MATH 012.DL INTRODUCTION TO ALGEBRA II
PROFESSOR M. BIRDSALL Spring, 2011
ONLINE COURSE INFORMATION
1. Goals: This course will meet the following Ocean County College General Education Goals:
Goal #1: To develop the ability to become an independent thinker through mathematical,
scientific, and philosophical reasoning and
Goal #3: To develop the ability to solve problems by collecting, organizing and evaluating
information.
2. Objectives: Upon completion of the course the student will be able to:
a) factor polynomial expressions
b) solve quadratic equations using factoring, the square root method, the completing the square method, or the quadratic formula
c) simplify rational algebraic expression
d) solve rational equations
e) simplify radical algebraic expressions
f) solve radical equations
g) determine equations of lines from given information
h) solve application problems using quadratic equations
3. Text: Elementary Algebra, Volume 2, 8th Edition by Charles McKeague. Topics include factoring polynomials, solving quadratic equations with mathematical modeling of real life applications, rational algebraic expressions, solving equations involving rational algebraic expressions, radical expressions, solving equations involving radical expressions and equations of straight lines.
4. Course Prerequisites: Students enrolled in MATH-012 are expected to have a thorough
knowledge of the elementary algebra topics covered in MATH-011. Completion of MATH-011 or
placement by the Accuplacer Test is required for this course. If you received a grade lower than a B
in MATH-011, you will have to change your study habits to successfully complete this course.
5. Computer Skills: Students enrolled in MATH 012.DL should be knowledgeable in basic computer skills. These include word processing, cutting and pasting, down loading and uploading, web browsing and e-mailing. Use the website
http://www.ocean.edu/academics/distance_learning/0stud_main_menu.html
to determine if your computer skills are adequate.
6. Course Preparation: In order to be successful in any distance learning course, a student must establish a strict regimen of study devoting 6 to 10 hours per week to the course. This study time should include reading the text, completing the assigned exercises and worksheets, viewing video lessons and completing practice quizzes. Also, to insure that your study time is used efficiently, a suggested study schedule is available on the Course Calendar that is available on the WebCt homepage.
7. Assignments: A list of semester assignments is available on the homepage. The assignments
are to be considered MINIMUM ASSIGNMENTS with the student completing as many
additional problems as needed to master the topic. It is also the student’s responsibility to READ the
section in the text preceding each set of exercises. Remember: Math is not a spectator sport - you
will become successful in the course by accessing all the study aides available to you and by
completing all the required assignments.
8. Online Quizzes: Students will be expected to complete a series of online quizzes for each chapter.
Links to the quizzes are posted on WebCt. The average of all the quiz grades will be considered
17% of the final grade.
9. Tests: Five tests will be administered this semester (83% of the final grade). Students are expected to
take tests at the OCC Testing Center in the lower level of the library (access hours of operation
through Testing and Tutoring icon) during the week scheduled unless other arrangements are made in
advance.
Note that students who are unable to take the tests on campus must notify the professor
within the first week of the semester. In such cases, a professor-approved proctored alternate test site may be used.
Students are expected to take tests during the scheduled week unless other arrangements are made in
advance. ( This option may be used only once during the semester.)
NO MAKE-UP TESTS WILL BE GIVEN
Testing Schedule:
February 14 – 19 Chapter 3
March 7 – 12 Chapter 6
April 4 – 9 Chapter 7
April 18 – 23 Chapter 8
May 9 – 14 Chapter 9
Since the test dates listed above overlap preparation time for the next chapter, students should
attempt to take each test at the beginning of the scheduled time period to avoid possibly falling
behind in the next chapter.
10. Student Services: The college has created a Mathematics Tutoring Center to assist students. Students
can access the Tutoring Center’s hours of operation through the “Testing and Tutoring” icon on the
homepage.
11. Plagiarism: Students should refer to the student handbook and review Policy #5180 regarding the
college's policy toward plagiarism.
12. Calculators: Calculators may be used throughout the course. (No cell phone calculators may be
used during testing.)
13. Special Needs: Any student who needs accommodations because of any type of disability
(i.e. learning, physical, etc.) please feel free to discuss your special needs with me.
14. Grading: Final grades will be assigned using the following scale: A ( 100 – 93 ), B+ ( 92 – 88 ),
B ( 87 – 80 ), C+ ( 79 – 77 ), C ( 76 – 70 ), and F (below 70).
15. Withdrawals: A formal withdrawal form must be submitted before April 4, 2011 should a
student decide to drop the course and wish to receive a grade of "W". If no form is submitted after a
prolonged absence, a grade of “W” will be assigned prior to this date and a grade of “F” after this
date.
16. Expectation of Privacy: Students should not assume that anything received, sent or stored in this
course is private. Student grades results posted on Ocean Cruiser may be used anonymously for
college assessment purposes. Course content, support materials, and communications may be used
for quality assurance purposes by authorized college administrators.
17. Office : Room R117 Phone: 732 - 255 - 0400 Ext. 2186
Office Hours: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday: 11:00 am - 12:15 pm
(To arrange a meeting with your instructor in addition to the regularly
scheduled office hours, please contact your instructor directly or contact
the Department of Mathematics by phone at 732-255-0368 or by e-mail at
.)
E-Mail:
(Students may call during office hours or send an e-mail message to arrange a mutually
convenient time to speak with the instructor regarding questions about the material.)
18. Important Notice: Ocean Cruiser is the official email communication for students at OCC. Your
email address for Ocean Cruiser is in the format (). Also
note that failure to pay for the course may result in your being dropped from the roster for non-
payment.