Official Notices

This is a different math class compared to math classes you have taken in the past. You will use different tools. You will experience a different relationship with the instructor. The goals are different.

You are considered an equal partner with the instructor. This means you have a lot more learning responsibility than you are used to.

The goal is to learn math. This means you will need to find new ways to evaluate yourself besides collecting and counting points. This is a tough one for high school students.

To help you make the transition into this class and help you stay on pace, some ground rules have been set in place. By the way, you have agreed to all of these.

These ground rules have been named the Official Notices...simply because that phrase sounds important.

  1. Official Notices #1

    Handing in Homework doesn't count for anything. A mentor must examine the homework, supply feedback, and give some assessment.

    Version 2: If a student waits until the last minute to hand in a lot of assignments, the mentor will not have time to supply feedback. Such a submitted homework will count as if the homework had never been handed in. Note: If you find yourself in this situation at the end of the year then something has gone terribly wrong through the uear.

  2. Official Notices #2

    Homework is to be written in your own words. The idea is to communicate your ideas and thoughts to us so that we can help you understand the math.

    You are supposed to collaborate with as many people as you can. Don't isolate your attention on your mentor. Talk to everyone.

    Quizzes are not a collaborative effort. They are individual. Lee wants to know what you know.

  3. Official Notices #3

    Don't wait for feedback....get on with something else.

    There is no idle time in this class. While you are waiting for feedback on one thing, you should work on something else.

    Version 2: "The Hotline hasn't returned this" is not an excuse for waiting. It is a reason for Lee to speak to the mentor.

  4. Official Notices #4

    Don't wait until you are "done" to hand something in. They are called "mentors" not "graders". They are here to help you get through the material. They are here to help you understand the math. They are not here to grade your work.

  5. Official Notices #5

    The mentor's job is to get the student back on track and then LEAVE! Otherwise, they just get in the way of your thinking.

  6. Official Notices #6

    If you don't tell Lee, then you accept the consequences.

    Version 2: There is no retro-crying.

  7. Official Notices #7

    Access to remote classroom is the high school's responsibility. It can't be used as an excuse. Think of it this way: If the high school doesn't have your computer working then you are losing points.

  8. Official Notices #8

    Socratic Dialog is more frustrating than you can imagine when conducted in isolation. Communication is the only solution.

    Send questions or comments to website@socrates.math.ohio-state.edu Copyright © 1998-2009, Calculus&Mathematica