Catalog description and learning outcomes

Catalog description: A study of vectors, matrices and linear transformations, principally in two and three dimensions, including treatments of systems of linear equations, determinants, and eigenvalues. Prerequisite: MAT 1120 or permission of the instructor.

Learning outcomes: Students will

link fundamental structures of linear algebra including systems of linear equations, vectors, matrices, spaces, and linear transformations
connect fundamental linear algebra concepts including determinants and eigenvalues to multiple structures listed above
implement algebraic skills relevant to linear algebra
demonstrate spatial visualization skills in two and three dimensions
employ appropriate software to solve linear algebra problems
investigate applications of linear algebra
communicate linear algebra in written and/or oral forms
interpret statements and identify examples to think critically and creatively about linear algebra

Assignment types, grades, goals & policies

I care about your success and have designed MAT 2240 to help you learn, incorporating feedback from prior students and principles from the literature like Make It Stick: The Science of Successful Learning by Peter Brown, which I highly recommend. The CBMS published a statement titled ``Active Learning in Post-Secondary Mathematics Education" about the importance of ``classroom practices that engage students in activities, such as reading, writing, discussion, or problem solving, that promote higher-order thinking" and our class is also modeled after that.

check

read book

interactive
video

practice
quiz

handwrite
practice

re-engage

glossary

forum

debrief

begin

problem sets and projects

Effective ASULearn Engagement (50%)

Problem sets (30%)

Video projects (20%)

Academic Integrity and Essential Course Integrity

Effective ASULearn Engagement (50%)

There is daily work each day at your own pace. Completion either occurs when you can manually mark an activity as done or is earned when you obtain a proficient grade by a deadline or access or submit an activity. The percentage of successfully completed activities determines the overall engagement grade. To accommodate for emergencies, the lowest 3 are dropped.

book readings. To earn credit you will self report completion. I recommend taking notes on concepts and examples, especially relating to what I've listed in the expanded list, which is linked to the glossaries.
interactive video activities, repeatable. To earn credit you'll watch the entire video and submit the correct answers–you'll use the check feature on interactive questions in order to help you so you can redo the responses until you get them all correct. Try to complete videos by the listed due date although they can be completed up until closer to the corresponding video project.
practice with instantaneous feedback check from me, repeatable until the deadline to obtain completion. The point is to practice, earn a passing grade, and examine the feedback to make sure you understand rather than obtain a perfect score. I only use the completion checks I see on my end, not the specific passing score. If you weren't able to succeed then a second chance will open after the deadline, but completion is easier to obtain when it was originally due (70% instead of 90%). The second chance can be completed up until closer to the corresponding video project.
handwrite practices are designed to further develop your understanding and familiarity with the material and independence in critical thinking. Completion is earned through a Jedi or Jedi Master grade. A Padawan grade does not earn completion. You can work ahead or throughout the day it is listed, but turn it in by 10am the next academic day. Solutions will open in the re-engage.

think-share-pair-compare forum. To earn completion, (1) respond to the questions with your own thoughts and (2) respond separately to at least two classmate's posts with something new that justifies your position on (at least) one of the questions and that helps them understand. Don't just say, ``Yeah, I agree." Instead, say, ``Yes, but we also need to consider..." Or, ``I don't agree because..." You might also pose questions, answer questions, extend ideas, or compare and contrast your responses and summarize what you chose and why. Be sure to use your classmates preferred names. All the posts must be rated as Jedi for completion (you can revise as needed by completing/revisiting the instructions). Try to complete forums by the listed due date although they can be completed up until closer to the corresponding video project.
re-engages and debriefs, where you compare with solutions and reflect, earn their own completion credit. Try to complete these by the listed due date although they can be completed up until closer to the corresponding video project.
begin, where you read through a problem set or video project and send me any questions you have or give me a brief update if you don't have questions. Begin these assignments early and continue working on them until their listed due date. Can work ahead or throughout the day it is listed, but turn in the begin by 10am the next academic day.
webpages, PDF, files, glossaries, surveys, or other course activities. You self-report completion in some activities and others are earned when you access them or submit responses. Some may have specific cut-off deadlines and others can be completed up until closer to the corresponding video project.

Problem sets (30%)

There are four problem sets over the course of the semester. They are designed to apply knowledge in novel settings and approach problems from numerous points of view to draw connections and think out of the box. In the problem set, your own annotations or explanations will demonstrate your work and understanding of by-hand and Maple work. Your work must be turned in to the ASULearn assignment on or before the due date and time because solutions will be posted. To accommodate issues that may arise, you can revise one problem set as you reflect on it.

Video projects (20%)

There are two video projects. Talking time to look back at what you have done and make new connections allows you to solidify knowledge and put your understanding in context. Your videos must be turned in to the ASULearn forum on or before the due date and time.*

The grading scale is

A: 93 or above; A- less than 93 but greater than or equal to 90
B+ less than 90 but greater than or equal to 87; B less than 87 but greater than or equal to 83; B- less than 83 but greater than or equal to 80
C+ less than 80 but greater than or equal to 77; C less than 77 but greater than or equal to 73; C- less than 73 but greater than or equal to 70
D+ less than 70 but greater than or equal to 67; D less than 67 but greater than or equal to 60
F less than 60

*There is no rounding when converting the numeric weighted average to a letter grade. Accommodations in the determination of your final grade might be made for extenuating circumstances that are officially documented to prevent you from completing work early/on time. However, if you expect to miss more than 10% of class activities then I advise you to drop the course.

Academic Integrity and Essential Course Integrity

You should explore the course material and write out your thinking in a way that can be shared with others. Academic integrity is a fundamental part of the course, which includes meeting deadlines, regular communication, and giving proper reference where it is due. These are essential to course integrity. Be sure to give acknowledgment where it is due. Submitting someone else's work as your own (PLAGIARISM) is a serious violation of the University's Academic Integrity Code, which defines: ``Plagiarism includes, but is not limited to, borrowing, downloading, cutting and pasting, and paraphrasing without acknowledgement, including from online sources, or allowing an individual's academic work to be submitted as another's work."

The purpose of engagement is to learn and practice computational strategies, concepts, and develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills. In this course, you will be challenged with problems that you have never seen before. I do not expect you to be able to solve all the issues immediately. Instead, I want to see what you can do on your own. Out in the real world, this is important, since no matter what job you have, you will be expected to seek out information and answers to new topics you have not seen before. Many concepts require the critical and creative analysis of a variety of interpretations in order to fully consider the implications.

I understand that this can feel frustrating and uncomfortable and I am here to help you through the process. It helps to remember that there are no mathematical dead-ends! Each time we get stuck, it teaches us something about the problem we are working on and leads us to a deeper understanding of the mathematics.

In the real world though, you are not expected to face your work alone. You will be allowed to talk to other people and you may even be expected to work with other people. In this class, you are also not expected to face your work alone. I am always eager to help you and will try to give you hints and direction to help you understand the material.

At times though, to encourage the exploration process, I may direct you to rethink a problem and to discuss it with me again after you have had time to explore new directions. You can take this time in our Zoom hours and consult with me after you re-think your approach or you can come back and re-connect. This occurs when I believe that the struggle to understand is imperative for your deep understanding of the material.

CBMS published a statement titled ``Active Learning in Post-Secondary Mathematics Education" about the importance of ``classroom practices that engage students in activities, such as reading, writing, discussion, or problem solving, that promote higher-order thinking."

Appalachian's General Education Program prepares students to employ various modes of communication that can help communities reach consensus or respectful disagreement: successful communicators interact effectively with people of both similar and different experiences and values and in this class you will practice oral and written communication during class by interacting with your peers and me. Regardless of gender, political party, race, religion, sexuality, or more this class is to be a welcoming environment, and so I want you to be sensitive and respectful to each other in upcoming discussions. Part of the welcoming environment is to keep an open mind as you engage in our class activities and explore current mathematical/scientific consensus. Performing activities that detract from this welcoming environment will result in a lowered grade.

Sharing our course materials, ASULearn items, photos, video or audio recordings may not occur without prior permission.