CSC 102Q - Seattle Central Community College

CSC 102Q—Computers in Math (Mathematica) Fall, 2012Professor: Greg LangkampOffice: SAM 413 Office Hours: Daily 12-12:50pm or by appointment.Phone: (206) 934-3810E-mail: greg.langkamp@seattlecolleges.eduSectionItem no.Session One(Intro, Mathematica Input)Session Two(Palettes, Drawing Tools, etc.)Session Three(Final exam)sec071165sec011161sec021162sec031163sec041164sec051166sec061167Monday, October 13 – 4:50 pmTuesday, October 21 – 2:50 pmTuesday, October 23 – 4:50 pmWednesday, October 31 – 2:50 pmThursday, October 41 – 2:50 pmThursday, October 43 – 4:50 pmFriday, October 51 – 2:50 pmMonday, October 83 – 4:50 pmTuesday, October 91 – 2:50 pmTuesday, October 93 – 4:50 pmWednesday, October 101 – 2:50 pmThursday, October 111 – 2:50 pmThursday, October 113 – 4:50 pmFriday, October 121 – 2:50 pmMonday, October 153 – 4:50 pmTuesday, October 161 – 2:50 pmTuesday, October 163 – 4:50 pmWednesday, October 171 – 2:50 pmThursday, October 181 – 2:50 pmThursday, October 183 – 4:50 pmFriday, October 191 – 2:50 pmCourse Prerequisite: successful completion of Math 142 or higher.Text: The SCCC Mathematica Tutorial serves at the text for this course. This Tutorial is available online at thecourse WAMAP page or at the SCCC Math Department site ( http://seattlecentral.edu/learn/math/ )Student Software:Seattle Central Community College offers every student in CSC 102Q a free copy of the student version ofMathematica. Seattle Central students are granted a license to install the software on their home computer anduse it to support their education at Seattle Central. The license remains in effect for as long as the studentcontinues to enroll at Central. Information on how to obtain your free copy of Mathematica is available at thecourse WAMAP page or the SCCC Math Department site ( http://seattlecentral.edu/learn/math/ ).Course Website:All materials, assessments (homework, quizzes and final exam), and grades are available on the CSC102Q coursewebsite hosted at www.wamap.org. You will be registered into WAMAP automatically for this course.Username: 9 digit SID Password: Last 4 digits of SIDNote#1: If you access WAMAP with a different username for another course, you will still need to use theusername listed above for this course. Sorry for the inconvenience of having two usernames!Note #2: If you have changed your password and cannot remember it, I can reset it for you.About the Course:This course is a hands-on introduction to the basic commands and features of Mathematica, an advancedcomputer mathematics program that supports symbolic algebra, large scale computing and advanced 2D and 3Dgraphics, as well as scientific report writing. The course is designed to prepare you to use Mathematica in yourmath class as soon as possible. It consists of:Two in-class sessions: Two scheduled class sessions in which you’ll learn the basics of Mathematica andbegin work on the online SCCC Mathematica Tutorial. Session One will begin with an introduction to the

Mathematica notebook interface and a step-by-step demonstration of the structure and functionality ofthe SCCC tutorial. This will be followed by individual student work on the tutorial. Session Two will beginwith a question and answer session on the tutorial. This will be followed by a demonstration of the use ofpalettes, drawing tools and graphics editing tools. Attendance at both in-class sessions is mandatory.Failure to attend and participate in either of these sessions will impact your grade.Out-of-class work: You are responsible for completing the SCCC Mathematica Tutorial independently. Itwould be wise to work out a personal schedule now that allows you to put in five or six hours of practicein addition to the two in-class sessions. You should complete the Mathematica Tutorial by the end of thesecond week of class so that you will be ready to take the Mathematica Proficiency Test (Final Exam)during the third week. There are two required homework assignments. These will be administered overthe internet using the WAMAP system. I will explain how this works during the first class meeting.The Mathematica Proficiency Test (Final Exam). This exam will begin promptly at the start of class; youwill have 75 minutes to complete it. The Proficiency Test is based on the material developed in the SCCCTutorial. It consists of describing or performing basic Mathematica tasks necessary to use the programsuccessfully in your math course. The test will be short-answer in format (similar to online Homeworkquestions). You will have access to Mathematica during the Proficiency Test. A shortened form of theMathematica Reference Card will be available to you during the final exam. No other notes are allowed.How your grade is calculated for this course:This course counts for one credit. You will receive a standard numeric grade. If you do not want a numeric grade inthis course, you must request an audit (N) grade before the proficiency test (final exam). After the proficiencyexam, no such requests will be granted. Regardless of your grade status (numeric or audit), you must still earn theequivalent of a 2.0 to demonstrate Mathematica proficiency for any calculus course (or higher math course) atSCCC. Here is the point distribution upon which your final grade is calculated.Attendance at first session & satisfactory start on tutorial 10Percentage, P GradeP 92% 4.0Attendance at second session & satisfactory work on worksheet 1087% P92% 3.7Homework No. 1 1684% P87% 3.380% P84% 3.0Homework No. 2 1475% P80% 2.7Proficiency Test (Final Exam) 7270% P75% 2.3Total points possible 12265% P70% 2.060% P65% 1.755% P60% 1.350% P55% 1.0When and Where to Work:P 50% 0.0Except for the two in-class sessions, and the Final exam, there are no other required classmeetings. You should arrange to work on the Tutorial at times that are convenient for you, on your homecomputer or at school. The best place to work on the Tutorial at school is in the open Math Computer Lab, SAM307, which is open Mon-Fri afternoons. You may also work in the main College Computer Center, Room 3148which is also open on Saturdays. Up-to-date information on room availability is posted by each room.Note: The staff in the Open Lab (SAM307) has some experience in using Mathematica. Please drop into the lab ifyou have questions on the Mathematica Tutorial. You can also send me a question in a WAMAP message.Students With Disabilities StatementIf any student has any documented hearing, visual or learning disability—or has any circumstance that requiresspecial needs or accommodations (including emergency medical information, or require special arrangements forbuilding evacuation)—it is his/her responsibility to see me as soon as possible (within the first week of class).Please come during my office hours, or arrange with me before or after class, a convenient time for us to meet andgo over options to improve your learning environment.Page 2