From harelb Mon Sep 5 13:25:31 -0400 1994 To: 112reform Subject: We're online... I got replies from most of you so I assume "112reform@math" now works. The two items I'll be sending along after this message are: (1) Cliff Earle asked about the exact dates of the Prelims for Spring 95, and I dug these up; I've also put them into a calendar, which I've printed out and will send this along in case any of you want to do the same; I'm planning to bring it to meeting/for planning after meetings as we work towards the kind of exact week-by-week plan for what we'll be covering when which would make the Curri-Com proud, or at least reasonably happy (-: (2) I received a reply from Ithaca College to some questions I sent them, so I'm enclosing that. Apologies for not forwarding this earlier (partly I wasn't sure that this email list wasn't up but also procrastination due to dealing with the beginning of the new semester, something with which I'm sure you're all personally familiar :-)) So I'm sending these two bits next. Two things that seem worthwhile pursuing next would be to work on "filling in" the calendar to the point where we can present it to the curri-com; and contacting people in other departments for input (starting the former perhaps before the latter but certainly needing the latter before finishing the former!) Harel ################################################################## From harelb Mon Sep 5 13:28:16 -0400 1994 To: 112reform Subject: IC Correspondence ****************************************************************** *From harelb Wed Aug 3 01:35:17 1994 *Date: Tue, 2 Aug 94 15:40:21 EDT *To: calculus@ithaca.edu *Subject: Some questions from Cornell ****************************************************************** Hello everyone, Thanks again for talking to us about your project-based calculus courses. We certainly plan on using this email address you were nice enough to provide to send queries and solicit your advice. Some questions which came up at the meeting we just had: (1)Can you send us some copies of your midterms/prelims and finals, so we get a better sense of how/the extent of the coordination between the projects, and the course in general and the types of questions asked on the exams? You can send them to me (Harel Barzilai) and/or Cliff Earle at White Hall, Mathematics, Cornell; if they're online, feel free to email them to us c/o "harelb@math.cornell.edu" (we'll soon set up a "112reform@math.cornell.edu" I hope, but that's not yet operational). (2) Can you send us (different instructors' versions of, if you don't use the exact same breakdown) of exact numbers for % of grade, e.g. project (1-week) #1: X% prelim : Y% project (2-week) #2: Z% [....] ------------------------- = 100% (3)How do you relate to other departments' (primarily but not exclusively sciences) requirements that you cover certain material? The problems we have in mind is that the reason the syllabus is so bloated, or a major reason, for the existing 112, is that so many add-on formulas and little techniques are shoved in. We'd like to make the "reformed" 112 cover the basic material in greater depth, but simultaneously cut out some of these formulas and techniques that are not central and can be learned by the students on their own after they've had a deeper mastery of the basic and the main techniques and formulas, but we fear the wrath of other departments... Your advice and experiences would be helpful. That's all for now. Harel Barzilai, harelb@math.cornell.edu ################################################################## ****************************************************************** *Date: Thu, 25 Aug 1994 13:12:23 -0400 (EDT) *From: hilbert@icsun.sunnet.ithaca.edu (Steve Hilbert) *Subject: calculus *To: harelb@math.cornell.edu ****************************************************************** (I've taken the liberty of re-formattaing the (3) paragraph to 70 char per line --HB) ****************************************************************** I got your e-mail after a delay since my machine was not working after our move. (1) I thought we gave you the appendix to the activity book which includes a complete year of quizzes and tests when you visited. If this is not the case let me know and I will send you a copy. (2) The breakdown for grades that I use in Calculus 2 is projects 10% each (I give 3 in calc 2) 10 best weekly quizzes 10% Prelims 20% each (I give 2) Final exam 20% (3) Re other departments When we started our reform we interviewed (in depth) faculty in Physics, Economics, Phsychology, Physical Therapy, and Exercise science about what they wanted their students to learn in Calculus. We didn't get lists of formulas. The faculty wanted students to learn how to solve problems. The one topic that did show up in several interviews was that students did not know how to use graphical data in problems. This was the basis for our introduction of graphical calculus in Calc 1. We have not had complaints since we started 5 years ago about students preparation from other depts. Steve Hilbert