Questions/Answers

Votes:   (x:y:z  means "x, y, z students chose the first, second, third answer respectively")

1. I think that five minute long reviews at the beginning of lectures are helpful (yes, it wakes me up; sometimes it is helpful; no, it's waste of time)

25 : 4 : 1  

Hmmm... A wake up at 12:30pm?     

1a.  Each morning before the lecture I review the previous lecture.
(yes; sometimes; no)

5: 10 : 15    

I wonder why there is no correlation between answers to 1 and 1a?  

2. I think that "True or Not" questions are helpful.
(yes, I want more; keep it up; no, we do not need them)  

19: 11: 0    

OK, we will continue to have "True or Not" questions and sometimes we will have more of them. 

3. I like to vote.
(yes, it forces me to be more active; no, I hate it!)

26: 2        1-sometimes,  1-no answer  

Good! 

4. I like to try to do short problems on my own during lectures.
(yes, it is very helpful; somewhat helpful; no, it's waste of time)

16 : 13 : 0      1-no answer   

5. Lecture notes are helpful.
(definitely!; nice to have; we do not need them)

27 : 3 : 0    

6. I have already taken a course in Linear Algebra.
(yes;  yes, but forgot everything; no)

3 : 3 : 24

7. I have already taken a course in Differential Equations.
(yes;  yes, but forgot everything; no)

6 : 3 : 20       1-no answer

8. Totally I spend .... hours a week (besides attending Math 24 classes).
    In class I understand  ...% of the lecture.     
    I understand ... % of what is written in lecture notes.
    I understand ... % of what is written in the textbook.

Most of you spend at least 8 hours a week for Math 24 (besides attending the classes). Most of you understand at least 90% of lectures, 95% of what is written in lecture notes and 85% of what is written in the textbook.

It is interesting that some of you who understand lectures well say that it is difficult to understand what is written in the textbook, and at the same time some of you who understand the textbook well say that lectures are not that easy.  

9. Office hours are convenient  (yes; no). If  "no" please suggest the time.

9a. We should have more office hours.
(absolutely!; what we have is enough; no, we do not need OH at all)  

For most of you office hours are convenient and most of you say that we have enough of them. A few students suggested that we have an office hour on Thursday, an office hour after 4pm or an office hour before class.
 
For this week, Feb1 - Feb 7, my office hours will be:
Monday:  2-3pm and 4-5pm
Tuesday:  4-6pm 
Wednesday:   2-3pm
Friday: 2-3pm

10. I want to have more challenging homework problems.
(yes, bring it on!; not really; no way)

Most of us do not really like challenging homework problems. Some  commented that challenging problems are OK, but only as bonus problems.

11. I want us to use more x-hours so that we could cover starred sections
of the textbook, which are not usually covered in Math 24.
(yes, definitely; not really; no, this question should not be here at all)

"Not really"  was the most popular answer.

12. I find the level of the course to be fine.
(yes; no, it is too simple; no it is too difficult)

22 : 1: 1           

12a. I think lectures should be slower.
(yes, the slower the better; the pace is fine; no, we can do faster)

3: 21: 2    

13. I would like to give an advice to fellow students. I found that when I do homework (prepare for quiz) it is very helpful to ...

Your responses:

Work with others - easier to catch mistakes, figure out problems. 2 heads is better than 1. Start early. Sunday is good.
Take advantage of office hours.    
Read the lecture notes.
Look over the theorems since many (problems) are direct applications of the theorems.
Start early. Review notes.
Try and explain my thinking to someone else; then I find out if I really know if I have to clearly define something to myself.  
Memorize theorems.  
Start early.
Do problems at 2am.  
Do extra problems from the textbook.
Look over the lecture notes right beforehand.
Get started early.
Read associated sections in the book, do practice problems not assigned as homework, ask for help from other students/professor
Work with other people. Make a study sheet of all the theorems, definitions, propositions.
Have all notes and textbook in front of me.
I would've definitely liked more time on the quiz.
Occasionally HW problems are unreasonably time consuming.

14. I have a suggestion that may improve the course.

Your responses:

I wish we have a teaching assistant, because this class is really big
False.  
The course is great.
Make the classes smaller. It is hard to speak up/get personal attention in such a  large class. Set up a tutorial / study group 
Put list of definitions, propositions, theorems online.  (R.S.  The most helpful list is the one that you compose yourself , you remember that list better. To be serious, your suggestion sounds good. I will record the most important theorems and definitions here.).
Do less computation examples in class, do more proofs. 


15. I have a comment on lectures, homework, lecture notes, website, ...

Thank you very much for your comments!  

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Q. Can we use theorems from the textbook that are not covered in our lectures? 

A. No. I will assume that you know only what is given in our lectures.  For example, in your HW1 you are not allowed to refer to Theorem 1.1.

Q. I do not have the textbook yet, is it a problem?

A. I know that the textbook is not available at Wheelock Books at the moment. But they will try to get more copies of the book on Thursday or Friday. So it should not be a big problem. In any case until the issue is resolved I will avoid referring to the textbook. I will distribute lecture notes and post problems here.  

Q. What is the difference between a ``vector" and a ``unique vector"?

A. Unique means "only one".  For example uniqueness of 0 in the axiom A3 means that there is no other vector 0' in V such that A+0'=A for each A in V. In other words, if you find a vector 0' in V such that A+0'=A for each A in V, then 0'=0.