Math 4 - Matlab Programming

Syllabus

Instructor: David Arnold

Prerequisite Classes

Students entering the Matlab Programming are required to show proof of a C or better in an College Algebra and Trigonometry. Math 50A, or concurrent enrollment in Math 50A, is strongly recommended.

Office Hours

You can find a copy of my schedule, including office hours, here. Note: These are "official" office hours. However, I will make myself available whenever I can. Please do not be afraid to ask for help at any time as I am always eager to help.

Office Location and Phone

Physical Science building PS114A
Office phone: (707) 476-4222

Cancelled Classes

Those driving long distances to attend classes are advised to call 476-4210 before driving to the CR campus. Choose #5 from a menu of choices. You will then be advised of any cancelled classes for the day in the Physical Sciences complex (math/science). Thus, you can avoid the frustration of driving to campus, only to find that your class has been cancelled.

Email

My email address is: David-Arnold@redwoods.edu

Blackboard

Click the Blackboard icon that follows. This will initiate contact with BlackbBoard. Read the Student Introduction, User Name and Password, and Getting Help sections. Be sure to write down your login name and password for future reference. Once you login to Blackboard, locate your math class and take some time to find out what is provided. In particular, you'll want to update your personal information, especially your email address. Then read the "welcome message" in the Discussion Board and reply to this thread. In the future, use the Discussion Board to discuss issues and problems you are having with your class.

Getting Help

Help is available in many forms.

On the Eureka campus, help is available.
1. Your instructor is always available for help in PS114A (Room PS114A in the Physical Science Building) when he isn't teaching class or attending a meeting. Take advantage.
2. There are two great study rooms in the Physical Sciences building where students majoring in mathematics, science, and engineering hang out, PS119 and PS116. If you study in these rooms during your break, it is highly likely that there will be people in there who might kindly answer a question or two. Just remember that they have their own studies as well and don't overly monopolize their time.
If you are off campus, help is still available, both during class and outside of class time.
- During class time you can ask questions from remote locations.
  1. If you are seated at one of the branch campus distance education rooms, there is a microphone available for the purpose of asking questions during class time.
  2. If you are at home during class time, you may phone me during class at 476-4379 and ask your question over the phone.
- Outside of class time, help is also available.
  1. I view the discussion board for Matlab Programming on the Blackboard several times per day. I respond to questions posed on the discussion board, sometimes with hints, sometimes with partial solutions, and then there are even times that I post full solutions. You are definitely encouraged to use the discussion board of Blackboard as often as you deem necessary.
  2. I will also respond to questions via email. However, I will first ask if I can post the email discussion on the Blackboard discussion area so that everyone in the class might benefit from the exchange. On the other hand, I am aware that sometimes questions are posed from users who don't want the question to be part of the general discussion. I will honor any such email requests.

Recommended Texts and Support Materials

We will not use an official text for this course. All material will be made available in the form of lecture notes and/or activity packets. These lecture notes are posted on the Math 4 Textbook Site.
However, as supplementary texts, I make the following (not required) recommendations:
1. Numerical Computing with Matlab, Cleve Moler, Chief Scientist, Mathworks.
2. Introduction to Matlab 7 for Engineers, William J. Palm III, McGraw Hill Publishers

Computing Resources

The Eureka campus houses computing facilities for its mathematics, science, and engineering students. They are located in the physical sciences building, rooms PS116 and PS118. See your instructor for login name and password.

If you use the facilities on the Eureka campus, please see labconduct.html for a set of rules and guidelines for computer use and maintaining decorum in the study rooms available in the physical sciences building.

If you wish to work on your programs at home, then you will need to purchase a copy of the Student Edition of Matlab. There are links on this page that direct you to pricing and ordering information.

Transferring Files to and from the Department Server

Along with your username and password, which allow you to log on to computers in the Math/Science/Engineering computer labs and print your class assignments, you are granted some file storage space on the Math department's file server, MSEMac, which allows you to save files files and access them at school as well as at home. Using the server to store and back up your class files will help ensure that you are always up-to-date on your assignments, will let you work on projects in multiple places, can guard against computer failure, and lets you transfer files from campus and back without needing a memory stick.

The process for connecting to MSEMac is different for Macs and PCs (the former is somewhat simpler). If you have a Mac, please read our guide to connecting to MSEMac for Macs, and if you have a PC, please read our guide to connecting to MSEMac for PCs.

Classroom Environment

It is expected that everyone involved in this class, teacher and students alike, will act in a manner conducive to providing a comfortable environment for learning, a classroom where students feel free to ask and answer questions without fear of embarrassment or ridicule.

Because this class is offered via distance education, students need to be especially patient and respectful while requests are coming in remotely via telephone or microphone/speaker.

It is important to stay on task when class is in session. Hence, conversation not pertaining to the subject at hand should be taken outside the classroom.

I understand that students will have to get up and leave the room for various reasons and I also understand that students will arrive late from time to time. However, courtesy requires that you enter and leave as quietly as possible, without disturbing discussion or lecture.

It is essential for student success to maintain a good environment in the classroom. If you have any personal difficulties with the learning environment in the classroom, please visit me in my office to discuss them (or send me an email with any suggestions or difficulties).

Assessment

I will use two factors to determine your grade.

We will have weekly programming assignments that I will collect and grade. This class is about programming, so the programs that you write will determine a large percentage of your eventual grade in the class.
We will also have a term project. Students will be required to pick an application in their field of study (mathematics, engineering, science, economics, etc.) and write a significant program to implement the application in Matlab. Students (including distance students) will be required to present their work on the prescribed meeting for the final examination.

FAXING Homework

If you are a distance student, you will need to FAX some homework to the instructor. Please follow these guidelines when FAXING homework.

FAX Number: 476-4424
Do your homework in the darkest pen or pencil you can find.
Please include a cover page. On the cover page, please include the following items.
- Instructor name.
- Your name.
- Number of Pages (please count the cover page as well).
- Your phone number.
- Assignment number (which should match the assignment number on the Homework Web Page.

The Syllabus is Subject to Change

As instructor, I reserve the right to make adjustments to the syllabus should things not proceed as smoothly as expected. However, in general, I do not anticipate making changes.