Section 2 General Information
Subsection Course Coordination
We coordinate courses for two reasons:
Precalculus & Trigonometry is to be kept uniform across the state as well as in our department. My job is to hold us all accountable in producing the same student learning outcomes as each other and as the other universities offering the course.
To make your job easier. I am a resource that writes your exams, quizzes, and WebWork, but feel free to also use my classwork assignments and review materials for your students when time is not permitted to make your own. I also don't mind being the ``bad guy'' when your students are not approved for make-up exams or when you would like some back up in the case of academic misconduct.
Feel free to contact me or ask your students to contact me with any questions, concerns, or situations which need attending.
Subsection Content Covered
This course will have four units:
Introduction to Trigonometric Functions
Trigonometric Identities
Applications of Trigonometry
Limits
Subsection Materials
You will want a copy of the student workbook we employ. If you prefer, you will be provided up to one physical student copy for each section. The workbook is meant to be the primary way the students interact with the course topics. You will not be able to finish every exercise in class and should send most of the extra exercises home for the students to complete. Please refrain from posting solutions to any problem that is in the workbook, since each instructor may assign different exercises as homework.
We also provide an open-source textbook to students through Canvas. It is available for free download from the SHAREOK repository.
You may also want to obtain your own scientific calculator. Be prepared to answer student questions about basic calculator operations. If you or a student have questions about their calculator, you may come see me (or otherwise contact me).
Subsection Canvas Courses
I have uploaded the general syllabus and the uniform portions of the gradebook to Canvas. It is your responsibility to update the gradebook regularly, in particular before mid-term grades are pulled and before the last day to drop with an automatic W. I will remind you when these dates approach.
Since 1523 is an active-learning course, it is also the policy of this course that we do not post solutions to any common assessments, reviews, or assignments. If you choose to create additional reviews or problem sets, you may post those solutions, if you wish. You are encouraged, but not required, to share any created content with other instructors. The uniform portions of the grade book, which should never be altered in any way (but may be unpublished/published and dropped/not dropped based on timing in the course) are Preparation Activities, Practice Activities, Assessments, and Final Presentation. To be clear, the only portion of the grade book which you may alter as you wish is the Participation Activities.
Subsection Student Support Hours (aka Office Hours)
As a Graduate Teaching Assistant, your support hours are generally the hours you are assigned to the Math Center. An additional period of time has been calculated into your assignment to make yourself available by appointment for more personal student conversations, such as grades or other concerns.
For all instructors: Departmental policy states we should hold at least 2 support hours each week. You may also use an appointment calendar like Calendly to schedule non-standard support hours. You should schedule at least half of your support hours for standard weekly times and may schedule the remainder by appointment.
(* As a side note, a colleague mentioned a study that indicates that students interpret the words "office hours" or "by appointment only" as indications that you are too busy or unwilling to help them and will not schedule times with you so they won't bother you. Thus, I am trying to change my own personal language when referring to them.)
Subsection Instructor Meetings
Weekly instructor meetings are held **** (TBD) on Zoom. Except for adjunct faculty with jobs elsewhere, attendance is required. As this hour is a calculated part of your assignment, I am obligated to report absences to the Math Department administration. If you must be absent, please contact me as soon as possible, provide documentation for your absence (if relevant), check Canvas/Teams for the meeting notes, and make an appointment before the end of the week to discuss any details about the specific discussions held.
Subsection In Your Classroom
Because this style of teaching may be a new experience for you, please go to class prepared. You should work out examples ahead of time, make sure you have enough material to get you through the entire class time, and always make every attempt to find a substitute in the event of your absence. You should also attempt to have any and all grades updated within a week of their due date (except for the aforementioned important dates, which may require a faster turn around). Keep watch of the weekly schedule and contact me if you feel behind.
Subsection Math Help Center
In order to encourage students in their development of positive study skills and habits, the department provides a Math Help Center as a resource. I encourage you to remind them regularly to attend. If you hear of any issues with the Math Center, please bring them to my attention or Ms. Tinsley's attention immediately.
Subsection Classroom Observations
As part of our continuing effort to ensure that we are delivering a quality education to our students, the department will regularly be observing all instructors of First Year Mathematics courses "in action" in the classroom. You will be observed at least twice during each semester but more observations may be conducted.
For online sections, observations will be conducted on your recorded class sessions. I will contact you and ask you to record your entire class period, including your interactions with breakout rooms, and send me the file or a link to your file.