Summer Term 2, June 29 - August 5, 2020 Monday - Wednesday - Friday, 5 p.m. - 7:05 p.m.
Professor
Hubert Bray
[email protected]
189
Physics Building
(919)757-8428 (mobile)
Office
Hours: after class, and upon request
TA: Sam Lester, [email protected]
Welcome to the class! We're going to have a lot of fun together. Unlike
most math classes, these classes are discussion based. Furthermore, the
topics we cover will have a lot to do with the questions you ask in
class, so bring your favorite questions!
Before many of the classes, I'm going to ask you to watch videos, as
you can see below. Listen and learn with these videos as well as you
can. Don't worry if you don't understand everything - that is not
expected the first time. Just do your best and come to class with your
questions!
However, make sure you do watch the videos. The daily quizzes are OPEN
NOTES and will be easy for those who watched the videos, rewarding
those who understood the simplest ideas. We'll pursue the deeper ideas
in class. The whole point is to get the discussion going with the
videos, so that we can cover some cool topics in class. Enjoy!
You will write 4 papers in the class, each 5-10 pages, on a topic of
your choice relating to the class, broadly interpretted. You will also
present each topic to the class with a PowerPoint style presentation
that lasts no more than 5 minutes.
We'll discuss your topic ideas in class, so come to class
with some ideas. Rough drafts of your papers are due to the TA of the
class (Sam Lester, a former
student of this class) 2 days before the due date so that he can give
you feedback. You will also meet with students in groups the day before
your presentations to practice your presentations with each other. This
is all to set you up for success on your presentation day when both
your paper and your presentation are due by midnight to both [email protected] and [email protected].