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...

• Determine key features (limits, continuity, asymptotic behavior, and differentiability) of functions represented graphically, numerically, analytically, and verbally
• Apply the definition of the derivative and derivative rules to compute rates of change and solve real-world problems
• Interpret derivatives in context and justify conclusions about increasing/decreasing behavior, concavity, and inflection points
• Construct and solve models involving related rates and optimization, communicating reasoning with appropriate notation
• Evaluate definite integrals using Riemann sums and the Fundamental Theorem of Calculus, and interpret accumulation in context
• Apply integration techniques to determine antiderivatives and compute area/accumulation
• Communicate mathematical reasoning clearly using correct notation, definitions, and theorems to justify conclusions

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). Calculus: Early Transcendentals, 8th edition, Cengage Learning. ISBN: 9780357539095 (eBook) | 9781285741550 (Hardcover). Calculus: Early Transcendentals by James Stewart | 8th Edition | Copyright 2016 | Cengage
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. The online AP Exam now has a Desmos widget embedded in the calculator-allowed problems. Therefore, students may use the free online calculator at Desmos.com or select a physical device from the approved AP Exam Calculator Policy.

Scoring System: Michigan Virtual does not assign letter grades, grant credit for courses, nor issue diplomas. A final score out of total points earned will be submitted to your school mentor 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.

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 establishes network access permissions or exceptions for online resources relevant to the course in which you are choosing to enroll. Ref., Michigan Virtual Course Allow List

Please review the Michigan Virtual Technology Requirements.

Instructor Support System: For technical issues within your course, contact the Customer Care Center by email at [email protected] 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 [email protected] 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, discussion-based assessments (one-on-one conversations with your teacher), and other forms of authentic assessments.

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 AP Central website.

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.

Students will enroll in their Michigan Virtual instructor’s AP Classroom. If students intend to take the AP Exam, then they should be enrolled in an Exam Only section of AP Classroom created by their local school personnel. Students will then be enrolled in BOTH the Exam Only AP Classroom associated with their local school AND the online instructor’s AP Classroom associated with Michigan Virtual.

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).