Comprehensive Calculus Course Syllabus, Assessment Rules, and Policy Guide

Student Goal Setting and Term Objectives

• Student objectives identified for the term include:
  • Building practical, long-term skills applicable to future academic and career endeavors.
  • Completing and submitting coursework immediately upon receiving assignments.
  • Finishing the course requirements as quickly as possible ($\text{ASAP}$).

Learning Outcomes and Course Content

• Core calculus concepts covered across the course structure:
  • Evaluating limits both graphically and numerically.
  • Describing and analyzing the behavior of functions using limit laws, continuity principles, and differentiability rules.
  • Applying various differentiation techniques to compute the derivative of a function.
  • Solving applied mathematical problems using derivatives, including:
    • Finding local and absolute maximum and minimum values of functions.
    • Calculating instantaneous rates of change.
    • Executing implicit differentiation.
    • Determining the comprehensive qualitative behavior of functions.

Required Materials and Digital Platform Access

• Textbook Requirement:
  • Calculus Volume 1 by OpenStax.
  • The textbook is completely free to download in digital format.
• Online Homework System:
  • Online assignment system platform referred to as FG (Macmillan Learning).
  • Access code must be purchased through the Beaver Store.
  • A direct purchase link is accessible within the Canvas module titled "get your materials for this course".
• Platform Registration Steps:
  • Purchase the digital access code via the Beaver Store link in Canvas.
  • Return to the Canvas navigation menu and click on the "Macmillan Learning" tab to finalize registration.
  • No external course code or course ID is needed to register; integration is handled seamlessly inside Canvas.

Course Grading Structure and Assessment Breakdown

• Assessment Categories and Specific Grade Weights:
  • Online Assignments (FG / Macmillan Learning): $9\%$ of total grade.
  • Written Homework and Reflections: $9\%$ of total grade.
  • Course Engagement (Recitation attendance/participation and Canvas pre-class quizzes): $14.5\%$ of total grade.
  • In-Person Evaluations (Mini Exams): The $5$ mini exams collectively comprise approximately $75\%$ of the total course grade.
  • Online and Digital Work Weight Limit: Combined online/tablet tasks account for $18\%$ ($9\% + 9\% = 18\%$) of the overall grade to uphold academic integrity and prevent passing solely through unengaged or AI-assisted work.

Examination Structure and Retake Policies

• Unit Mini Exams:
  • The course curriculum is divided into a total of $5$ distinct units.
  • Each unit concludes with a mini exam administered in-person during scheduled recitation sessions.
  • Mini exam schedules and explicit dates are published in Canvas.
• Final Exam Policy:
  • The final exam functions strictly as Mini Exam 5.
  • The final exam is non-cumulative and evaluates material exclusively from Unit 5.
  • No content from Units 1, 2, 3, or 4 will be tested on Mini Exam 5.
• Mega Cumulative Mini Exam:
  • An optional comprehensive examination offered during the official final exam period.
  • Serves as an authorized makeup exam for students missing a mini exam due to illness or unusual circumstances.
  • Functions as a score replacement tool for previous low scores:
    • Example: If a student scores poorly (e.g., less than $50\%$ or less than $60\%$) on Mini Exam 2, obtaining an $80\%$ on the Mega Cumulative Mini Exam will completely overwrite and replace the lower score.

Written Homework Submission Procedures and Calculator Rules

• Written Homework Workflow:
  • Homework files are downloaded directly from Gradescope, which is linked directly with Canvas.
  • Students can complete assignments digitally on a tablet or iPad via annotation software, or on physical paper.
  • If working on physical paper, students must take clear photos of their pages and compile them into a single unified PDF file.
  • The resulting PDF file must be uploaded directly to Gradescope.
  • No physical paper submissions are accepted for written homework assignments.
• Calculator Policy:
  • Calculators of any kind are strictly forbidden during all exams.
  • All exam questions are formatted and set up specifically to allow straightforward calculation by hand without electronic assistance.
  • Printed hard copies of mini exams are distributed directly in class.

Recitation, Attendance, and Active Learning Guidelines

• Recitation Attendance and Participation Policy:
  • In-person attendance and active problem-solving participation during recitations are required to earn full credit.
  • Full participation and genuine effort on assigned problems grant a $100\%$ recitation grade, regardless of whether all answers are completely correct.
  • Simply attending without actively attempting problem sets will result in a forfeit of full credit.
• Lecture Attendance:
  • Attending formal lecture periods is optional at the student's discretion, though active coursework engagement is required to pass.
• Active Learning Instructional Framework:
  • Lectures consist of brief introductions to concepts by the instructor followed immediately by active student problem-solving intervals.
  • Students work individually or collaborate with peers sitting nearby.
  • Students are expected to actively ask questions and seek help from adjacent peers, Graduate Teaching Assistants (GTAs), and the instructor during class.
• Supplemental Instruction (SI) Status:
  • Availability of SI tables is unconfirmed due to potential university funding reductions.

Student Support Resources and Academic Assistance

• Instructor and Assistant Support:
  • Instructor office hours.
  • Graduate Teaching Assistant (GTA) office hours.
• Tutoring and Learning Center Support:
  • Math and Statistics Learning Center (MSLC Med and Stead Learning Center at Kedar Hall).
  • Staffed continuously by $2$ to $3$ GTAs available for direct drop-in assistance.
• Canvas Digital Support Features:
  • Pre-class readings, video lectures, and preparatory quizzes.
  • An active Canvas Discussion Board for posting course-related queries.

Classroom Conduct and Norms

• Core Expectations for Classroom Behavior:
  • Fulfill personal responsibilities and actively participate in learning tasks.
  • Foster an inclusive, helpful, and respectful learning environment.
  • Maintain active communication: listen attentively, ask clarifying questions, and stay engaged.
  • Sustain a positive attitude toward learning and active problem-solving.
  • Minimize personal distractions while attending class sessions.