2010 Distance Secondary School Programme
Much of this course revolves around NetTutor, a web-based programmed designed principally for communicating mathematics. It enables you to work directly with the tutor via a “whiteboard” in real time. NetTutor contains the specialised symbols that mathematics requires. These are easy to use and you will very quickly become adept at handling the technical aspects of NetTutor.
Computer Requirements
You (or your school) need access to an internet connection and a web browser such as Internet Explorer, Firefox or Safari. The NetTutor whiteboard is a Java applet and thus requires Java to be installed. Your web browser should also have Javascript enabled (usually enabled by default) and if you are using Internet Explorer, our NetTutor site should be added to your Trusted Sites. Having a low latency broadband internet connection would be an advantage.
What you will learn
This is a course about linear algebra and calculus. There is also a short section on probability and its applications to calculus.
Roughly speaking, linear algebra is about matrices and vectors. It deals mainly with the algebraic problems associated with solving systems of linear equations. However, linear algebra also has a geometric side to it, and you will use it to solve problems about lines and planes (or even hyperplanes), and to calculate areas and volumes.
In calculus you will learn more about derivatives, integrals, differential equations and infinite series. You will also see how these ideas can be applied to problems in biology, economics, physics and engineering. Finally, you will see how derivatives can be adapted to functions of several variables.
Course Details
This course runs for 32 weeks. Your first online tutorial will be in the week beginning Monday the 15th of February. Actual term times coincide with those of the schools, apart from the workshops. This means you will finish in early November enabling you to concentrate on your year 13 exams.
Workshops
The first workshop is held at the beginning of February, at (or close) to your school. In this, you'll meet the course co-ordinator and learn how to use NetTutor. There is another workshop in the school mid–year break on campus on Monday the 5th and Tuesday the 6th of July. This should coincide with the University's Information Days.
Structure
Topic notes are given out in modules. One module consists of about three weeks work and includes student exercises (with solutions). Assignments are also set to consolidate the notes, and to enable you to explore and develop certain topics in depth.
Most importantly, each week during the term you have an hour’s session (via NetTutor) with the course tutor. This gives you an opportunity to ask questions about the course work and sort out any problems you may be having.
Assessment
Assessment consists of four assignments, three tests and a final examination. The first test is held five weeks into the first term. You need to be scoring at least 60% in this test to be confident of coping with the demands of this course.
Texts for Recommended Reading
These texts (any edition) will do for background reading. They are used in our other 100-level courses, but there are similar texts available.
- Anton, “Calculus”, Wiley
- Anton, “Elementary Linear Algebra”, Wiley
For further information contact the course coordinator/lecturer
Liz Ackerley
University of Canterbury
Department of Mathematics and Statistics
Private Bag 4800
Christchurch
Telephone: (03) 364 2690
Fax: (03) 364 2587
Email: l.ackerley@math.canterbury.ac.nz