SEMESTER: Fall 2013 (8 week course) PROFESSOR: Ron Page
COURSE: MATH 116 – CRN57045 E-MAIL ADDRESS:
TITLE: College and Matrix Algebra
COURSE ID page86684
ONLINE COURSE REQUIREMENTS
Don’t enroll in the course unless you have access, on a regular basis, to a fast, reliable computer. Please review hardware and software requirements below. Also, be aware that former students have mentioned that this course will require more independent effort, than some other online courses.A successful student spends a minimum of 9hours a week on the computer and is extremely disciplined.
Hardware and Software:
To successfully complete this online course, you will be required to meet the minimum hardware and software requirements. View Hardware and Software Requirements.
Internet Browser:
You must use a supported Internet browser in order to successfully work in Blackboard Learn, the online course management system for this course. To see a list of supported Internet browsers, click here.
COURSE DESCRIPTION
Prerequisite: Mathematics 96 with a grade of “C” or better, or equivalent, or Assessment Skill Level M50.Advisory: English 56 with a grade of “C” or better, or equivalent, or Assessment Skill Level R5. This course is designed to strengthen the algebra skills of students seeking Business or Natural Science degrees that are required to take an applied calculus course. Topics in the course include the theory of functions; graphing functions; exponential and logarithmic functions; solving equations involving algebraic, exponential and logarithmic functions; solving systems of linear equations, matrix algebra, linear programming, modeling, and application problems. Analytical reading and problem solving are required for success in this course. (FT) Transfer Credit: CSU and/or private college/ university. UC Transfer Credit: Mathematics (MATH) 116 and 141 combined: maximum credit, four units.
COURSE MATERIALS
The following course materials may be purchased at the campus San Diego Miramar College Bookstore or online.
REQUIRED TEXTBOOK(Purchase your book as soon as possible to be ready for the first day of class)
College Algebra, 4ed edition, by Judith Beecher 2012 (ISBN:978-1256333876)
REQUIRED MEDIA
MyMathLab access code (included with new book). Note: Can be purchased online at PearsonMyLabandMastering.com with a credit card.
REQUIRED
Graphing calculator. Suggestion: Texas Instruments (TI-84) or better
TEXTBOOK COVERAGE and TEST BONUS
A 5% bonus will be applied to your test score if you take the chapter test any day within a 4-day period. The test becomes available on a Friday morning and then closes 4 days later, on a Monday evening.
OPEN CLOSETEST for CHAPTER
8/309/02 Ch. 2 (Ch. R and Ch. 1 for your review)
9/06 9/09 Ch. 3
9/139/16 Ch. 4
9/20 9/23 Ch. 5
10/04 10/07 Ch. 6
10/10 10/10 FINAL (Final has to be takenON CAMPUSThursday night of Week 8)
GENERAL INFORMATION
- MyMathLab, often written MML, will serve as your tutorial, quiz and test source. You can access MML by going to Blackboard Learn>Course Homepage>MML or by the URL ofMyMathLab.com. Use Internet Explorer as your Browser. First time users of MML will have to follow the steps listed on the Homepage. You will need to enter the "Course ID", listed above in red, the first time you access this course. This ID is unique to your Math 116 course atMiramar College. If you experience any problems in the process or have difficulty with MML please call Pearson Support at 1-888-677-6337. Keep this phone number handy for any difficulties during the semester.
- Read each chapter completely before starting the assignments in either your textbook or MML. For your information, Chapter R and Chapter 1 are review chapters and worth no points. If you have been away from math for several years, I recommend using these chapters as a review.
- After reading the textbook, I strongly recommend that you work in MML. Go toMML, login and explore the navigation tabs on the left of the screen. You will primarily use the Homework, Quizzes/Tests and Multimedia Library tabs. I highly recommend the videos in the Multimedia Library (the videos work better on larger monitors). Use this material in MML along with your textbook to prepare yourself for the quizzes and tests. Also, I would like for you to use the email system in MML for all class correspondence or Blackboard Learn.
- Class-work, whether it is doing the Study Plan problems and/or using the textbook, is a very important part of your success in this course. Failing to keep up with your class-work can be an undisciplined, online student's downfall. Most students having difficulties are not doing their class-work, so I strongly recommended that you set a regularly scheduled time to work on this course. Especially in this fast-paced, 8-week course, you can't get behind in your work and expect to pass the class!
- Your grade in the course will consist of five (5) chapter tests, ten (10) quizzes, homework and a final. There are two (2) quizzes for each chapterand one (1) test. You can take the quizzes any time you wish during the semester, forup to 8 times, but you will need to achieve at least 70% on one of the quizzes to proceed to the next level.The chapter test and/or following quiz will be flagged until you successfully complete the preceding quiz. I suggest that you re-take each quiz until you score 100%, possibly during Week 7 of the semester, as a review. Each retake will generate different problems. For your information, the Sample Tests (Pre/Post Tests) in MML are for your review and worth no points. It would be good to take one or both of them as a practice test before you attempt the chapter test. FYI, the Study Plan problems in MML are for your use only and worth no points.
- The final exam will have 30 questions taken fromall five (5) chapters, which are chapters 2-6. It will be available during the 8th week of the semester. Scheduled for Thursday evening of week 8 and will be your only required campus meeting. Please clear your schedule for that on-campus meeting.
- An Incomplete grade may be granted in this class when a student’s work is nearly complete (approximately 80% of course work completed) and some unforeseen circumstance arises that prevents the student from finishing his/her work for the course. If you are requesting an Incomplete for this course, you must contact me.
- Don’t forget to post,in the Student Introductionsof Blackboard Learn,a short introduction 'bio' and include a tasteful digital of yourself picture. Your Student Introduction grade will be worth 30 points (15 pts. Intro + 15 pts. Picture). I will assign points for the Student Introductions at the end of the first week.
GRADING POLICY
All grading in the course will use this scale: 92-100%=A, 82-91%=B, 70-81%=C, 60-69%=D, and 0-59%=F. You can always check your grade in MML, using the Gradebook tab. But, be aware that your score isn’t accurate until the end of the semester (when all tests/quizzes have been taken). A reminder to review each quiz or test immediately after taking it for computer grading errors and notify me as soon as possible, if any are found!
CHAPTER TESTS
Five (5) chapter tests will be administered through MML. Each Chapter Test will have 25 problems and a time limit of 120-150 minutes. Tests can be taken only once. They are available between specific datesand are open for four (4) days. If you miss a test, you will have to contact me before it can be re-opened. You risk loosing 5% of your score if the test is re-opened. In addition, you will also need to inform me of your plan for catching-up.
As a bonus for staying on schedule, I will add 5% to your score if you take the test within the four-dayperiod (stated another way,you have to take the test before it closes). The 5% bonuswill be added to your total score the day after the test closes.
CHAPTER QUIZZES
Ten (10) chapter quizzes will be administered through MML. Each Chapter quiz will have 10 problems and no time limit. I recommend you take the quizzes as quickly and accurately as possible to help prepare yourself for the timed tests. You can take the quiz up to 5 times to improve your score, but you must achieve a score of 70 % or better to progress. If you need more than 5 tries on a quiz, e-mail me. The quizzes (as well as the Study Plan problems) are designed to prepare you for the chapter tests. For your information, the “a” Quiz (Quiz 1a, Quiz 2a, etc.) is the only Quiz with no prerequisite (70% or better).
FINAL EXAMINATION
One (1) Final Examination will be administered through MML. The Final Examination will have 30 problems, a time limit of 180 minutes and is comprehensive covering Chapters 2-6.
HOMEWORK
Thirty-nine (39) suggested Homework sets,one for each section covered in the textbook are in MML. Like the Quizzes you can do the Homework sets anytime during the semester. Each set has from 14 to 21 problems and are designed to help you prepare for the quizzes and chapter tests.
For your information, there are 1000 points possible in the class, the breakdown: Student Introduction-30 pts., Quizzes-130 pts., Tests-300 pts., Final-420 pts. and Homework-120 pts.
TESTING PROCEDURE
When you are ready to take a test or quiz go to MML QuizzesTests tab. If the quiz or test is flagged then make sure you have successfully passed (70% or better) the preceding quiz.
THE PLACe/INVEST LAB
Individual tutoring is available free of charge at The PLACe in room L-101 in the new LLRC. The tutoring service is available Monday to Thursday 8:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. If you would like further information or have questions contact The PLACe at (619) 388 - 7852.
DISABLED STUDENTS PROGRAMS AND SERVICES
Students with disabilities who may need academic accommodations should contact me by email or telephone as soon as possible. Disabled Students Programs and Services (DSPS) department can assist you in identifying appropriate accommodation to meet your needs. Ifyou would like further information or have questions contact a DSPS counselor by telephone (619) 388 - 7312.
DROP POLICY
A student will be dropped for the reasons listed below.
MyPearson REGISTRATION
Students will be dropped without warning if they fail to register with MyMathLab under the Course ID of page86684 by the endof the first week of the semester.
Test and Quizzes
Students will be dropped without warning if they fall behind on two or more chapter tests. Students will not be allowed to take more than two tests a week! It is the student’s responsibility to drop a class in which they are no longer participating. Students, who remain enrolled in a class beyond the published withdrawal deadline, as stated in the class schedule, will receive an evaluative letter grade in this class.
CHEATING/PLAGIARISM
Students are expected to be honest and ethical at all times in the pursuit of academic goals. Students who are
found to be in violation of Administrative Procedure 3100.3 Honest Academic Conduct, will receive a grade of
zero on the assignment, quiz, or exam in question and may be referred for disciplinary action in accordance with
Administrative Procedure 3100.2, Student Disciplinary Procedures.
STUDENT CODE OF CONDUCT
Students are expected to adhere to the Student Code of Conduct at all times. Students who violate the Student Code of Conduct may have access to class removed for one week (5 instructional days).
Make-up work during the removal will not be accepted. Incidents involving removal of a student from class will be reported to the college disciplinary officer for follow up. The Student Code of Conduct can be found in Board of Trustees Policy, BP 3100, Student Rights, Responsibilities and Administrative Due Process posted on the District website at:
STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES
Upon successful completion of the course the student will be able to:
1. Analyze, graph, and evaluate linear functions related to application problems in business and the
natural sciences.
2. Perform algebraic operations on functions and determine function inverses.
3. Analyze and interpret the relationship between the properties and graphs of polynomial functions.
4. Determine all the exact zeros of a polynomial by applying root-finding techniques and theorems.
5. Analyze and interpret the graphs of algebraic functions including square root, cube root, absolute
value, piece-wise defined functions and rational functions.
6. Solve and graph non-linear inequalities.
7. Analyze and apply rigid and non-rigid transformations to algebraic, exponential and logarithmic
functions.
8. Solve equations involving logarithmic and exponential functions, including application problems.
9. Perform algebraic operations with matrices.
10. Construct systems of equations from application problems and solve them using various techniques.
11. Solve linear programming problems to find optimum points of operations.
KEYS TO SUCCESS IN AN ONLINE 8-WEEK COURSE
Below are comments from former, successful students:
“The program that you are operating on, MyPearson is a very, very good and easily understandable one. At the beginning I was very nervous at trying [College Algebra] online, to be honest I was scared out of my mind!!! So I started browsing the application and found helpful tools most notably, the study plans and the sample tests!!!!
I tackle the study plans first. Once I am secure with my progress I do the quizzes & I retake it until I am happy with the outcome. Once the quizzes are finished I start on the sample tests. I normally do 4 sample tests before doing the actual exam. Without these helpful tutorials I would be completely lost!!! If I am stuck on a problem there is a tutorial for ‘show me how to solve’ with a video too!”
“I don't use any short cut but hard work. I read the textbook thoroughly, take the practice quizzes and tests as many times as it takes to make sure I understand everything, and then take the test when I am mentally and physically prepared. Most importantly, I don't allow myself to procrastinate, even if that means sometimes I will have to stay up very late to finish the task on the date it is supposed to be done.”
SOME THOUGHTS ON AN ONLINE 8-WEEK COURSE AND MY PHILOSOPHY ON MATH EDUCATION
There are plusses and minuses to an online course, as there are with many things in life. A few plusses: you don’t have to regularly attend class on campus; you can work on the class at a time that is convenience with your schedule; and finally, many students believe that an online course is the easier way to take a course. The first two plusses are certainly true, but the last one is most definitely not true!
If you have taken an online class before then you know what I am referring to. Online classes and in particular math online classes are the more difficult road to travel. I am not trying to frighten you away from the class, but to enlighten you about your journey. If you read the comments above, you can see the successful students made a commitment, spent the time and were therefore successful.
I don’t know your background in mathematics, but I assume that you have taken the prerequisite classes. I also don’t know how you personally feel about learning this new topic in mathematics, but I would suggest that you embrace the challenge. Either you can decide to learn a new and challenging topic or you can close your mind and just get by, or even worse, drop or fail the class. You have to decide which path you are going to take, but being successful in a challenging undertaking is a very rewarding experience. So don’t waste this opportunity to be successful. I hope your semester goes well and you have an enlightened and rewarding experience!