Spring 2011
MA 123
Differential Equations
4 Credit Hours
Textbook
Elementary Differential Equations, 9th edition
Boyce & DiPrima, Wiley
Division of Mathematics and Applied Science
Instructor: Mark Whisler
Differential Equations
Spring 2011
Course Number: MA 123
Time & Day: 4:00 P.M. – 5:20 P.M., Monday, Tuesday, & Thursday
Location: Room 207
Instructor: Mark Whisler
Office: F17, across from Rm. 222 in the yellow pod
Phone: 243-1435, x221 (work) or 243-2841 (home)
Email:
Required
Materials: The text, Elementary Differential Equations, 9th edition, Boyce and DiPrima, J.W. Wiley, 2009; a calculator that does not have a built-in Computer Algebra System (CAS).
Office Hours: 9:00 – 9:55, MWF; 1:00 – 1:55 MWF; 3:00 – 4:00, MWF; 9:30 – 11:00 Th; 2:00 – 4:00 T -Th
Or by appointment. If my door is open and I’m not with someone else, feel free to drop in as well. If I’m not in my office, I often leave a note on my door saying where I may be found.
Advisement Center: Not applicable
Course Description: This course is the study of qualitative and quantitative behavior of first- and second-order differential equations, as well as systems of first-order equations. Both analytic and numerical solution methods will be studied, including the use of Laplace transforms
Prerequisite: Prerequisite: MA 122, Analytic Geometry and Calculus III, with a grade of C or better.
SEQUENCING:
This course is offered only spring semesters.
Method of Evaluation/Grading: Grading is on a standard scale, so if you maintain an average of 90 or better, you will get an A in the course, between 80 and 90 is a guaranteed B, and so forth. My decision in borderline cases hinges mainly upon the distribution of grades in the particular range, but also upon other factors (class participation, attendance, general attitude, etc.).
Your grade will be determined in the following manner. I will find your average grade (in percentage form) for each portion of the class (in-class work and tests). I will then multiply these average scores by the following weights:
Homework 10%
In-class work 20%
4 Tests 50%
Final Exam 20%
Information on how I will grade most homework and individual in-class work questions:
Most exercises that I grade will be marked according to the following scale:
4 points- the assigned question is correctly answered, with work shown that was done to find that answer. This work has no mistakes, and the answer given comes from that work.
3 points-The assigned question is incorrectly answered, with work shown that was done to find that answer. The incorrect answer comes from a minor error (transposing digits, changing addition to subtraction, arithmetic errors, etc.).
2 points- The question is incorrectly answered, with work shown that was done to find that answer. There is a major error (incorrect differentiation or integration, for example) OR more than one minor error in the work. OR The incorrect problem is attempted.
1 point- The question is incorrectly answered, with conceptual errors (possibly along with minor errors) in the work. An example of a conceptual error would be differentiating instead of integrating, or cancelling common terms.
0 points- the question is not attempted. OR The question is answered with no attempt to show any work to justify the answer. OR The given answer doesn't follow (and couldn't follow) from the work shown.
Your score for the set will be the ratio of points earned to total possible points, converted to a percentage. An example: If I grade 6 problems, there are 24 possible points. If you then earn 21 of those 24 points, your score would be 21/24 = .875, which I would round down to an 87.
Teaching Methods:
Since this is mostly new material, this class will consist mostly of participatory lecture followed by individual or group work on practice problems relating to the topic(s) being discussed.
assignment policy:
Homework
· I will give out homework assignments on a regular basis. Due dates will vary, so pay attention! Let me clearly state that if you miss a class, it is YOUR responsibility to check to see if homework has been assigned.
· You may work together on these assignments if you wish (in fact I recommend it, as long as everybody is contributing). Talking about the material with other people is often very useful.
· Homework must be submitted before I return it to the class. I will accept no homework after that, and I will not assign another set in its place.
In-class work
· I intend for you to do a fair amount of work in class. The format of this work will vary (mainly quizzes and group work on new material), and some of it will be graded.
· I will not make up graded in-class work without prior arrangement. If you have a valid reason for missing graded in-class work, I simply won’t count that as part of your grade.
· Some of this work will be graded, while some of it will simply give you feedback on whether you’ve understood a particular topic.
Course Policies
Academic Integrity
It is imperative that each student does his/her own work. The following policy will apply to all students in class.
Infractions of academic integrity (honesty) shall include:
· Using another student’s work without giving the student credit for the work. In other words, taking someone else’s file and placing your name on it and claiming it is yours, using another student’s quiz, or help on a quiz/exam.
· Giving another student your file(s) knowing that he/she intends to turn it in as his/her own creation, giving another student your quiz, or help on a quiz/exam.
It is not an infraction of the policy to help another student understand how to do an assignment if he/she does the work himself/herself with your assistance.
Cheating:
“Cheating means getting unauthorized help on an assignment, quiz or examination.”
- You must not receive from any other students or give to any other students any information, answers, or help during an exam.
- You must not use unauthorized sources for answers during an exam. You must not take notes or books to the exam when such aids are forbidden, and you must not refer to any book or notes while you are taking the exam unless the instructor indicates it is an “open book” exam.
- You must not obtain exam questions illegally before an exam or tamper with an exam after it has been corrected.
Materials taken from “Academic Dishonesty in Our Classrooms.” Instructional Exchange, 1990, 2 (2), 1-4 (Newsletter available from the Office of University Assessment and Intellectual Skills Program, Western Michigan University)
Plagiarism:
“Plagiarism” means submitting work as your own that is someone else’s. For example, copying material from a book, the Internet, or another source without acknowledging that the words or ideas are someone else’s and not your own is plagiarism. If you copy an author’s words exactly, treat the passage as a direct quotation and supply the appropriate citation. If you use someone else’s ideas, even if you paraphrase the wording, appropriate credit should be given. You have committed plagiarism if you purchase a term paper or submit a paper as your own that you did not write.
Penalties for Infractions:
If I catch you cheating on a quiz or test, here is what I will do. The first incident will get you a 0 on the quiz, or test. If there is a second incident, I will give you an F for the class.
Attendance Policy:
Attendance is highly suggested! It will be difficult for you to have a good experience in this class if you don't attend regularly. I will take attendance on a regular basis. I avoid scheduling appointments during classes, and so should you. I will not make up class work missed due to appointments set during class; see the section “In-class Work” above.
Conduct:
Mature behavior is expected. Please respect others by turning off pagers, cell phones, and other electronic devices, and by being on time for class. Please dress appropriately for being in public. Getting involved in the class will help make your experience better.
TESTS:
We will have 4 tests, given in class on the following dates: Monday, January 31, Tuesday, Mar. 1, Thursday; Mar. 17, and Monday, April 18. Put these on your calendar now, so that you don’t accidentally miss them or forget to study for them. Tests will be mainly open response questions, with a few fill-in-the-blank questions.
Examination Policy:
Under most circumstances I will make up exams. You should contact me as soon as possible to arrange a time for you to make up the exam. Any exam not made up by the last day of classes will receive a grade of 0.
Instructor Assistance:
As your instructor, I should be your main resource. I am here to help you! Please don’t wait if you’re having difficulty with material. Speak up in class or come see me in my office.
Tutor Assistance:
There are web resources available for tutoring; just google “math tutoring” or something similar.
Incomplete Policy:
Students will not be given an incomplete grade in the course without sound reason and documented as described in the Student Handbook. The incomplete must be made up with the instructor assigning the incomplete and must be completed the semester immediately following the semester in which the class was taken. Refer to the Student Handbook for a complete explanation.
ACADEMIC COMPLAINTS:
Cloud County Community College has an Academic Due Process Policy to address any student academic complaints. For any unresolved complaints, the policy can be obtained from the Academic Affairs Office.
GENERAL EDUCATION GOALS:
Not applicable.
COURSE OUTCOMES:
Students will be expected to use appropriate technology as one tool to achieve the following outcomes:
1. Solve differential equations by various methods.
2. Describe the qualitative behavior of solutions to differential equations.
3. Solve systems of linear differential equations.
4. Use appropriate numerical techniques to approximate solutions to differential equations.
5. Use these tools in applications.
ASSESSMENT OF COURSE OUTCOMES:
Student learning is assessed every semester based on course outcomes. Each instructor measures student performance on all course outcomes for each course section every semester. The instructor fills out an electronic form, which populates a database. This information is reviewed by the Assessment Coordinator and the Student Learning Outcomes Assessment Team. It is due to be completed by February 15th for the fall semester and June 15th for the spring semester.
Program outcomes:
1. Prepare students for future courses and for the mathematical requirements encountered in other disciplines and future careers.
2. Define arithmetic, algebraic, geometric, spatial and statistical concepts.
3. Calculate arithmetic, algebraic, geometric, spatial and statistical quantities using appropriate technology.
4. Estimate arithmetic, algebraic, geometric, spatial and statistical quantities.
5. Simplify and/or solve arithmetic, algebraic, geometric, spatial and statistical expressions, equations and problems using appropriate technology.
6. Represent mathematical information numerically, symbolically, graphically and verbally using appropriate technology.
7. Develop mathematical and statistical models such as formulas, functions, graphs and tables using appropriate technology.
8. Interpret mathematical and statistical models such as formulas, functions, graphs and tables using appropriate technology.
ASSESSMENT OF PROGRAM OUTCOMES:
Student learning is also assessed each semester based on program outcomes. Program outcomes accomplishment is measured through performance on course outcomes. Each program uses a matrix to match course outcomes of individual courses to overarching program outcomes. The program outcomes are calculated as an average of all the relevant course outcomes. This information is processed after each semester and then immediately reviewed by the Assessment Coordinator and the Student Learning Outcomes Assessment Team.
Accommodation for Disability:
If you need academic adjustments for any type of disability, contact the Director of Advisement and Counseling, located in the Advisement Center.
Inclement Weather Policy:
In case of extremely severe weather, the college may close. The following radio and TV stations will be notified:
KNCK 1390 AM Concordia KCLY 100.9 FM Clay Center
KREP 92.1 FM Belleville KHCD 89.5 FM Hutchinson
KVSV 1190 AM Beloit KSAL 1150 AM Salina
WIBW (TV) Chan. 13 Topeka KWCH (TV) Chan. 12 Wichita
KOLN (TV) Chan. 10 Lincoln, NE
Notification will also be placed on the internet at www.cancellations.com. A text message will also be sent out on the Emergency Text Messaging System for the students who have signed up for it.
Students should call the switchboard at 800-729-5101 or 785-243-1435 if they are unable to attend class due to hazardous conditions. Night class and off campus class cancellations are left to the discretion of the instructor.
EMERGENCY NOTIFICATION PROCEDURE:
When alarms are sounded or crisis conditions arise, you will be instructed to move to a designated safe area or to remain in the classroom until the crisis has passed. If you are informed to leave the room, take as many of your personal belongings as time permits. Cell phones and other electronic devices are only to be used once you arrive in the safe area outside the building. Students requiring special assistance will be the responsibility of the instructor or staff person.
Systems of alert for tornado or bomb threat: PA system, phone, or staff interruption of class. In case of fire, the alarm will sound.
If directed to leave the building, evacuate to the soccer field unless an alternate safe location has been designated.