Westville Campus

MODULE COURSE INFORMATION SHEET – Semester 1, 2022

MODULE CODE: MATH236W
MODULE NAME: DISCRETE MATHEMATICS WITH
APPLICATIONS

LECTURERS OFFICE TELEPHONE E-MAIL

Module Coordinator: Room 411, H1 0312602794 garethamery@gmail.com
Prof G Amery Block, 4th Floor Cell: 0846028111
[Also: WhatsApp / AmeryG1@ukzn.ac.za
[By appointment] Signal]
Lecturer: Prof G Amery Room 411, H1 0312602794 garethamery@gmail.com
Block, 4th Floor Cell: 0846028111
[Also: WhatsApp / AmeryG1@ukzn.ac.za
[By appointment] Signal]
Administrator: Room 316, H1 0312607134 moodleyse@ukzn.ac.za
Mrs Selvie Moodley Block, 3rd Floor

TIMETABLE
LECTURE TIME VENUE TUTORIAL TIME VENUE
MONDAY 8h40-10h20 Zoom MONDAY
TUESDAY 13h15-14h00 Zoom TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY WEDNESDAY 9h35-13h05 Zoom (Multiple
groups)
THURSDAY 12h20–13h05 SPARE THURSDAY
FRIDAY 9h35-10h30 Zoom FRIDAY

PLEASE NOTE: I might, on occasion, and certainly during the first week or
two, swop tutorials and lectures. Similarly, I might use the ``SPARE’’ period
in the event that we lose time due to any disruptions.

Please pay attention to your email inboxes and / or the announcements

section of the Course Learn 2022 page.

ZOOM LINKS: Will appear on the Learn2022 page shortly before all
timetabled contact sessions.

MODULE WEBSITE https://learn2022.ukzn.ac.za/

CONTENT AND DELIVERY Lecture notes, lecture slides, tutorials, additional notes, tutorial
model answers, test model answers and past papers shall be
posted online.
 Prerecorded videos of the lectures will be posted weekly prior to
the week’s contact sessions. Contact sessions will be held via
Zoom involving a brief summary of the prerecorded videos and
thereafter be run as Q and A consultations. These will be recorded
and uploaded.

There is NO prescribed text. If students wish to seek

supplementary material, they are welcome (and encouraged) to do
so. However, I urge you to ``reality check’’ the suitability of any
online resources / books etc with me to ensure that the level and
scope is appropriate for Math236.

Please note my tutorial policy below.

Tutorials start in week 2. All tutorials are compulsory.

Tutorials will be interspersed with the lectures, and I shall

occasionally swop lectures and tutorials (for example, just before a
test to give you more help to prepare) so please watch the Learn
site and your emails for announcements.

I shall typically give hints about the tutorial questions set that
week during the zoom lectures, and teach selected examples from
the tutorials prior to a test.

TUTORIALS Tutorials will be held on Wednesdays. The class will be broken into
smaller groups and each group will be allocated to ONE of the four
periods. These groups will meet in separate Zoom sessions with a
tutor. I shall move between the sessions.

In the tutorials themselves, the time will be spent in a more typical

question and answer session, unless a common misunderstanding
occurs, in which case I (or the tutor) may again take to the (virtual
or physical) board. These will be recorded and uploaded.

Model answers will typically be posted ONLY SHORTLY before the

tests. I shall record videos taking you through selected examples.

PRACTICALS None

Scientific but not programmable as per the university

CALCULATORS
recommendations.
Welcome to Math 236
ANNOUNCEMENTS
The Learning website: https://learn2022.ukzn.ac.za/ is your
 gateway to up-to-date information regarding the course in terms
of weekly announcements, tutorials, notes, quizzes, additional
problems and discussions. It is your responsibility to visit the
Learn website and access daily updates.

Please note that I DO SOMETIMES TEACH in the tutorial sessions

(e.g. representative or particularly difficult examples); I might also
swop tutorial and lectures so as to provide extra contact time
(e.g. before a test) … Therefore it is VERY important that you check
your emails and / or Learn to stay aware of such changes.

Please note, that there will be NO tut tests, as I find that they focus
too much on preparation for evaluation rather than developing
understanding. However, some helpful information and hints will be
taught during the tuts and nowhere else. I therefore encourage you
to attend.

The HANDBOOK ENTRY says that, in order to obtain a Duly

Performed (DP) Certificate it is necessary to obtain a 35% Class
mark and have 80% attendance at lectures and tutorials.
DP (DULY PERFORMED)
NOTE: This will be amended due to the Covid related online
scenario. I intend having a formative / summative split of 25% / 75;
see below.

The HANDBOOK ENTRY says that, at the end of the semester, if

granted DP, you will write a three-hour paper (EM = exam mark),
which contributes to 67% of the final mark. The class tests (CM =
class mark) count towards 33% of the final mark. Your final mark is
ASSESSMENTS obtained as follows: FM = 33% (CM) + 67 (EM).

NOTE: This will be amended due to the Covid related online

scenario. I intend having a formative / summative split of 25% /
75%; see below.

In the event of any physical in person assessment it is compulsory

BAR CODES
to stick your bar codes in all tests and examinations papers.
TESTS NOTE: The following information assumes that we will continue
to have an online format to teaching and assessment. Should
that change, I shall, in consultation with the class, amend my
protocol. In particular, should we be allowed physical tests, I
would prefer to test theory via written tests. Also, there may be
changes to the catch-up / make-up policies as directed by
UTLO and / or the College Dean of T&L. Any such changes
will be communicated to the class as soon as they are
announced to me.

There will be four (4) one and a half hour (90 min) tests, each
marked out of 50 marks (with a few bonus marks available); i.e.
your percentage for each test is calculated by multiplying your
raw score by 2. Of these there will be 1 formative and 3
summative, and ALL weighted equally for the final mark.

The FIRST test will be a formative test and the SECOND test
will be summative with the same scope as Test 1. Tests 3 and
4 will have different scopes from each other and from Tests 1 &
 2. This policy is designed to allow students to master the
fundamental material in the early chapters without which the
remainder of the module is difficult to follow. It is also a
successful strategy that has ensured good pass rates in 2020
and 2021.

There will be NO mini tests / tut tests / take home assignments,

as I find that these focus students’ attention on preparation
rather than building understanding.

The test dates will be decided in consultation with the class.

In the event of a student missing one of the tests, it will be in your

interest to keep a record of the reason in the form of a medical
certificate or other suitable documentation.

If you miss a test for medical (or other verifiable) reasons, you will
be eligible for a make-up test, the date of which will be arranged to
the convenience of all persons so affected.

NOTE: In 2020, and semester one of 2021, these make-up tests

were also used as catch-up tests in lieu of any supplementary
assessments in the session after the main session. However, this
was not allowed in semester 2 of 2021, and 2022 might be similar.
The details of whether I can conduct a full set of catch-up / make-
up tests has yet to be confirmed by UKZN’s T&L structures. I will
advise the class as soon as clarity comes.

AFTER EACH TEST, an email will be set to the class reminding

people in this situation to contact me so that doctor’s notes (or
other documentation) may be collected and the make-up
arrangements can be made.

This is another reason to pay good attention to email

announcements. It is YOUR responsibility to contact me to
arrange a make-up test.

Also, please note that any make-up tests ARE NOT a second
chance for anyone who wrote the main test; they are ONLY for
people who have a good reason (with a ``paper-trail’’) for having
missed the main test.

In the event of a student having a serious disruption to their

semester (e.g. long term / serious illness) that leads to them
missing both tests and any respective make-up tests, it is possible
that the student may be asked to sit ONE long cumulative test at
the end of the semester. In this case, the test may take the form
of an oral test. In the case of oral testing, I will be accompanied
by at least one other lecturer and a mark based on the student’s
answers will be arrived at.

Class test model answers will be taught after you have received
your tests back. Then they will be posted online.

HOT SEAT To be announced  

CONSULTATION TIMES If physical contact teaching is permitted, I am available (either in
my office or at the venue) for 30 minutes before every contact
period, and, afterwards, leave only when there are no more
questions. If you prefer, please make an appointment via email or
send a sms / please call /WhatsApp / Signal.

In the online scenario, all contact sessions will have a consultation

component. I am also available via email, or you can schedule a
Zoom consultation or chat via WhatsApp / Signal.

If a student CANNOT engage online, they may request an in

person appointment which will be scheduled at our mutual
convenience, and in accordance with all national and UKZN Covid
regulations. In particular students (and myself) MUST be masked
throughout.

NOTE: Any consultations (online or in person) are NOT intended to

be a one-on-one replacement to regular scheduled teaching and
learning. Students who have engaged via the Learn site and other
media will be prioritised over those who have not participated at all.

NOTE: All activity on the Learn2022 site is logged so it is easy for

me to see is actively participating and who is not.