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MATH 212 - Calculus II - Roy W. Erickson

Course:Calculus II
Professor:Roy W. Erickson
Email:roy.erickson@canyons.edu
Format:
  • InPerson
Course Length:
  • 16 Week

Introduction

A headshot of Mr. Erickson

NEW NOTICE:  I want all to know that while the class is officially on campus, and I will be on campus in our classroom at the appointed times, I will ALSO have a camera on me and my 'lecture pad' so in the event you need to stay home you may watch my lectures live.  The Zoom sessions will be scheduled in CANVAS under the Zoom tab and they will be recorded and made available within an hour of the lecture's conclusion.  I also SCAN AND POST my lecture notes after the lecture has finished and I will post them on my website (to be discussed on or before the first day of class). TESTS are still on campus but spread across classrooms.

I'm Roy Erickson, your instructor for Math 212.  Calculus II is my favorite math class to teach.  I come from an Aerospace background and I love all things that fly so, for example, if there is a SpaceX launch during class expect us to take a 3 minute break to watch it.  My background is varied - I've worked for a national laboratory as a graduate student, an airframer as their manager of computational sciences, and, after peace broke out and the Berlin wall came down, a number of Hollywood studios doing IT consulting work.  I have been teaching Math, Physics, Astronomy and Electronics for nearly two decades.

Course Description

Calculus II further develops the tools of changing phenomena that you were introduced to in Calculus I.  We focus on the methods of integration, including their numerical approximation, followed by some applications such as:  calculating curve lengths in both Polar and Cartesian coordinates, computing surface areas of rotated curves and finally the calculus of parametric equations.  From there we introduce the powerful tool of using infinite series to approximate functions.  We study their formation and how to test for their convergence and how to assess their accuracy.  We finally wrap up by solving for functions found in basic differential equations - equations that have derivatives of the functions themselves in them.  All fun stuff!!!  I can’t wait to get into it!

What to Expect in this Course

I rank the workload for Calculus II to be in the top three classes at a community college.  That is just the way it is - no matter the instructor, the text, or the learning software.  You will use EVERY math technique you have studied to date (that is why you studied them - to be able to perform well in this class).  Any math shortcomings you have had along the way will be topped off in Calculus II (you have the great TLC and MESA resources to access for help).

A typical class begins with announcements, answer a few HW questions (if time permits), start the lecture, do some classwork, take a break, give some more lecture, check out some multimedia, finish with some more classwork.

Traditionally in this class expect to allow 2 hours of outside study and HW time for each hour we are in class. 

Types of Assessments

I give five hourly exams to be written during class time, on 8.5” x11” white paper and administered on campus (potentially spread across multiple classrooms and/or the testing center).   I drop the lowest test score and I lower a test’s total score based on the highest student(s) scores to adjust for test difficulty.

I give homework on two levels.  One list (required) is for just getting by.  This is for those students that work and have other heavy concurrent classes like physics and/or organic chemistry. Another list (not required, but highly recommended) is for those students that desire to hone their skills and be ready for future advanced math, engineering, and physics classes and who desire to guarantee their performance on the tests.  HW is done on white paper and is scanned and uploaded to CANVAS.  HW is due on Tuesdays.

I give classwork.  These are problems worked on during class time, usually in groups (if desired) but submitted to me individually on the way out the door.

I give a few mini-projects from the text, counted under the HW category but with a heavier weight.  Usually about one a month.  Maybe two hours each.

And just to make sure we celebrate our fun, I give a mandatory comprehensive two-hour final exam on the last day of class.  This is also written on white paper and taken somewhere on campus.

I typically end up with about a fourth to a third of the class getting A’s (50% or more for morning classes full of AoC students - those guys are smart!).  Nearly everyone passes.  Show up every lecture and give a good honest effort on the HW and you will do fine.

Textbook Information

Calculus by James Stewart (8th ed), ISBN 9781285740621 for the hardcover

https://www.cengage.com/c/calculus-8e-stewart/9781285740621/

Other Relevant Course Information

Other Pertinent Info

The main communication tools we will be using in this class include:

  • - Face-to-face lectures but a live Zoom feed is also provided and is recorded.
  • - Canvas messaging (Emails, video messages, announcements, and comments).
  • - Zoom video (simultaneously), and its chat application.  Recordings are available in Canvas.

You may be able to borrow a laptop from COC and use it during the semester. To find out about this, please send an Email to laptops@canyons.edu 


Additional Resources

Canvas

This course can be accessed on the first day of class via Canvas at https://coc.instructure.com. Log into Canvas using your CanyonsID single sign-on:

  • CanyonsID Username is your COC student email address (Ex: username@my.canyons.edu)
  • CanyonsID Password is your COC student email password

Please visit the Get to Know Your Online Classroom page for help logging into Canvas and for tips on using Canvas and Zoom. Canvas Chat Support is also available 24/7 for any Canvas related issues.

Online Education

Check out the Online Education website for more information on a variety of topics that can help you be a successful online student such as: exam proctoring, learning styles, computer skills, and tips for student success. If this is your first online course, feel free to take our online learning readiness assessment to assess your skills.

The Learning Center (TLC)

The TLC provides FREE online tutoring resources to COC students!

Academic Accommodation Center (AAC)

College of the Canyons AAC provides educational services and access for eligible students with documented disabilities who intend to pursue coursework at COC. A variety of programs and services are available which afford eligible students with disabilities the opportunity to participate fully in all aspects of the college programs and activities through appropriate and reasonable accommodations. For more information on their services visit the Academic Accomodation Center website.

Online Counseling

The Counseling Department offers appointments online. You can schedule an appointment by visiting the Online Counseling website. Counselors can help you map out a plan to reach your educational goals as well as advise you on course selection and registration.

Management of Stress and Mental Health

Often the pressure on our students is very strong, involving academic commitments, relationships, outside jobs and family pressure to name a few. The staff and faculty of College of the Canyons are here to see you succeed academically and care about your emotional and physical health. You can learn more about the broad range of confidential student services, including counseling and mental health services available on campus by visiting the Student Health & Wellness Center in the Student Services Building (across from the bookstore). The phone number is 661-362-3259 that you can call 24/7. You can also e mail for an appointment at StudentHealthCenter@canyons.edu. At the Canyon Country Campus the Health Center will be in the new Student Services Building.

Also, the National Suicide & Crisis Lifeline number is now 988. All students at COC are encouraged to enter that phone number in their cells. You can call it when you, or someone you know, is having thoughts of suicide or is in severe distress.

You can also now use the Crisis Text Line: Just text "Courage" to 741741. Someone will get back to you immediately. Its free, 24/7, and confidential.

Veterans Resource Center

The College of the Canyons Veterans Resource Center is a department within the Student Services Division at the college, created to help veterans and veteran dependents with applying to College of the Canyons, enrolling in classes, and requesting VA Education or Vocational Benefits. For more information please visit the Veterans Resource Center website, email veterans@canyons.edu or phone (661) 362-3469.

Library

The Library provides live online and in-person research help, access to a full range of e-resources and physical materials that support the curriculum, individual and group study areas, and much more!

Last updated: 08/11/2021 Sub#: 424