Format

Course Structure

Overview

The class format will be somewhat different from that used in the previous offering of the class, and will follow a semi-flipped format. Specifically, a typical lecture will include:

• reading assignment and review problems that will need to be completed AHEAD of the lecture;
• in-class problems that will build on the review problems and be used to explore the material covered in the review problems;
• lecture component that will be used to expand on or clarify material from the reading assignment.

This format works ONLY if students have completed the reading assignment and review problems ahead of the class where they will be covered. As a result, students are expected to turn-in their review problem at the beginning of each class, and a student will be (randomly) selected to provide a brief overview of their solution to the review problem. Review problems will NOT be graded based on correctness of the solution, but based on whether or not there has been a genuine attempt at solving it using the material from the reading assignment, i.e., solutions that demonstrate an honest effort will get a grade of 1, while solutions that don't will receive a grade of 0.

In addition to reading assignments and review problems, homeworks will also be assigned (typically one every two weeks). There will be four (4) 10 minutes quizzes spread out over the semester that will be held at the beginning of class (see [syllabus|tentative schedule] for details), one midterm exam, and a final exam. The relative weights of these different components in determining a student's overall grade will be as follows:

• Review problems: 5%;
• In class description of review problem solutions (when selected): 5%;
• Homeworks: 20%
• Quizzes: 20% (5% each);
• Midterm exam: 20%;
• Final exam: 30% (the final exam is cumulative, but will emphasize material not covered in the midterm).

Quizzes and exams will be open-book and access to personal notes, homework solutions, and other related material will be allowed. Note though that because quizzes are only 10 minutes long, spending time searching for material in the book or your notes will typically not be a good idea.
Computer access will also be allowed, though NOT INTERNET ACCESS. Students found accessing the Internet for additional information during a quiz or an exam will get an AUTOMATIC F for the class. There will be NO exception.

Reading Assignments

Reading assignments are intended to get you ready for the next class, so that you can participate during the discussions and asked questions aimed at clarifying what you were asked to read. Reading assignments will typically be from the textbook itself, though additional material, e.g., from some of the only textbooks and other resources in Online resources may also be used.

Review Problems

They are assigned ahead of each lecture and meant to test your understanding of the material covered in the reading assignment for the lecture. You will be expected to turn them in before the start of the corresponding lecture (see the "late policy" on the wiki's Main Page). One or more students will also be selected at the beginning of a class and asked to describe how they have approached solving each review problem. Student selection will be random but without replacement to ensure that students go through the same number of turns. Successfully completing the review problems will require reading the assigned material, as well as in most cases being proactive by asking questions on Piazza. Generic questions of the form "How do I solve Problem X" wont be entertained, but otherwise students will be provided with as much help as necessary to successfully complete review problems.

Homeworks

Homeworks will be assigned approximately every two weeks. They are meant to offer a more in-depth assessment of students' mastery of the course material than quizzes. Homeworks will consist of multiple problems, often from the textbook, which will target material that has been covered since the previous homework was assigned.

Quizzes

Quizzes will consist of one or two very short problems/questions meant to test students' understanding of material covered since the previous quiz (or the start of the class for the first quiz). They will be open book, open notes, and open computer (though not Internet access), but given their short duration, there wont be much time available to search for answers in the books or your notes.

Exams

The course has two exams, a midterm (20% of your overall grade) and a final (30% of your overall grade). The midterm will take place in-class during the class of Tuesday October 13, 2015. The final exam will be held during the time-slot allocated by the university, i.e., on Wednesday December 15, 2015, 6:00-8:00pm. The final will be cumulative in its scope, i.e., include everything that has been covered during the class, but the focus will be on material that was not included in the midterm.