for the following sections: JIT 8, 11, 12, 17 and 1.1. Please don't wait until the last minute to start it (and risk running into computer trouble) because extensions are not given. You haven't signed up for MyLab yet (there are some four of you)? Make sure you do it over the long weekend: In Canvas, start in modules, then click on Redshelf and follow the instructions from there. Mac users: it is unlikely that MyLab will work with Safari - use another browser, such as Chrome or Firefox.
On Tuesday, we will finish discussion of homework in 1.1 and start the next section.
Home, 1/12
Welcome to the course! Look around to familiarize yourself with the layout of these webpages. To get to other pages, click on the links in the menu (or drop-down, if viewing on a smartphone). The most often used pages are in the first line of the menu (or the first several choices of the drop-down). "Scores and docs," for example, has all the documents for the course.
Your first exercise is to find the syllabus on these pages and read it. The items there that are typically of greatest interest to students are from "Homework" to "Make-ups."
These pages will get more content as information becomes available. Check back often: useful information is provided in the "home" section (which you are reading), typically updated weekly. For now, here is some information on the textbook, online homework and Canvas.
Textbook and online homework: In this course, you have signed up for "Inclusive Access," which automatically bills you for access to the online homework system and includes the e-book. You can access these materials by clicking on Canvas/Modules. If you do not already have a Pearson account, you will need to create it and then link it to your Canvas account.
Canvas: Canvas will only be the repository of class notes and your grades. Information about the course and weekly messages will be posted to this website (also accessible from Canvas). (Why bother with the website outside of Canvas? Two reasons: it's easier to make updates to it, and it stays public. I value this, and you may grow to as well, as a service to future students of this same course.)
Lecture notes: Have these with you so that you can follow the lectures in class without having to copy a lot. I will distribute the printed notes. The filled-in notes written in class are on Canvas.