University of Tennessee - Knoxville

MATH 113: Mathematical Reasoning

COVID-19 Syllabus Addendum

effective during the period of online

instruction due to COVID-19

How will class sessions be different from normal?

Students and instructors will not physically be in the same room. They will be in the same “zoom room” though. Students will simply follow a url to get to class. The instructor will send students the url and post the url on Canvas.

If possible, students should use a computer with a webcam. Participants will be able to see each other like this:

Phones and tablets also work great with Zoom too. There is a Zoom app.

There is a green-screen option that provides virtual background images in case students do not want their background to be visible.

Students will “unmute” their microphones whenever they are posing a question. Otherwise, they use “mute” to prevent audio feedback.

During class, when students work in groups, students may be in groups with different people from usual. Each group will then have their own breakout room to discuss the in-class questions. Each student in a group will be able to see and hear each other and share their screens with each other as needed. These rooms also come equipped with whiteboards students can write on together. It looks like this:

While students are working in groups, the instructor will enter and exit the groups’ rooms, answering questions.

How will class sessions be the same as normal?

The instructor will still deliver a short “lecture” using the slideshows, apps, and videos they would usually use. All these materials are on Canvas as usual.

If students have questions during lecture, they can still ask questions. The instructor will give students guidance about whether they should

(a) just unmute themselves and speak up,

(b) click the “raise hand” option, and/or

(c) type their questions in the Zoom chat box.

Instructors are human and only have one set of eyes, so students should have patience and help instructors meet students’ needs in an organized way.

If the instructor wants to write out solutions or show something by drawing it, they still can.

Class will still start and end at the same time (Eastern time zone).

As usual, exemptions are not granted for absences unless the number of excused absences (due to verifiable and unavoidable circumstances) exceed the number of lowest grades that are dropped. Just like before, no extensions for homeworks or in-class questions will be granted. As usual, students can access the practice version of the in-class questions after class time has concluded. All students should take advantage of that, but especially those who are prevented from attending in real time for some reason.

What could go wrong? Then what?

The likelihood of technical difficulties is higher in online learning formats. For example, an internet outage can happen for a student or for an instructor. However, no problem is irreparable. Students and instructors should be resilient with anticipated technological frustrations and stay focused on the student learning goals at hand. Optimistically, even on days when it seems like the technology is rebelling, remember that the technology is enabling access to safe and healthy education during a pandemic, which is pretty amazing.

In order to accommodate for likely technical difficulties, we will modify the original syllabus to include one additional dropped grade for in-class questions. This is fair and even-handed for students who may have to navigate internet access issues, and this provides an opportunity for students to take reparative measures. For example, if a student discovers that their home wifi is not very strong and the audio sounds choppy as a result, then that student should investigate whether improvements are attainable, such as using an ethernet cable or using a different location (but a location that is safe according to health advisories).

Because some students do not have laptops or access to high-speed internet, the university has purchased additional laptops to help accommodate students. Those students can request technology from OIT at forms.utk.edu/tech-request. Also, students who live on campus can request an exemption through University Housing to remain in residence halls if they do not have internet access at home. Comcast, and other companies, are offering free and reduced internet packages, such as https://www.internetessentials.com/, due to the pandemic. 

If a student has technical difficulties during a class session and is disconnected from the Zoom room, the student should first try to return to the Zoom room. If unsuccessful, the student should email their instructor as soon as possible for information about what might have been missed.

If students have cell phones, they should attempt to download apps for Zoom, Canvas, and email, in case they are needed. This could help in the event of technical difficulties with one of the platforms.

If an instructor has technical difficulties and is interrupted during class, students should check their email for instructions from the instructor. For example, the instructor might email the password for the in-class questions, so that students can work on those in groups during class until the instructor can re-enter the Zoom room.

Students who need disability-related accommodations should contact Student Disability Services at their earliest convenience. SDS will work with faculty and campus partners, including OIT, to address students’ needs.

How will we take Exam 3 online?

Exam 3 will be administered during the regular class meeting time (Eastern time zone). Exam 3 will be administered on the same date as originally planned. That date can be found on the course calendar, which is linked on Canvas and on the Course Syllabus.

If SDS (Student Disability Services) accommodations allow for extra time, then a student may make arrangements with their instructor about alternative testing times, if needed.

If a student misses an exam for any reason, the student should contact their instructor immediately. Given COVID-19 circumstances, all petitions for make-up exams are subject to the discretion of the instructor and course coordinator. To maintain fairness, make-up exams need to be made up within a reasonable timeframe. Students and instructors should strive to establish agreed-upon deadlines for make-ups.

Exam questions will be delivered to students through a “Canvas quiz.” This is the same format used for In-Class Questions each class period, so the format should be familiar to students.

Before the exam starts, students will enable their webcam and arrange well-lit surroundings. Then students will show the instructor that their cell phone is silenced and is laid down significantly far from the student’s reach.

To begin, the instructor will give students an access code.

The exam will have a timer that begins when the student begins. For any exams that have not yet been submitted, the student’s work will be automatically submitted when the timer ends.

The simple interest and the compound interest formulas will be provided at the top of the electronic exam. However, students will also be allowed to use notes on this exam.

In addition to using a handheld calculator, students will be able to find and use an online calculator in a web browser, on a computer, while completing the exam. Students should find an online calculator that they are comfortable using and practice using it before the exam. However, students should not use cell phone calculators.

Although students will be allowed to consult written resources, students are not allowed to communicate with other people (parents, peers, friends, etc.) during the exam.

The Zoom session for Exam 3 will be audio and video recorded, and such recordings will be used as evidence for any academic dishonesty allegations.

The exam items should only be discussed with the instructor. During the exam, if a student has a question, the student should type a message in the chat box and send it privately to the instructor.