Math 216

Syllabus and Course Information

Structure: This course has a lecture meeting TWF, and a lab that meets on Thursday. Both are integral to the course. In particular, the lab serves as a space in which to explore the material that we are learning, and, on occasion, to introduce things that are best introduced in that venue rather than in lecture.

Assessment: In this course there are two exams; five quizzes; a lab zero and five labs, for which three require a written lab report and lab 0 and the other two require a reflection essay; five written assignments; and approximately weekly web homework. Final grades are determined from a course average calculated as:

(course average) = 0.20 (midterm) + 0.30 (final) + 0.20 (quizzes) + 0.1 (webhw_avg + writtenhw_avg + lab_avg).

The lab average is a weighted average of prelab assignments, reflections for labs 0, 2, and 4, and the lab writeups for labs 1, 3, and 5.

Assignments: In addition to exams, there are four types of recurring assignments that you will be responsible for throughout the semester:

• Written homework sets. These assignments may be obtained from the menu on the left side-bar. They are to be written up neatly, and will be evaluated for both mathematical correctness and clarity of explanation. Be aware that time constraints are such that only a subset of the assigned problems will be graded carefully. In any case, you should plan on doing more than just the assigned problems—see for example the Practice Problems—in order to learn the material and be prepared for exams.
  The point of the written homework is to provide a venue to understand the concepts behind what we are learning.
• Web homework. There are also web-based homework sets that offer instant feedback on your work. (Sign on to the homework server using the menu on the left.) You are allowed six attempts (five wrong answers) on each problem, and partial credit is given on most questions with multiple parts. These sets follow a roughly weekly schedule, and each "closes" at a precise date and time—see your syllabus.
  The point of the web homework is to provide basic practice and initial conceptual problems to build up your understanding.
• Lab assignments. Lab assignments have several components, some of which depend on which lab you are working:
  • Prelabs. In order to be prepared for a computer lab session, you must complete a prelab assignment. These assignments are provided in the corresponding lab manuals. Lab 0 does not have a prelab assignment, but labs 1–5 all require a prelab.
  • Lab reflections. Labs 0, 2, and 4 do not require a formal lab writeup, but do require that you submit a reflection that allows you to reflect on how your lab work sheds light on the differential equations we are studying.
  • Lab writeups. Each lab manual has a list of problems that must be completed as part of your writeup. Each lab assignment is to be written up neatly. Detailed instructions about the lab writeups are in the lab assignments themselves.
    
  The labs give you the ability to explore the course material more graphically and numerically, which allows you to develop a better conceptual understanding of the material we are learning.

The written homework, the pre-lab assignments, and the lab write-ups are to be handed in to your recitation instructor. See the schedule for the due dates.

Academic Integrity: Copying text from old lab reports or other students' homework, using on-line sites to get solutions, or using a solution to a written homework or lab that is posted to a group chat are all examples of academic dishonesty. Academic integrity is fundamental to learning: if you cheat in these or any other ways you are (1) cheating yourself: you do not learn as you could; and (2) cheating every student at the University: you are devaluing the degree toward which you are all working to obtain. In short, you are establishing youself as a model for why none of your fellow students, instructors, or possible employers should think that a degree from the University is valuable.

If you seek to obtain a grade by cheating, you are undermining your own learning and violating the standards of our community; therefore, any evidence of cheating may result in a penalty up to a failing grade in the course, and will be reported to the administration.

Note that working with class members on assignments (other than the exams) is permitted and encouraged, and may be to your advantage as you seek to learn the material. However, the work you hand in for evaluation must be entirely your own. If it is a copy of someone else's work, it is not your own.

Academic Accommodations: If you think you need an accommodation for a disability, please let your instructor know as soon as possible. In particular, a Verified Individualized Services and Accommodations (VISA) form must be filed with the Department's on-line system at least two weeks prior to the need for accommodation. The Services for Students with Disabilities (SSD) Office (G664 Haven Hall) issues VISA forms.

Exam information: The exam dates and times for this class are as follows:

Note that uniform exam dates are absolutely firm. Travel plans will not be considered a sufficient excuse to take an examination on a different date.

Prior to the final, you will have the opportunity to demonstrate mastery of the skills that are tested on the final. If you pass the mastery skills assessment, you can skip the corresponding (2) questions on the final. Calculators, cell phones, books, notes, cards and other aids will not be allowed during exams. Numerical calculations will be simple and minimal.

Lab sessions: When you registered for a lecture section, you also registered for a lab that meets on Thursdays. Each Thursday you will meet at the designated time with a lab instructor. The purpose of these sessions is to meet with your recitation instructor to carry out computational projects involving the use of Matlab. There are five lab projects throughout the semester, and each has a corresponding lab manual that you can download from the menu on the left. You should read this manual before coming to your lab session. In particular, the lab manual may contain a prelab assignment that is due at the beginning of the lab session.

Please note that the labs in the course fall into a number of categories:
(1) Lab 0: this is an introductory lab. You will submit a Matlab file from your work in lab. There is no reflection or lab report required for this lab assignment.
(2) Labs 1, 3, and 5: these are MWrite assignments. They are writing-to-learn assignments that are designed to help students learn essential core concepts from this course. These assignments are part of a larger initiative that is supported through U-M's Third Century Initiative. M-Write focuses improving student learning by engaging in writing responses to address questions and problems that align with course content. For each of these, you will submit an initial (draft) submission, provide feedback on you peers' drafts, and then revise your initial submission to make is stronger and more complete.
(3) Labs 2 and 4: these are reflection assignments. For these you will complete the lab and then submit a short reflection on the mathematics and its connection to the course.

Grading Policy: The various components of your work in the course will be weighted as follows:

In determining your course letter grade your performance will be compared to that of other students in your lecture section only. In recent years, the median grade in Math 216 has been about a B.