Subject: [mat2500] welcome message from your instructor

Dear MAT2500-001/002 sections of Calculus III for Science and Engineering
(as of this date),

Hi. This is a welcome message from your MAT
2500 instructor, bob jantzen. I look forward to working with you during the coming semester here at Villanova. Although it is still a few days before classes start, you can do some helpful steps to prepare before the first day of class.

1) WebAssign e-textbook portal (required) entered thru BlackBoard. [explanation]
If you have previously taken MAT1500 or MAT1505 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 or if you are new to Cengage, register when requested for our e-textbook class portal. If you are new to Cengage you have 2 weeks from the start of class to purchase the cheapest one semester access to WebAssign.

[detailed instructions]

2) Make sure you have Maple 2023 on your local computer, available by clicking here.
You may use it to check (not justify) any calculations you make on all quizzes and tests. [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.

I will share cell numbers and dorm names offline with all students in these two sections, and use your nickname for the attendance roll call at the beginning of each class. If you do not wish to share your cell number, email me.

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/mat2500/


This includes all of my scanned old tests and quizzes 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.

Our class is logged day by day in the
   Homework and Daily Class Log page:
http://www.homepage.villanova.edu/robert.jantzen/courses/mat2500/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
.

Not all textbook end-of-section exercises (and no end-of-chapter Review problems) are available for assignment
in WebAssign, so some problems marked on line with square brackets around them will be expected
to be done independent of WebAssign. You are responsible for these as well, so don't just automatically
go to the current WebAssign assignment without checking our HW page, which may contain hints or some Maple solutions of the e-textbook parameter value exercises.

We will be using the computer algebra system Maple. Why? Read:
   whymaple.htm

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