Course Syllabus
AP Calculus BC (Sem 1)

Description

This course is the first semester of a two-semester sequence. The course is aligned to the Advanced Placement curriculum for Calculus BC and covers calculus principles such as derivatives, integrals, limits, approximation, and applications and modeling. AP Calculus BC covers the same topics as AP Calculus AB plus additional ones. Students will gain experience in the use of calculus methods and learn how calculus methods may be applied to practical applications. Course does not include the AP Exam; students can contact their school’s AP Coordinator or the College Board to sign up to take the Exam. In order to maintain the integrity of AP standards, all AP course midterm and final exams must be proctored. Prerequisites: Algebra II, Geometry, Trigonometry and Pre-Calculus

Course Objectives: Upon completion of this course, students will be able to...

• Express the meaning of the derivative in terms of a rate of change and local linear approximation
• Use derivatives to solve a variety or problems
• Explain the relationship between the derivative and the definite integral as expressed in both parts of the fundamental theorem of calculus

Course Outline:

Unit 1: Functions

Unit 2: Limits and Derivatives

Unit 3: Differentiation Rules

Unit 4: Applications of Derivatives

Unit 5: Integrals

Resources Included: Online lesson instruction and activities, opportunities to engage with a certified, online instructor and classmates, when appropriate, and online assessments to measure student performance of course objectives and readiness for subsequent academic pursuits.

Additional Costs: Stewart, James (2016). Single Variable Calculus: Early Transcendentals, 8th edition, Cengage Learning. ISBN: 9781305693203 (eBook) | 9781305270336 (Hardcover). Single Variable Calculus: Early Transcendentals (AP Version) by James Stewart | 8th Edition | Copyright 2016

Students require a graphing calculator (equivalent to a TI-83 or TI-84) that can perform trigonometry functions, such as SIN, COS, and TAN. Although free graphing calculators can be found online, students are encouraged to select a physical device from the approved AP Exam Calculator Policy that they plan to use during the AP Exam, as online calculators will not be permitted for use during AP Exam sessions.

Scoring System: Michigan Virtual does not assign letter grades, grant credit for courses, nor issue transcripts or diplomas. A final score reported as a percentage of total points earned will be sent to students upon completion of a course. Your school mentor is also able to access this score within the Student Learning Portal. Schools may use this score for conversion to their own letter grading system.

Time Commitment: Semester sessions are 18-weeks long: Students must be able to spend 1 or more hours per day in the course to be successful. Summer sessions are 10 weeks long: Students must be able to spend a minimum of 2 or more hours per day, or about 90 hours during the summer, for the student to be successful in any course. Trimester sessions are 12-weeks long: Students must be able to spend 1.5 or more hours per day in the course to be successful.

Technology Requirements: Students will require a computer device with headphones, a microphone, webcam, up-to-date Chrome Web Browser, and access to YouTube.

Ensure that your school or district network and device administrator whitelists online resources relevant to the course in which you are choosing to enroll. Ref., Michigan Virtual Course Whitelist

Please review the Michigan Virtual Technology Requirements.

Instructor Support System: For technical issues within your course, contact the Customer Care Center by email at CustomerCare@michiganvirtual.org or by phone at (888) 889-2840.

Instructor Contact Expectations: Students can use email or the private message system within the Student Learning Portal to access highly qualified teachers when they need instructor assistance. Students will also receive feedback on their work inside the learning management system. The Instructor Info area of their course may describe additional communication options.

Academic Support Available: In addition to access to a highly qualified, Michigan certified teacher, students have access to academic videos and outside resources verified by Michigan Virtual. For technical issues within the course, students can contact the Michigan Virtual Customer Care by email at customercare@michiganvirtual.org or by phone at (888) 889-2840.

Required Assessment: Online assessments consist of formative and summative assessments represented by computer-graded multiple choice, instructor-graded writing assignments including hands-on projects, model building and other forms of authentic assessments. Students are also required to schedule and conduct one or more discussion-based assessments facilitated by their instructor during a live call. Contact information and means of scheduling such calls will be provided in course communications following enrollment.

Technical Skills Needed: Basic technology skills necessary to locate and share information and files as well as interact with others in a Learning Management System (LMS), include the ability to:

• Download, edit, save, convert, and upload files
• Download and install software
• Use a messaging service similar to email
• Communicate with others in online discussion or message boards, following basic rules of netiquette
• Open attachments shared in messages
• Create, save, and submit files in commonly used word processing program formats and as a PDF
• Edit file share settings in cloud-based applications, such as Google Docs, Sheets, or Slides
• Save a file as a .pdf
• Copy and paste and format text using your mouse, keyboard, or an html editor’s toolbar menu
• Insert images or links into a file or html editor
• Search for information within a document using Ctrl+F or Command+F keyboard shortcuts
• Work in multiple browser windows and tabs simultaneously
• Activate a microphone or webcam on your device, and record and upload or link audio and/or video files
• Use presentation and graphics programs
• Follow an online pacing guide or calendar of due dates
• Use spell-check, citation editors, and tools commonly provided in word processing tool menus
• Create and maintain usernames and passwords

Additional Information: The official course descriptions for Advanced Placement courses and information about their exams are located on the College Board site at Course and Exam Descriptions.

Michigan Virtual prepares students in AP courses for the AP exam, but does not offer the exam test itself. It is the responsibility of the school or parent to register for a local administration of the AP exam.

There are required due dates in AP courses. The pacing of due dates in AP courses aligns to the completion of all lessons and required assignments and assessments prior to the national AP exam date related to this course title. The calendar of AP exam dates is published by the College Board (Exam Calendar).