|
|
 |
| |
| AP
Calculus BC |
 |
|
Advanced placement course, year-long
BC Calculus covers three semesters of college level calculus
in two semesters. This course is intended for students
who have exceptionally good study habits. And, as with
most online courses, students need to be self motivated
and self disciplined so that they can work on their own.
Students who have taken AB Calculus should be prepared
to review concepts from AB which may be presented in a
slightly different manner.
Course Content:
Calculus is the mathematical subject which takes what has been
defined as "static" mathematics - which is all that
students learn in previous courses - to "dynamic" mathematics
which deals with motion and the results of this motion. AP
Calculus BC, concentrates on developing students' understanding
of calculus concepts and providing experiences in theory, fundamentals
and applications. This course emphasizes a multi-representational
approach to problem solving. Concepts will be explored graphically,
numerically, analytically and verbally.
AP Calculus BC covers all concepts in AP Calculus AB and develops
the important concepts from AP Calculus BC. The course focuses
on developing topics of differential and integral calculus,
and then uses these fundamentals to explore polynomial approximations
and series. Vectors, polar graphs and parametric equations
will be included, where appropriate, as concepts are developed.
TI-83 plus, TI-84, TI-89 or TI-Nspire calculators will be an
integral tool to develop, reinforce and extend each concept.
If students do not already own or want to purchase a calculator,
one will be loaned to you by your school or NCSSM. Calculators
will also be used to investigate topics and assist in interpreting
results.
Concepts will be taught in unifying themes such as derivatives,
limits, integrals and polynomial approximations. These themes
are developed through the functions and relations studied in
Precalculus.
Students who take this course should be prepared to take the
AP Calculus BC advanced placement exam in May.
For more information go to the College Board AP site: http://www.collegeboard.com/prod_downloads/ap/students/calculus/ap-cd-calc-0607.pdf
Course Syllabus and timeline:
- Review of pre calculus concepts (2 weeks)
- Introduction to the Derivative (5 weeks)
- Techniques of Differentiation (3 weeks)
- Applications of the Derivative (3 weeks)
- Introduction to Integration (2.5 weeks)
- Determining Integrals (3 weeks)
- Applications of Integration (3 weeks)
- Methods of integration (2.5 weeks)
- Sequences & Series (3.5 weeks)
- Vectors & Vector Valued Functions (1 week)
Prerequisites:
An "A" in Precalculus, good reading skills, desire to learn calculus at
a very rapid
pace
Assessments:
BC Calculus is a very fast paced, demanding course which requires
submission of work in a timely manner. Evaluation will be done
by submissions of online quizzes, special problems (POD's),
tests at the end of each unit, investigations and projects.
Communication:
So that an effective community environment can be developed,
students are expected to participate in discussion boards,
ask questions online and solve problems. Tutorials/ class discussions
will be held regularly. Private communication with the instructor
(e-mail or phone) is encouraged for personal matters.
|
 |
Course
Instructor - Ms. Anna DeConti
Ms. Anna DeConti is a graduate of Brown University with a concentration
in Chemistry and a minor in Mathematics. She has a master's
degree in teaching with a concentration Mathematics. As a math
teacher, she has taught every level of high school mathematics
(Algebra 1 - Differential Equations). She presented workshops
at numerous local, state and national conferences in both mathematics
and videoconferencing and developed and teaches the online
AP Calculus BC course for North Carolina Virtual Public School.
Other online course development includes Algebra 2 and Advanced
Functions and Modeling.
For the last six years, she has been a videoconference mathematics
instructor for NCSSM, teaching students in various school districts
in the State. Her areas of interest are: building programs
and instituting courses which help students be successful in
developing their understanding of mathematical concepts and
theories. Learning mathematics can be very challenging; therefore,
she believes that students should have as much support, through
visuals, animations and interaction with fellow students, as
possible.
|
|
|
