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Solve it with the Computer! Spring 2000
SyllabusInstructor: James Brink Office: Math 99 Office hours: MT 9:30-10:30 Math 99 RF 3:00- 4:00 Math 99 W 3:00- 5:00 Memorial 102 Phone: 253-535-7409 Class time and place: The class meets Tuesday and Thursday in Math 112 from 11:50 to 1:35. Students are also required to attend either Lab 01 which meets from 1:45 to 2:45 or Lab 02 which meets from 2:45 to 3:35 on Tuesdays. Both labs meet in UCTR 136. Text: Grauer & Barber, Exploring Microsoft EXCEL (particularly chapters 1 to 4). We will also have some handouts including statistics, probability, normal distributions and expected value. Course goals: We will learn how the computer (particularly a spreadsheet) can be combined with mathematical reasoning to solve problems. We will learn to use the spreadsheet program EXCEL from Microsoft. The emphasis will be on problem solving and how spreadsheets can be used in this process. Problems will come from business, financial transactions, education, probability, statistics, and other areas where mathematics and data are used in everyday life. We will also learn things about computers, the Windows operating system, the Internet, etc. We will spend about 2 days learning to use internet tools and creating a WEB home page. Lab Exercises: To help you master the material, we will have weekly labs. There will be about 12 different lab exercises. We will use the IBM-compatibles in the University Center IBM classroom for formal lab periods. You will use the U.C. open lab to complete your computer assignments outside of class. If you have other access to EXCEL, you may use it to complete your work but your files must be made compatible with ours. Part of our exams and a little of the lab work will require you to use equipment in the University Center. Lab exercises are due at the beginning of class on the due date. Exams: We will have two exams and a final. The exams will be in two parts: A traditional paper and pencil part (about 70%) given in the lecture classroom and a computer part (about 30%) given in during lab periods. The written portion of the final exam will be 10:00, Monday, May 15. The computer portion will be a week earlier on Tuesday, May 9 during the last regular lab period. Quizzes: We will have about 6 short quizzes (sometimes unannounced) to help you assess your progress. Class participation: Students will frequently be asked to work in groups during class and labs. Sometimes the groups will analyze and solve problems in class. Groups may be asked to explain their solution to the class. Hence class and lab attendance and participation is expected. Group Project: Students will be asked to analyze a news article or advertisement that includes quantitative data. (For example, a new car advertisement might state that buyers can get 1.9% financing or $1000 cash back. What would be the best option under some particular set of circumstances?) The group will create a spreadsheet that quantitatively analyzes the data and presents the analysis in a manner that allow others to understand and use the result. The group project proposal is due Thursday, Mar. 9 and the group project is due Tuesday, April 11. The group will present the project to the class on Tuesday, April 11 or Thursday, April 13. Individual Project: You will complete an individual project for this class which is due on Thursday, May 4. You will give a short 5 minute presentation about your project on that day or on Thursday, May 11. The project should be designed to demonstrate your ability in mathematical problem solving and use of a spreadsheet. The project may be something that you have always wanted to do to save time and energy ("I wish I had a ..."). It might involve a mathematical analysis for another class or for your job. Some of the advanced problems in the text might give you an idea. A written project proposal is due by Thursday, April 6 but you are encouraged to discuss prospective topics with your instructor prior to that date.
Grading:
Grades for the course will be computed approximately as
follows:
Lab and Homework Assignments 215-240
Group project 50
Individual project 60
Quizzes (6 @ 20, best 5) 100
Two Exams (2 @ 100) 200
Final Exam 150
Class participation,
in class work 100
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Total 875-900
Reminder:
This is a four credit course. You will be expected to
spend about 12 hours a week (including class and lab time) on the course. Please
plan your schedule accordingly. It is important that you keep up and hand
in your work on time.Academic honesty: Students are encouraged to get and provide help when needed. However, unless otherwise stated in lab and homework assignments, the work you turn in is expected to be primarily your own. Group projects are acceptable only when the assignments specifies them. Consider writing a paper for an English or History class. The instructor would normally be pleased if you had someone proof read your paper or you visited the Writing Center. However, if two students turned in the same paper, it would be considered academic dishonesty. The same is true in this class. When you get help, you must "footnote" that assistance. Floppy disks: You will need to have at least four 3.5 inch high density disks for storing your lab exercises and other work. A few assignments will be turned in on a floppy. You can buy them at the bookstore or elsewhere. If you buy them at the bookstore, remember to pick up stick-on a label for each disk. On-line materials:
Many of the class materials and examples will be
available from the class's WEB page
http://www.cs.plu.edu/courses/csce115/spring00/home.html Attendance: Regular attendance is expected. It is your responsibility to get your work handed in on time, even when you have a legitimate excuse for missing class. The instructor does not assume any responsibility for homework turned in at any time except at the beginning of class on the due date. In general, there will not be make-ups on quizzes and make-ups (for legitimate reasons) on exams should be arranged ahead of time. Late homework and lab exercises will be discounted at 25% per weekday. Assignments are due at the beginning of class. If you must miss class you should make arrangements with someone in the class to turn in your homework and get notes and handouts for you. We will be covering material in class that is not in the text. In case of difficulties: PLEASE COME TO TALK TO ME AS SOON AS POSSIBLE IF YOU ARE HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE COURSE! Important dates: Last date to drop without the instructor's signature and full refund of tuition is Feb. 15. Last date to withdraw (without tuition refund) is April 28. Special note to students with disabilities of any kind: If you need course adaptations because of any sort of disability, if you have emergency medical information to share with me, or if you need special arrangements in case the building must be evacuated, please see me during my office hours as soon as possible.
For more information, contact James Brink Last Updated: 2/2/2000
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