Math 110A Online,
Fall 2024
IMPORTANT COURSE INFORMATION
Hello! Before registering, please read the following:
(1) This is a 16-week late-start course that begins on Tuesday, September 3, 2024 (not Mon. Aug. 19)
(2) This course does NOT meet weekly, however, it is NOT completely online since there is an in-person final exam at the end of the semester! The final exam is closed-book and cumulative. You must have a photo ID to take the final exam. NOTE: There is a possibility the final exam will be held online (due to emergencies, pandemics, scheduling conflicts, etc.) so please check with me before making final travel arrangements!
(3) You MUST be able to take online tests #1-3 and the in-person final exam during the scheduled windows of time. There are no exceptions and no make-up exams, so please check your calendar before enrolling! The college is still working on finalizing the final exam schedule, but our tentative final exam date is listed below:
Online test #1: Tuesday, Sep. 24, 2024, 7 PM-8:10 PM
Online test #2: Tuesday, Oct. 22, 2024, 7 PM-8:10 PM
Online test #3: Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2024, 7 PM-8:10 PM
FINAL EXAM: Fri. December 20, 2024, 8:10 AM - 10 AM, on Ocean Campus
(4) As part of this course, you are REQUIRED to read the textbook. This course was designed for students who feel most comfortable learning by reading a textbook and do not feel dependent on traditional live lectures or videos. Although I will provide some videos, I recommend a face-to-face class if you do not plan to read a textbook.
(5) Quizzes and tests are closed-book and have tight time limits. This is to ensure academic integrity and encourage learning, so please be warned if you tend to work very slowly. I realize some students prefer open-book tests with relaxed time limits, so I would like to make sure students are aware of this policy before registering.
(6) There is a cost associated with this course ($49.53 in Spring 2024). In Spring 2023, the CCSF bookstore began using a program called "Inclusive Access." Please read more about it HERE.
(7) How this course works. Although videos are provided, students learn the material primarily through reading the text and working on both online and offline homework. You will have weekly quizzes and mandatory discussion forum posts. Note that due dates fall on Thursdays, Saturdays, and Sundays at midnight (you will be able to work on assignments all week). Tests fall on Tuesdays.
(8) To pass this class, you must bring photo ID to the final exam, and you must score 65% or higher on the final exam (70% of passing).
Important tips for success in this course
(1) Read the textbook! If you plan to skip the textbook and watch videos instead, you might struggle in this course. Why? Click here for more info.
(2) Make sure to budget enough time for this class in your schedule. Most students who do not succeed in this class simply did not budget enough time for the class. The average student will need to set aside around 15 hours per week to learn the material. Additionally, students should not have more than 40-50 hours of work/school/commitments total each week if they want to optimize learning! (Some research has shown that work productivity drops sharply after 50 hours.)
(3) Use a computer (not a smartphone) and make sure you feel comfortable with technology. You might have difficulty if you rely on a smartphone (it might be possible to borrow a Chromebook from CCSF, check here). If you are easily frustrated with technology and have difficulty resolving technical issues, then a face-to-face class might work better for you. If you do not have stable internet access, this course might be difficult for you. Finally, our online tests will have tight time limits, so make sure your internet connection works adequately to avoid additional stress.
ADD PROCEDURE
If the class is full, you can add yourself to the waitlist (before the course begins). If a seat becomes available, the next student on the waitlist is notified by email and has 24 hours to respond and register. Warning: if you fail to register in 24 hours, you will have to get back on the waitlist again! Check your official CCSF Gmail email frequently!
If the waitlist is full, you must wait for a spot on the waitlist to open up (this happens sporadically). There is no other way to add. I cannot add you to the class, so please do not email me and ask me to add you. I highly recommend searching for a section of 110A that has open seats!
Important: Waistlists disappear on the first day of our class. If you were on the waitlist but were not offered a spot in the class before the first day of class, please fill out a Class Add Request in the MyRam Portal by noon on the first day of our class (you do not have to email me). If spots open up in the class, I will approve your add request, you will be immediately informed by email, and then you must register for the class. If you do not register in 24 hours, I might give your spot to another student.
ADDITIONAL COURSE INFORMATION
Is this course a good fit for me? Would you agree to the following?
I have set aside sufficient time this semester to focus on math and adequate time for relaxation (I highly recommend a maximum of 40-50 hours of commitments per week)
I feel most comfortable learning mathematics by reading a textbook.
I do not feel dependent on videos or traditional lectures to complete my homework.
I possess the self-discipline, self-motivation, and time management skills required to work on mathematics independently every day (I'm not a crammer!)
I am patient with technology, and I can resolve technical difficulties. I have reliable internet access.
I can demonstrate my knowledge in a timed test environment.
Lack of Participation:
At any point during the semester, if you have missed two or more consecutive assignments, you might be withdrawn from the course for lack of participation. The first time this happens, the instructor will contact you to determine the cause of your lack of participation and try to work with you to resolve the problem. Please let me know immediately if you are unable to complete assignments for some reason.
You must take exams in order to remain enrolled in the course.
Contingency Plan For Instructor illness, emergencies, or absence
If the instructor has an illness or emergency, the instructor will inform the class through CANVAS email.
Instructor Feedback
I usually respond to email within 24 hours (unless there is an emergency or illness), and I check the discussion forum every day.
Solutions are provided for all assignments. Quizzes and HW are graded by WebAssign, while major tests are graded by the instructor and uploaded to Canvas..
Course website:
The CCSF online course server is called "Canvas." Our 110A course site is located at https://ccsf.instructure.com/
Instructions for logging into Canvas
Instructions for logging into WebAssign (WA) through Canvas
If you need help, you can go to the Online Course Support Center.
Online Homework & Textbook:
You will need to purchase access for the WebAssign online homework system. Note: you will access our WebAssign course (ebook and online HW) through Canvas, not directly through the WebAssign website! (You will receive an error message if you try to access the WebAssign materials before our course begins!)
We will use the textbook "Calculus, Early Transcendentals," 8th edition, by James Stewart.
Initial contact
Be sure to check your CCSF Gmail regularly and ensure that 110A emails are not being sent to the spam folder.
Approximately 2-4 days before the start of class, I will send an email to all registered students with important information about the course. If you do not receive this email, contact me at astevens@ccsf.edu.
You will also receive a "Welcome to Canvas" email with log-in Instructions for our 110A course site.
I look forward to meeting you!