What is Online Calculus and how does it work?

There are approximately 90 short, focused lectures per course, each lasting from 5-15 minutes. These are presented online through Canvas, UC Online Education’s learning management system. Each lecture can be viewed any time, anywhere internet is available. The lectures, which are captioned, can be paused and reviewed as often as students wish.

The interactive textbook is available online through The Macmillan Publishing Company. Carefully-designed questions check students’ progress as they read through the book, and adapt content accordingly. 

Low-stakes quizzes are given online, but proctored exams are offered both in-class (through the usual University method) and online (through an online proctoring service called “ProctorU.”)

In addition to optional (but encouraged) in-person secondary sections, students also use an online discussion platform (accessible through Canvas), called “Piazza.” This platform promotes peer-to-peer collaborative learning, and also allows students to pose questions to their instructors. 

Sections and office hours are offered in the traditional in-person format, as well as on-line through Zoom. This setup is designed to meet the needs of local as well as remote students, and accommodates a variety of learning styles. 

In-person, drop-in sections listed in the UCSC Schedule of Classes are for additional support as needed– no enrollment is necessary; anyone can attend at any time.

Instructors Tony Tromba and Frank Bäuerle present an overview of each course in these videos. 

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