Introductory Email For Reference
Welcome to Math 1540 Calculus I Online at East Georgia State College! CRN 20187
Please copy this
e-mail and keep it in your notes and develop your calendar to keep you on track
this semester. This is also on D2L.
I am excited to be teaching Math 1540 on-line. My top priority is doing
everything I can to help you be successful in this course. I am sending this
e-mail out a few days early. If you want, you can get a head start and look at
some of the material that we will be covering. If you will, please reply
that you received the e-mail. You can also work on the first assignment
early. You should check your e-mail every day (maybe several times a day) to
keep current about what is required. One of the most
important ways you can help me help you is to answer emails from me promptly.
I will be using CATMAIL with EGSC exclusively. We can also communicate with
text and cell phone.
You can also view this email on D2L as well as my Cal I WEB Page at
https://www.telstarbob.net/bbrown/CalculusISpring2021.htm
For now, here is a quick list of things you should do the first week of class or
sooner:
1. Go to Calculus I link above and then click on Introductory Video Link
https://youtu.be/7wR9kwDfXhk
to view an introductory video to the course. An outline of the contents is
attached to this e-mail and it includes the first assignment due Friday
January 15. This outline and the video show all you need to do to get
started. If you do not complete the assignment, you
may be dropped for non-attendance.
2. Login to My EGSC
http://ega.edu/ and find the links to your EGSC email account and the
GaView D2L Web Site. In D2L, access this course name “Calculus I Section
W Spring 2021 CO”. Look at the contents page and you will see links to
my personal web page, and links to the Syllabus, A Weekly Schedule with links to
videos, Calculus Resources, notes for each section, and other resources for the
course. I will, in a separate e-mail, send out the notes for first two
weeks in case you are not listed on D2L yet.
3. Textbook and MyMathLab - You don't have to buy a traditional printed
textbook for the course BUT you do HAVE to buy a MyMathLab passcode for the
course. You can find this in the GSU or Swainsboro bookstores or you can buy
this online. Go to
https://www.pearsonmylabandmastering.com/northamerica/?cc
and follow the information to buy the code online. Note you will need to enter
our MyMathLab Course ID
brown25638.
When you register with
your passcode (sent to your EGSC email address). PLEASE GET YOUR MYMATHLAB CODE
AND RESISTER YOURSELF AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. NOTE: If you took this course
previously within the past two years at EGSC, then you should be able to
register for this course by just entering the course ID. If you have technical
problems with the registration process or any other MyMathLab problems, you will
need to contact the MyMathLab support number at 1-800-677-6337 or go to
https://www.pearsonmylabandmastering.com/northamerica/students/support/index.html
and follow the info. MyMathLab is the textbook website and is independent of
EGSC. IF YOU ARE NOT ABLE TO GET YOUR MYMATHLAB PASSCODE YOU NEED TO CONTACT
ME.
MyMathLab also includes a lot of
optional items and I do not expect all to be done (they are not required). Some
of the options might provide a review or a little extra help. The
homework is mandatory. My experience in past
semesters has conclusively shown that if you do not do the homework (essentially
all of it), YOU WILL NOT PASS! Please decide now that you will do all of the
homework and also get help from me. The due dates for
the homework in MyMathLab are for the Swainsboro/Statesboro Students. Because
Augusta has a different Spring Break, the due dates for assignments after Mar 15
will be a week earlier until after the Augusta Spring Break is over and the
schedules are the same. The most important idea here is that you should work
all homework before the Tests (there are four). After the due dates, I still
accept homework. However, it is best to complete homework before the tests!
If you believe that you will not have time to do the homework, I advise you to drop the course right now and not waste your time and mine. Note that it looks like most students in this class may have a record of doing homework! This message is not meant for those who are committed. Last semester, all students who made a D or an F did less than 70% of the homework. I had more As and Bs last semester than any other grades. If you keep up with the work I pledge to you that I will help you anyway I can.
4. Download and read the syllabus carefully. Print a copy and keep it close
to hand. (It can be found on D2L and on my web site.
https://www.telstarbob.net/bbrown/CalculusISpring2021.htm Click on
Syllabus
5. Get familiar with the Calculus I Resource page which is on my web site:
https://www.telstarbob.net/bbrown/CalculusISpring2021.htm
This page has links to
the syllabus, weekly schedule of topics with videos to watch, practice quizzes,
and practice final with videos on how to work all practice problems. You can
also reach these resources through D2L. Note that D2L is your only method
for getting the notes for all sections covered in the videos.
6. Watch Videos for First Week - This week start viewing the class video
lectures (2.1, 2.2, and25.3) and begin working on the first sections of homework
listed for the week on MyMathLab that correspond to the sections covered in the
videos.
Be sure to find a quiet place to watch the videos.
MAKE SURE TO TAKE NOTES WHILE YOU WATCH THE VIDEOS as you would if you went to a
classroom! This is where I believe most of the learning happens in the course as
well as doing the HOMEWORK problems! You can print the basic class notes from
the D2L website and take notes on my notes. Or just start with a blank
sheet of paper it's up to you how you want to do this. Be sure to keep a
organized notebook with your class notes in it. You may want to use head phones
when viewing the videos if necessary. You of course can view the video lectures
as many times as you want and they are available 24 hours a day 7 days a week. I
would appreciate any feedback from you on any part of the videos including
requests for more explanations or questions you may have.
7. The Graphing Calculator Is Central To Success! - The
TI-83/84 graphing calculator (or the Plus versions) is required for the course.
The better you understand how to graph and interpret equations the higher your
grade will be! No unauthorized material may be stored in a calculator. Your
calculator memory should be empty. NO CELL PHONES used as calculators!
Those who are not proficient with the calculator will not do as well on tests.
As we progress through this semester I want to explore
every avenue to help you all succeed. Please contact me by e-mail for most
requests. If you have an urgent question, call me on my cell phone.
I want to explore ways to communicate including holding individual tutoring
sessions ZOOM Video Conferencing. If you have a question about how to work a
problem, you can use the “Ask My Instructor” link on MyMathLab. You may also
take a photo of a problem and e-mail or send it by your cell phone. Don’t
hesitate to get in touch with me. Last
semester, ZOOM Video sessions proved to be very helpful for those who requested
them. There were several students last semester who asked for Zoom
Tutoring that were not doing well. I am happy to say that they were
successful in the course and were pleased that they got the extra help.
Do not hesitate to ask!
First assignment is below and is discussed in the video and the attached notes
for the video.
First Calculus Assignment
Complete by Friday January 15.
Reply to this e-mail and answer
each question in the e-mail after the question.
1. What is your major?
2. What profession do you plan to pursue?
3. What would you like to have accomplished in 10 years?
4. What is your favorite subject (it does not have to be math!)?
5. What is the best way for me to give you help in Math?
6. What do you enjoy doing when you are not studying?
7. Which EGSC campus location could you easily come to for 4 proctored
quizzes and the final exam? Swainsboro, Statesboro, or Augusta. If none work
for you respond with ProctorU.
8. If you cannot come to campus for a proctored quiz, you need to inform me
immediately so that we can make other arrangements. Using ProctorU is a
possibility only for students that cannot get to campus easily. The student pays
a fee to take the exam. The charge is generally about $20, but can vary with
the length of the exam. You may learn more about this option at the following
web site:
https://go.proctoru.com/session/new
9. For the proctored Tests 1-4
and Final Exam please select the day (Thursday or Friday) and the time
(9-11 am or 2-4 pm) for each test.
Test 1 - Jan 28 or Jan 29 specify am or pm
Test 2 - Mar 4 or Mar 5 specify am or pm
Test 3 - Swainsboro and
Statesboro students April 8 or April 9 specify am or pm
Augusta students Only April 1 or April 2 specify am or pm
Test 4 - April 29 or April 30 specify am or pm
Final Exam May 5 or May 6 specify am or pm
10. What is your cell number?
You do not have to share, but it might help communications.
11. Share with me anything you care to about yourself. You are not required
to answer this question
12. Do you have any questions?
Good Luck Everyone,
Dr. Bob Brown