MTH 225 Startup Assignment

--- tags: mth225, startup --- # MTH 225 Startup Assignment :::warning **All parts to be completed by 11:59pm EDT on Tuesday, September 7** ::: ## Instructions This assignment is designed to get you up and running on the basic setup of MTH 225 and to provide me with information that will help me help you learn. Each part is in a separate section, below. This assignment doesn't have a grade attached, but each part has criteria for successful completion. **Please complete all parts successfully no later than 11:59pm Eastern on Tuesday, September 7.** While there's no grade, there are rewards and penalties: - If you complete all parts successfully before the deadline, you will **earn a token** that you can spend in any way outlined in the syllabus. - If you *do not* complete all parts successfully before the deadline, you will be given an additional day to finish up, and then you will **lose one token for every day after September 8 that the assignment is incomplete** until your token count is zero. You *do not* need to do the parts below in order. Just complete them all successfully by the deadline. :::info If you have questions or encounter difficulties with any part of this assignment, follow the usual procedures for asking questions: - If it's a question that **can be asked in public that others might benefit from**, then **post it on Campuswire** as a "Question". - If it's private, then email me or [DM me on Campuswire](https://intercom.help/campuswireHQ/en/articles/2692050-how-to-use-direct-messages). ::: ## Part 1: Syllabus/Calendar quiz On Blackboard in the *START HERE* area, there is a **Course Overview** video and a link to a **Syllabus/Calendar Quiz** that is housed on Blackboard. After reading through the syllabus and watching the video, click on the link for the Syllabus/Calendar Quiz to take the quiz. This quiz consists of 20 multiple-choice questions about the syllabus and calendar. :::info **To successfully complete this part:** Earn a score of at least **18 out of 20** on the Syllabus/Calendar Quiz. You can retake the quiz as often as needed, and you can use the calendar and syllabus (and any other resource you want) as you take it. ::: ## Part 2: Campuswire setup Click here to access Campuswire, our course discussion board. You should have received by email a link to join the class. If you didn't, go to https://campuswire.com/p/GB1A69E25 and use the code 4362 to join. Once you have joined, click on "Class Feed" and look for the post titled "Welcome!". The link to that thread is https://campuswire.com/c/GB1A69E25/feed/1 Open this, and **leave a reply** that gives the following information: 1. Your **name and section number of MTH 225**, and any **information about what to call you** (e.g. pronouns, pronunciation of your name, etc.) you want to share. 2. One thing you did this summer that you really **enjoyed**. 3. One thing about the course that you're **curious, nervous, or excited** about. The easy way to do this is just type out your responses, but you can also create a video and put that in your reply if you wish. I've left my own reply to show you what it should look like. You can also reply to other people, and add questions, memes, etc. if you feel like it. :::info **To successfully complete this part:** Submit your reply to the "Welcome!" post with all the above info on it. ::: ## Part 3: Practice with scanning and uploading PDFs Your work on Weekly Challenges will involve uploading PDFs of your work to Blackboard for grading. Many students choose to hand-write their work on paper, then scan it to PDF, and upload it. This is simple but not effortless, and I've prepared a short tutorial on how to do this: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1P6ShKUzlmMEMLxJc-EpxyRT2HELK-0KriZqDdWqstdk/edit I want all student to practice this workflow before Weekly Challenges begin. Here are the instructions: 1. On paper or a whiteboard, write or draw something. If you need inspiration, use the quadratic formula to solve $3x^2 + 4x + 1 = 0$. Or hand-copy the Declaration of Independence, or something. The content doesn't matter; just write it out in an analog medium, just like you might hand-write your Weekly Challenges. 2. Using a scanning app on your phone and the instructions in the tutorial linked above, scan your work to a legible, black-and-white PDF. **Do not just take a photo with your camera.** The reasons for that are explained in the tutorial. 3. Save the PDF. Then go to Blackboard to the *START HERE* area and locate the Assignment titled "PDF upload practice". Click the link and follow the instructions from the tutorial to submit your PDF. :::info **To successfully complete this part:** Submit the black-and-white PDF in the designated place on Blackboard. Once it's submitted, there will be a Blackboard gradebook item for it. I will put either a "0" or a "1" in that item; "1" indicates that everything was done successfully, and "0" means there was an issue --- check the submission for feedback and information. **Again: The file format must be PDF. Graphics files in JPG or PNG format will not be accepted.** ::: ## Part 4: Drop-in hours survey [Click this link](https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd4G3qXgYTxFD7RYhX7_vHsEwvGNfJxE0PHYK-ECqisa2P7bA/viewform) for a survey that will be used to determine drop-in office hours for the semester. :::info **To successfully complete this part:** Submit your responses to the survey. You will receive an email receipt at the address you're asked to provide; hang on to it in case there are any unforeseen issues. :::