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COURSE OUTLINE

Course Title: Calculus and Vectors
Course Code: MCV4U
Grade: 12
Course Type: University Preparation
Credit Value: 1
Prerequisite: Advanced Functions, MHF4U (Note: MHF4U may be take concurrently)
Curriculum Policy Document: Mathematics, The Ontario Curriculum, Grades 11 and 12, 2007 (Revised)
Department: Mathematics
Course Developer: Ken Stewart
Development Date: Winter 2008
Course Revised by: -
Revision Date: -

Course Description:

This course builds on students’ previous experience with functions and their developing understanding of rates of change. Students will solve problems involving geometric and algebraic representations of vectors and representations of lines and planes in threedimensional space; broaden their understanding of rates of change to include the derivatives of polynomial, sinusoidal, exponential, rational, and radical functions; and apply these concepts and skills to the modelling of real-world relationships. Students will also refine their use of the mathematical processes necessary for success in senior mathematics. This course is intended for students who choose to pursue careers in fields such as science, engineering, economics, and some areas of business, including those students who will be required to take a university-level calculus, linear algebra, or physics course.

Unit	Titles and Descriptions	Time and Sequence
Part One	The Geometry and Algebra of Vectors
Unit 1	Representing Vectors Geometrically and Algebraically	13 hours
Unit 2	Operations with Vectors	13 hours
Unit 3	Lines and Planes	13 hours
Part Two	Calculus and Rates of Change
Unit 4	Investigating Instantaneous Rate of Change at a Point	13 hours
Unit 5	The Derivative Concept	13 hours
Unit 6	The Properties of Derivatives	13 hours
Unit 7	Curve Sketching	13 hours
Unit 8	Problem Solving with Derivatives	13 hours
	Final Evaluation	6 hours
	Total	110 hours

Teaching / Learning Strategies:

Throughout this course students will:

• Problem solve: by developing, selecting, applying, and adapting a variety of problem-solving strategies;
• Reason and prove: by developing and applying reasoning skills to make mathematical conjectures, assess conjectures, and justify conclusions, plan and construct mathematical arguments;
• Reflect: by monitoring their thinking to help clarify understanding as they complete an investigation or problem;
• Select tools and computational strategies: by selecting and using a variety of concrete, visual, and electronic learning tools and computational strategies;
• Connect: by relating mathematical ideas to situations or phenomena drawn from other contexts;
• Represent: by making representations (eg. Numeric, geometric, algebraic, graphical, pictorial and onscreen);
• Communicate: by thinking orally, visually and in writing using precise mathematical vocabulary and conventions.

Teachers will employ guided exploration, visuals, model analysis, direct instruction, problem posing and self-assessment to enable these student strategies.

Assessment and Evaluation Strategies of Student Performance:

Assessment is a systematic process of collecting information or evidence about a student’s progress towards meeting the learning expectations. Assessment is embedded in the instructional activities throughout a unit. The expectations for the assessment tasks are clearly articulated and the learning activity is planned to make that demonstration possible. This process of beginning with the end in mind helps to keep focus on the expectations of the course. The purpose of assessment is to gather the data or evidence and to provide meaningful feedback to the student about how to improve or sustain the performance in the course. Scaled criteria designed as rubrics are often used to help the student to recognize their level of achievement and to provide guidance on how to achieve the next level. Although assessment information can be gathered from a number of sources (the student himself, the student’s course mates, the teacher), evaluation is the responsibility of only the teacher. For evaluation is the process of making a judgment about the assessment information and determining the percentage grade or level.

The Final Grade:

The evaluation for this course is based on the student's achievement of curriculum expectations and the demonstrated skills required for effective learning.

The percentage grade represents the quality of the student's overall achievement of the expectations for the course and reflects the corresponding level of achievement as described in the achievement chart for the discipline.

A credit is granted and recorded for this course if the student's grade is 50% or higher. The final grade for this course will be determined as follows:

• 70% of the grade will be based upon evaluations conducted throughout the course. This portion of the grade will reflect the student's most consistent level of achievement throughout the course, although special consideration will be given to more recent evidence of achievement.



• 30% of the grade will be based on a final exam administered at the end of the course. The exam will contain a summary of information from the course and the student's reports and will consist of well-formulated multiple choice questions. These will be evaluated using a checklist.

The report card will focus on two distinct but related aspects of student achievement; the achievement of curriculum expectations and the development of learning skills. The report card will contain separate sections for the reporting of these two aspects.

A Summary Description of Achievement in Each Percentage Grade Range and Corresponding Level of Achievement
Percentage Grade Range	Achievement Level	Summary Description
80-100%	Level 4	A very high to outstanding level of achievement. Achievement is above the provincial standard.
70-79%	Level 3	A high level of achievement. Achievement is at the provincial standard.
60-69%	Level 2	A moderate level of achievement. Achievement is below, but approaching, the provincial standard.
50-59%	Level 1	A passable level of achievement. Achievement is below the provincial standard.
below 50%	Level R	Insufficient achievement of curriculum expectations. A credit will not be granted.

Achievement Chart: Mathematics, Grades 9-12

Categories	50-59% (Level 1)	60-69% (Level 2)	70-79% (Level 3)	80-100% (Level 4)
Knowledge and Understanding - Subject-specific content acquired in each course (knowledge), and the comprehension of its meaning and significance (understanding)
	The student:
Knowledge of content (e.g., facts, terms, procedural skills, use of tools)	demonstrates limited knowledge of content	demonstrates some knowledge of content	demonstrates considerable knowledge of content	demonstrates thorough knowledge of content
Understanding of matematical concepts	demonstrates limited understanding of content	demonstrates some understanding of content	demonstrates considerable understanding of content	demonstrates thorough and insightful understanding of content
Thinking - The use of critical and creative thinking skills and/or processes
	The student:
Use of planning skills -understanding the problem (e.g., formulating and interpreting the problem, making conjectures) -making a plan for problem solving	uses planning skills with limited effectiveness	uses planning skills with moderate effectiveness	uses planning skills with considerable effectiveness	uses planning skills with a high degree of effectiveness
Use of processing skills -carrying out a plan (e.g., collecting data, questioning, testing, revising, modelling, solving, inferring, forming conclusions) -looking back at the solution (e.g., evaluating reasonableness, making convincing arguments, reasoning, justifying, proving, reflecting)	uses processing skills with limited effectiveness	uses processing skills with some effectiveness	uses processing skills with considerable effectiveness	uses processing skills with a high degree of effectiveness
Use of critical/creative thinking processess (e.g., problem solving, inquiry)	uses critical / creative thinking processes with limited effectiveness	uses critical / creative thinking processes with some effectiveness	uses critical / creative thinking processes with considerable effectiveness	uses critical / creative thinking processes with a high degree of effectiveness
Communication - The conveying of meaning through various forms
	The student:
Expression and organization of ideas and mathematical thinking (e.g., clarity of expression, logical organization), using oral, visual, and written forms (e.g., pictorial, graphic, dynamic, numeric, algebraic forms; concrete materials)	expresses and organizes mathematical thinking with limited effectiveness	expresses and organizes mathematical thinking with some effectiveness	expresses and organizes mathematical thinking with considerable effectiveness	expresses and organizes mathematical thinking with a high degree of effectiveness
Communication for different audiences (e.g., peers and teachers) and purposes (e.g., to present data, justify a solution, express a mathematical argument) in oral, visual, and written forms	communicates for different audiences and purposes with limited effectiveness	communicates for different audiences and purposes with some effectiveness	communicates for different audiences and purposes with considerable effectiveness	communicates for different audiences and purposes with a high degree of effectiveness
Use of conventions, vocabulary, and terminology of the discipline (e.g., terms, symbols) in oral, visual, and written forms	uses conventions, vocabulary, and terminology of the discipline with limited effectiveness	uses conventions, vocabulary, and terminology of the discipline with some effectiveness	uses conventions, vocabulary, and terminology of the discipline with considerable effectiveness	uses conventions, vocabulary, and terminology of the discipline with a high degree of effectiveness
Application - The use of knowledge and skills to make connections within and between various contexts
	The student:
Application of knowledge and skills in familiar contexts	applies knowledge and skills in familiar contexts with limited effectiveness	applies knowledge and skills in familiar contexts with some effectiveness	applies knowledge and skills in familiar contexts with considerable effectiveness	applies knowledge and skills in familiar contexts with a high degree of effectiveness
Transfer of knowledge and skills to new contexts	transfers knowledge and skills to new contexts with limited effectiveness	transfers knowledge and skills to new contexts with some effectiveness	transfers knowledge and skills to new contexts with considerable effectiveness	transfers knowledge and skills to new contexts with a high degree of effectiveness
Making connections within and between various contexts (e.g., connections between concepts, representations, and forms within mathematics; connections involving use of prior knowledge and experience; connections between mathematics, other disciplines, and the real world))	makes connections within and between various contexts with limited effectiveness	makes connections within and between various contexts with some effectiveness	makes connections within and between various contexts with considerable effectiveness	makes connections within and between various contexts with a high degree of effectiveness

Potential Resources:

• MCV4U online course of study
• scanner
• graphing calculator

Program Planning Considerations for Mathematics:

Teachers who are planning a program in Mathematics must take into account considerations in a number of important areas. Essential information that pertains to all disciplines is provided in the companion piece to this document, The Ontario Curriculum, Grades 9 to 12: Program Planning and Assessment, 2000. The areas of concern to all teachers that are outlined there include the following:

• types of secondary school courses
• education for exceptional students
• the role of technology in the curriculum
• English as a second language (ESL) and English literacy development (ELD)
• career education
• cooperative education and other workplace experiences
• health and safety

Considerations relating to the areas listed above that have particular relevance for program planning in Mathematics are noted here.

Education for Exceptional Students. In planning courses in Mathematics, teachers should take into account the needs of exceptional students as set out in their Individual Education Plan. All Mathematics courses reflect the real world very closely, which offers a vast array of opportunities for exceptional students. Students who use alternative techniques for communication may find a venue for their talents as they go about researching the nature of their world.

The Role of Technology in the Curriculum. Information technology is considered a learning tool that must be accessed by Mathematics students when the situation is appropriate. As a result, students will develop transferable skills through their experience with word processing, internet research, presentation software, and equation editors as would be expected in any environment. 

English As a Second Language and English Literacy Development (ESL/ELD). This Mathematics course can provide a wide range of options to address the needs of ESL/ELD students. Assessment and evaluation exercises will help ESL students in mastering the English language and all of its idiosyncrasies. In addition, since all occupations require employees with a wide range of English skills and abilities, many students will learn how the operation of their own physical world can contribute to their success in their social world.

Career Education. Mathematics definitely helps prepare students for employment in a huge number of diverse areas - Engineering, Science, Business, etc. The skills, knowledge and creativity that students acquire through this course are essential for a wide range of careers. Being able to express oneself in a clear concise manner without ambiguity, solve problems, make connections between this Mathematics course and the larger world, etc., would be an overall intention of this Mathematics course, as it helps students prepare for success in their working lives.

Cooperative Education and Other Workplace Experiences. By applying the skills they have developed, students will readily connect their classroom learning to real-life activities in the world in which they live. Cooperative education and other workplace experiences will broaden their knowledge of employment opportunities in a wide range of fields. In addition, students will increase their understanding of workplace practices and the nature of the employer-employee relationship. Teachers of Mathematics should maintain links with community-based workers to ensure that students have access to hands-on experiences that will reinforce the knowledge they have gained in school.

Health and Safety. The Mathematics program provides the reading and analytical skills for the student to be able to explore the variety of concepts relating to health and safety in the workplace. Teachers who provide support for students in workplace learning placements need to assess placements for safety and ensure that students can read and understand the importance of issues relating to health and safety in the workplace.