About the Course

Computing for Mathematics: Introduction to the course

This course will follow 3 mains texts:

1. A book covering the use of a programming language called Python: vknight.org/pfm/
2. A set of short tutorials showing how to use the mathematical typesetting language LaTeX: vknight.org/tex/
3. A document with guidelines for writing mathematics.

All course materials are available online at vknight.org/cfm/. You can also find all the source files that create that website at github.com/drvinceknight/cfm/.

Virtual board

I will use a virtual board throughout class:

• This will allow you to see the board more clearly on the class recordings.
• Private access will allow you to write on the board if you want to.

Technology in class

Please use whatever resources you need to be successful in this class. Let me know if I can help with anything.

Office hours

I will hold 2-3 hours a week for office hours during which you may come and get help. Specific hours will be determined collaboratively as a class.

Kindness

In this course every participant (including myself) will be having many interactions with other participants. Some potential examples of this:

• Peer to peer discussions during classes;
• Me explaining a given topic.

I expect every participant (including myself) to act with kindness during these interactions.

Some examples of how this applies to me:

• When a student is late or absent at a class I will assume they have good reasons. If this happens regularly
  1. I will first be concerned for their well-being.
  2. Ask how I can help them catch up.
• If a student asks for an explanation of a topic that has been covered multiples times I will assume that some set of circumstances has prevented them from seeing these explanations and:
  1. will explain the topic.
  2. also point them at the explanations in the course materials and/or class recordings. If this is a regular occurrence I might ask if there are any circumstances that I can help with.
• If I make a mistake in a class explanation and someone helpfully points it out. I will listen and thank them for pointing it out and either go over the mistake then and there or go over it again at a future meeting.

Assessment

There are two piece of assessment in this course:

• Individual coursework (50%)
• Group coursework (50%)

More information about assessment: here

Log of past relevant classes

02/16/24: Mid module feedback and documentation

On Friday we discussed documentation and your mid module feedback.

12/08/23: Summary of mock coursework session

In class today I demonstrated how to submit and went over the mock coursework.

12/04/23: Summary of release of individual coursework

In class yesterday we took a look at the individual coursework.

10/20/23: Review of Calculus

In class today we discussed mid module feedback and reviewed the concepts from the Calculus chapter.

10/02/23: Overview of the class 2023

Thanks all for your presence in class today.

01/30/23: Welcome to the Computing for Mathematics class 2023

This is a brief message before our first class.