Math 2090 Course Outline

Yes. This class is designed to provide an inclusive space for all students, including those who have previously been made to feel like they don't belong in a math class. I expect everyone to treat their classmates with dignity and respect. I expect interactions during group work and in-class presentations to be mutually supportive, and never judgemental. In short, be kind.

Short answer: yes. I recognize that not all students have access to the same technology. If your home internet is unreliable, attending Zoom sessions could be a challenge. If you can't attend synchronous sessions, I will arrange alternatives for graded work done asynchronously. I will also try to connect you with other students in the same situation, so that you still have a group you can work with.

I'll do my best to be accommodating of any illness that interrupts your studies. There is no need to provide details of the illness. If you miss a week or more of work, please get in touch to make a plan for catching up. One of the biggest challenges in math is that once you fall behind, it's difficult to catch up on your own.

In short, that any work you represent as your own, is your own. Much of your work can be done in groups, but not all of it. Using online tools like GeoGebra and Desmos is great, and something you might want to use in your own classroom some day.

Use of these tools is acceptable, but take care that you are not overly reliant on them. What is not acceptable is having someone else do your work for you. This includes tutors, classmates, friends, family members, and online “homework help” sites. If someone else is doing your work for you, whether or not you're paying them, you are committing an academic offence.

Penalties for academic dishonesty are outlined in the Academic Calendar¹. Depending on the severity of the offence, penalties for a first offence can range from a grade of zero on an assessment, to an F in the courses. Academic offences are also reported to the Dean of Arts & Sciences. They keep a record of each offence, and students with multiple offences can be subject to supplementary discipline.

I will try to make alternate arrangements for any in class assessments you're unable to do in person. Just make sure you contact me ASAP to sort things out.

No. This wastes health care resources and your time. (That was my answer before the pandemic, and it's doubly so now.) Just email me to say you were sick. However, if you miss more than one test due to illness, we'll need to meet to discuss how to adjust your grade.

First, make sure that you have registered with the University's Accommodated Learning Centre². No need to let me know: they notify me of every student with accommodations.

Some accommodations will look a bit different this year, but exam accommodations such as extra time are still possible.

If there are any adjustments I can make to facilitate your learning, please do not hesitate to get in touch with me. All students deserve an equal opportunity to learn. Note that the HTML textbook is designed with accessibility in mind, and should work with screen readers. However, I regret that we have not had the time (or paid help) necessary to add elements such as alt-text descriptions for images. It's on the to-do list, but that list is long, and growing.

Send me an email. Extensions are usually granted as long as they're granted ahead of time. Online homework extensions need to be in place before solutions become available. Book an appointment with me as soon as you feel like you're falling behind and I'll do my best to get you up to speed.