MATH 1310

This class is not your average high-school calculus course. It demands a genuine understanding of course material rather than simple memorization of theorems and processes. IMPORTANT: there are multiple calc 1 courses, no one told me about survey of calc 1 (MATH 1210) at orientation, so I signed up for this class thinking it was the same thing...it is not. 1210 is a broader scope of calc 1 content and (from what I have heard) is easier than 1310. If you can take 1210, take 1210. I still do not quite understand the benefit of taking the more in depth course, so make sure to check it out/talk to an advisor before signing up.

That being said, DJ is an amazing professor. I attended a number of review sessions hosted throughout the semester that were run by some of the other professors and found their teaching methods far more confusing and indirect than DJs. I also found that DJ was genuinely interested in his students success. He gladly answers all questions, responds to emails in a timely manner, and never made me feel bad about asking him to repeat himself. In conclusion if you go for 1310, take it with DJ.

Now for the grading. This semester there were two different methods of grading, Traditional and Growth. At first everyone was freaking out about which grading method would result in getting a higher grade, but I honestly do not think it really mattered. There are pros and cons to each type of grading, so do not be too worried about ending up in one type vs. the other. I was in the traditional section which had 5 midterms in total ( 2 worth 20% each and 3 worth 1.6% each), a final exam (worth 25%), and the remaining percent was fluff (homework, preparation, etc.). I highly recommend taking the 1.6% midterms seriously since they do a good job of preparing you for the 20% midterms. To do well you should start studying AT LEAST a week in advance. The grading can be harsh and the problems are challenging. The graders also gave quite a bit of partial credit if you showed that you understood what was going on and made a viable attempt. While the midterms were hard, I didn't find anything unreasonable.

As hard as this class was, I definitely came out of it feeling the most rewarded. The math tested is conceptual and you are supposed to be able to answer theoretical or the 'whys' behind some of the concepts (ie. limits), which was definitely a different type of studying for me. Once I figured out how to study for the class though, it was fine because the tests are fairly consistent with rigor and types of questions. The professor is flexible and definitely passionate about helping students be successful, but classes could feel slow sometimes. This is a hard math class if CALC is not your thing, but if your other classes are not too demanding and you can realistically devote time, then you can get a good grade.

I came into this course not having any form of math proficiency and, consequently, struggled in the beginning of the semester. I completed it with an A and my two of my closest friends at UVA!

DJ, as he insisted we referred to him as, emphasized working towards a conceptual understanding of calculus (in opposition to simply arriving at the correct answer) throughout his course. I found his lectures concise and looked forward to attending class due to the numerous opportunities he created for collaboration. Although he did not go through each type of problem included in the class work packets, he was very approachable during office hours. The exams are not as high stress as you would expect due to the weighting of grades. Be sure to complete your class preps and homework (WebAssign) on time and participate in Poll Everywhere during class - it is easy to get a 100 in these assignments.

I put in a significant amount of effort into this class and found it most rewarding. If you're taking MATH 1310, I highly recommend DJ!

Although you may have done well in calculus in high school, this class will not be a breeze. This course heavily enforces the theory and proofs behind the concepts.; the exams require you to apply a combination of ideas, theorems, and methods to be successful. I failed the first quiz and the first midterm because it took me time to adjust to the format. That being said, I still ended with a B. Professor James is a brilliant and quirky professor! His teaching is methodical and mathematical, and he sincerely cares about your success and understanding. I originally disliked his teaching style, but it grew on me -- so, give it time. In order to be successful in this class, you need to understand the concepts and ideas; you cannot memorize a formulaic approach to problems because the ones on the tests will be different from those done on homework and class activities. This class will challenge you, so if you are not a STEM major, I would recommend you take Math 1210. If you do decide to take this course, take it with DJ!!