Changes-to-syllabus

Changes to the syllabus/grading policies as of March 27

Things that are changing:

Homework will be submitted in Canvas:

You will usually be doing your homework by writing on paper (because math notation on a computer is hard).
You will be getting your work onto a computer (usually by taking pictures with your cell phone and transfering them to your computer)
You will be checking to make sure that your work is legible when viewed on a a computer (if you write lightly in pencil, you will need to find a way to write more darkly--pens are good for this.
You will be putting all of your images into a single file. Usually you will be doing this by copying your images into a Word document, but if you have a scanner, you might be making a multi-page .pdf document.
You will be saving that file, and then uploading it to a Canvas dropbox.

There will be quizzes instead of tests:
There will be lots of little quizzes--approximately weekly quizzes. Quizzes will be similar to homework in their format, except that:

You will have a time limit (60 minutes to do the work + 30 minutes to fiddle with the computer and get your work online)
You will be expected to use only the definitions and theorems in the "Definitions and Theorems" list--no other outside notes or help-sources.
The weekly quizzes will be part of the "tests" category. Quizzes will typically be about 30 points.

If, at the end of the semester, you think that a final exam would improve your grade, you can request an option to take a final exam.

The grading weighted percentages will change:

Currently tests are weighted at 85% and homework is weighted 15%. At the end of the semester, I will calculate your weighted average two ways:

Tests 85%, homework 15%
Tests 70%, homework 30%

Your final grade will be based on the higher of these two weighted averages.

All due dates are fictional:
All due dates will be extended for more-or-less as long as you want, and if you have not completed things by the end of the semester that I will submit a grade of incomplete for you (unless you contact me and let me know that you want me to do something different).

If you aren't keeping up with the due dates, please email and check in with me and let me know what's going on every so often (say, once a week). Note that "I'm busy", "I'm sick", "someone else is sick", and "the intenet is slow", for example, are all good reasons for you to be turning things in after the "due date". I'm not going to adjust grades down for lateness at all for the rest of the semester, but I'm going to worry about you if I haven't heard from you and you haven't turned anything in for more than a week!

All online discussion sessions are optional:
I will be holding discussion Q&A sessions regularly. We will be holding these sessions using Zoom, and they will happen at the same time as our class would ordinarily be held. You are not required to attend these sessions, and I will record all of them. I will edit the sessions and post the videos for any part of the session that I think might be useful for someone to go back and watch later.

Online office hours: Because I am holding online discussion sessions, I'm not going to schedule particular hours that would be online office hours. Please email me when you want a private discussion or help session, and I will be happy to meet with you online at any time when I don't have to be in a discussion with someone else.

What happens if you get sick?: If you get sick, then you take care of yourself. If you have enough energy, send me an email so I know what's going on. I will record a grade of incomplete for you, and we figure it out when you get well

What happens if I get sick? If I get sick, then I take care of myself. I will send an email to you or make sure someone else sends an email to let you know. I or Dr. Tomlinson will record a grade of incomplete for you, and we figure it out when I get well.

What happens if I get sick and you can't wait an extra month to finish the course (anecdotal evidence suggests that it takes about 3 weeks to get back on your feet from a serious but non-lethal infection)? Contact Kathy Tomlinson in the math department, she will work out some alternate assignments you can do so you can get your course grade on time. (If you think I'm sick, please send me a second email before contacting Dr. Tomlinson--I get a lot of email and sometimes I lose track!)

What happens if I die? Contact Dr Tomlinson or she will contact you. She will figure out a way for you all to get credit and a fair grade for the course.