Subject: [mat1505] welcome message from your instructor
Dear MAT1505 section
of Calculus II for Science and Engineering
(as of this date),
Hi. This is a welcome message from your MAT1505
instructor, bob jantzen.
I look forward to working with you during the coming semester here at Villanova.
If you have previously taken MAT1500 here at Villanova, you have
already gotten a purchase code to register with Cengage for our e-textbook and
create an account. You may login with this account when you enter the WebAssign
link in BlackBoard. If you are new to Cengage (most freshmen), register when requested for our e-textbook class
WebAssign portal in BlackBoard under Content Homepage. If you are new to Cengage
you have 2 weeks from the start of class to purchase the cheapest access to
WebAssign directly from the publisher (cheaper than the book shop).
[detailed instructions, it just takes a
few minutes!]
2) Make sure you have Maple 2023 on your local computer, available by
clicking here
and downloading from the university software site. You may use
it to check (not justify) any calculations you make on all quizzes and tests.
The activation code can be found BEFORE choosing Mac or PC. bob will explain
this math software in class. [This
3:14 minute video is a brief introduction.]
3) By the
weekend
reply to this email and tell me briefly what Math classes you have
taken previously, how comfortable you are with math
in general and with using math software on a computer if you have
previously, why you chose
your major, and anything you wish to tell me about yourself to give me an idea
of who you are. For example, I enjoy cooking and humorous sketching.
Please attach to this email your
Student Schedule by Day and Time page saved as a JPG or PNG file or printed to PDF from
MyNova or if that fails, saved to HTM as a webpage. I need this to arrange
office visits during the semester if you need help outside official office
hours.
4) Consult the 3 letter dorm abbreviation list so you can indicate your dorm
on the daily signup sheet in class:
../../schedules/vudormabbreviations.htm
If you have time and are interested read the rest of this email.
Studying
mathematics at college is a lot different from high school. Here we expect you
to actually understand why you are doing things, not just to be able to solve
routine problems that look like ones you have seen before, and to use proper
mathematical notation and terminology when communicating your problem solutions. We also expect you to
do what it takes on your own initiative to learn the material (we all learn a
bit differently), guided by your
instructor, in this case me. What you invest in your education now can only improve your future
outcomes.
You can learn about me from my homepage:
http://www.homepage.villanova.edu/robert.jantzen/
and about our class this semester from its homepage linked on that web page:
http://www.homepage.villanova.edu/robert.jantzen/courses/mat1505/
This includes all of my scanned old tests and quizzes and answer keys to give you an
idea of what I expect, the syllabus, an on-line class and homework log
which will be added to daily as assignments are given out for each class,
and general advice about the course, as well as a "bob teaching FAQ"
which summarizes some questions you might have about having me
as a teacher. Lecture notes created during COVID for online teaching are
available from which the in class lectures and activities will be extracted with
high overlap.
Our class is logged day by day in the
Homework and Daily
Class Log page:
http://www.homepage.villanova.edu/robert.jantzen/courses/mat1505/homework.htm
Daily homework exercises from the textbook will be listed here, but you will be expected to record your work using the online WebAssign homework portal. This may include some optional problems [marked on line with square brackets around them] not included in the WebAssign archive which can be useful for additional examples.
Before you
We will be using the
computer algebra system Maple 2023. Why? Read:
whymaple.htm
I allow use of Maple (and graphing calculators, even the Maple calculator app on
your phone) on all quizzes and tests to CHECK mechanical operations,
but all handwork steps must be shown in clearly organized problem solutions.
During the entire semester I encourage
you to communicate with me
in class or by email or using office hours
about what you find difficult or confusing so that I can better help you in your learning process. I am not your adversary but your facilitator for
learning the course materials.
Some of you will like me :-) and others will not :-( . This is a fact of life.
Remember that teaching is my number one priority here at Villanova and I want
to help you. Let me do that by communicating to me when you feel I am not
helping you, in class or after class. Also try to help each other.
[I am a mathematical physicist
with many years of experience in using calculus in solving physical problems,
so I am interested in making sure you are "application aware", not just capable
of doing artificial
math problems.]
thanks,
bob
[You can call me "bob", "dr bob", or "dr jantzen" (please not!) depending on how
formal you wish to be. See the "bob teaching FAQ" for the "dr bob" story.
I will try to learn your first name or preferred nickname if you help me by not
being an "invisible student" (one who seeks minimal interaction with the
instructor).]
Did you really make it all the way down here?
=========================================
My signature info:
bob jantzen
http://www.homepage.villanova.edu/robert.jantzen
http://www.drbobenterprises.com