Janet Bickham's Online Intermediate Algebra

NOTE: Distance Learning Math students should scroll down the page, click on all links, and read through all posted materials. All information and course materials for Fall 2010 are now posted on the web. Materials for next semester will be posted before the next semester begins. If you would like to view or print the handouts for this course, they will all be posted at http://www.austincc.edu/jbickham/handouts as soon as they are ready. Just click on "MATD 0390 Intermediate Algebra" and scroll down the page to find them all. Be careful not to scroll into the Basic Math Skills and/or Elementary Algebra sections. The sections are clearly divided. Until the updated information and handouts for your semester are posted, to get a good idea about how the class will be conducted, you may read through this web page and everything linked to it, including the current semester handouts. Almost everything (such as the course materials, including MyMathLab access with or without a book) will be the same. The main changes will be the dates and deadlines. Some handouts may be changing slightly and there may be some minor changes in grading policies, but you may get your course materials now. Thanks in advance for your patience while I am updating all materials for your semester.

All information for the Fall 2010 semester is now posted and students may begin working in the class and in the MyMathLab computer software as soon as this course becomes available to you in Blackboard, which should be shortly before the semester begins. Be sure to submit both your Online Orientation quiz and Pretest to your instructor as soon as possible. More information about that may be found below. This class begins Monday, August 23, 2010, and all work must be completed and turned in and the final exam must be taken no later than Tuesday, December 7, 2010. Please be aware that this class is a computer math class that uses the MyMathLab computer program to enhance your math learning experience. You will be doing your work off campus but will be coming to campus to take tests either in the ACC Testing Center that you select on your Online Orientation quiz, or in an ACC Office for Students with Disabilities upon submitting to me an appropriate ACC accommodations letter. If you want to take your tests at a different proctored Testing Center, you should email me as soon as possible to discuss this.

For information about the book and computer program/software, please begin by reading through the MATD 0390 Intermediate Algebra section of http://www.austincc.edu/jbickham/mmltextbooks. More information about the MATD 0390 Intermediate Algebra book and software is found in these web pages and handouts.

The prerequisite for Intermediate Algebra (MATD 0390) is a grade of C or better in Elementary Algebra (MATD 0370), or its equivalent knowledge. If you want to verify ahead of time that Intermediate Algebra is the correct level class for you, please complete the Review for the Intermediate Algebra Pretest. This review will help you prepare for the Intermediate Algebra Pretest, which you will be taking at the beginning of the semester in order to verify that this is the correct level math class for you. I realize that you may have taken a placement test which indicated that this is the correct level for you, but the Math Department has determined that these placement tests do not always place students into the correct math class, which is one reason we give these Pretests. The Pretest covers math topics you are expected to know when you begin this class. You should score at least 70% correct on it, or else you probably should enroll in one of the two previous math courses, MATD 0370 Elementary Algebra or MATD 0330 Basic Math Skills. If you are able to understand and work correctly at least 43 out of the 61 problems on this review, then you are probably ready to take Intermediate Algebra. If you cannot work correctly and understand at least 43 of these 61 problems, then you should complete the Review for the Elementary Algebra Pretest. If you are able to understand and work correctly at least 30 of the 42 problems on this review, then you are probably ready to enroll in Elementary Algebra (MATD 0370), but you will have to pass the Elementary Algebra Pretest to verify this. If you cannot work correctly and understand at least 30 of these 42 problems on the Review for the Elementary Algebra Pretest, then you should probably enroll in Basic Math Skills (MATD 0330). If you have any questions about which course is the correct level course for you, please contact your instructor.

Intermediate Algebra is designed to prepare you for MATH 1314 College Algebra and MATH 1324 Math for Business and Economics, as well as several courses in science and various technical areas such as General College Physics, General Chemistry, Magnetism and DC Circuits, and AC Circuits. All students who pass Intermediate Algebra must now first pass College Algebra before enrolling in Trigonometry. Intermediate Algebra covers topics normally covered in the second year of algebra in high school.

I've also been asked to tell you about a new developmental math course that you might qualify for instead of MATD 0390 Intermediate Algebra. The new course is MATD 0385 Developing Mathematical Thinking. Here is the info I've been asked to share with you:

Do you really need to take MATD 0390 Intermediate Algebra?

YES, if you are going to take MATH 1314 College Algebra or MATH 1324 Math for Business and Economics. MATD 0390 Intermediate Algebra is a prerequisite for both College Algebra and Math for Business and Economics, so you must take MATD 0390 before taking MATH 1314 or MATH 1324 or any courses that these are prerequisites for.

If you have passed MATD 0370 Elementary Algebra with an A, B, or C, and your degree program does NOT require MATH 1314 College Algebra or MATH 1324 Math for Business and Economics or any of the courses that these are prerequisites for, and if you want to try to be TSI-Complete in math, take the COMPASS test. If you pass the COMPASS test with a score of at least 39 so that you are TSI-Complete in math, then you will be eligible to take MATH 1332 College Mathematics, MATH 1342 Elementary Statistics, or MATH 1333 Math for Measurement. However, be aware that if you will need MATH 1314 College Algebra or MATH 1324 Math for Business and Economics or any course that has either of these as a prerequisite, ACC's Math Department requires that you take MATD 0390 Intermediate Algebra after passing Elementary Algebra with a C or better, even if you pass the Compass test. This is to prepare you for your next course because passing Intermediate Algebra with an A, B, or C is a prerequisite for both College Algebra and Math for Business and Economics. Also, if you think you may change your degree program so that it requires College Algebra, Math for Business and Economics, or any courses that require these courses as prerequisites, then you should probably take Intermediate Algebra since it is a prerequisite for these.

Unless this will be your first math course at ACC, being TSI-Complete in math does NOT qualify you to take MATH 1314 College Algebra, MATH 1324 Math for Business and Economics, or any courses that these are prerequisites for. To qualify for MATH 1314 College Algebra or MATH 1324 Math for Business and Economics, you must still take and pass MATD 0390 Intermediate Algebra with an A, B, or C.

If you do not score at least 39 on the COMPASS test, you could still attempt one of the other state approved tests – THEA, ASSET or ACCUPLACER. ACC's Advisors and Counselors can give you additional information about these tests and how to take them. If you do not pass any of these tests, then you need to take another developmental (MATD) course. Which course you take may depend on the college-level math course that you ultimately need to take. (See below).

Which math course do you take after passing MATD 0370 Elementary Algebra with a C or better?

The answer depends on your situation:

a. If your degree program requires MATH 1314 College Algebra, MATH 1324 Math for Business and Economics, or any courses that these are prerequisites for, then you are required to take MATD 0390 Intermediate Algebra – whether or not you are TSI-Complete.

b. If your degree program allows you to take MATH 1332 College Mathematics, MATH 1342 Elementary Statistics, or MATH 1333 Math for Measurement then:

– if you pass the COMPASS (or one of the other state approved tests – THEA, ASSET or ACCUPLACER) – then you will be TSI-Complete in math and you can enroll in any one of the latter three MATH courses.

– if you are not TSI-Complete because you do not take or do not pass the COMPASS (or one of the other state-approved exams) you may take either MATD 0385 Developing Mathematical Thinking or MATD 0390 Intermediate Algebra. Completion of either course with a C or better will make you TSI-Complete and qualify you to take any one of the three MATH courses in item b above. Students who struggled in MATD 0370 (made a C or low B) would be particularly well-advised to take MATD 0385 if they do not need College Algebra or Math for Business and Economics and do not plan to change to a degree program which will require these.

What is this new course MATD 0385 Developing Mathematical Thinking?

MATD 0385 is an alternative to Intermediate Algebra for students who will take only MATH 1332 College Math, MATH 1333 Math for Measurement, or MATH 1342 Elementary Statistics. It is a 3-hour contact course that will develop the thinking skills students need in MATH 1332, 1333 and 1342. It is not algebra intensive like MATD 0390. Students who pass either MATD 0385 or MATD 0390 with an A, B, or C will automatically become TSI-Complete in math.

Remember: Students who need MATH 1314 College Algebra or MATH 1324 Math for Business & Economics MUST take MATD 0390 Intermediate Algebra.

All sections of MATD 0385 are listed in the course schedule right after MATD 0370 Elementary Algebra and before MATD 0390 Intermediate Algebra.

So how do you begin in this class?

1) Verify now that Intermediate Algebra is the correct level class for you by completing the Review for the Intermediate Algebra Pretest. Then take the actual Pretest in Blackboard as soon as this course becomes available to you in Blackboard, shortly before the semester begins. You should pass this Pretest with a score of at least 70% correct. Otherwise, you should email me at jbickham@austincc.edu because it is likely you should enroll in a previous course: MATD 0370 Elementary Algebra or possibly even MATD 0330 Basic Math Skills. If you have not completed the Pretest with a score of at least 70% by the end of the first week of classes, you may be dropped from the course. Be sure that you understand the importance of taking the correct level math class by reading the TSI and class expectation requirements at http://www.austincc.edu/jbickham/tsi. Do this and the next 3 steps as soon as possible because the schedule change ("adds and drops") period is short, but is slightly longer for developmental classes.

2) To help determine whether this is a reasonable type course for you, complete the following two handouts posted at http://www.austincc.edu/jbickham/handouts:

a. Is Computer-Mediated Math Right for You?

b. Is Distance Learning Math Right for You?

3) Make sure that you have the minimum computer requirements posted at http://www.austincc.edu/jbickham/rightclass#Minimum. You will also need reliable high-speed internet access in order to participate in this course. ACC now provides email addresses for students, and all ACC faculty are required to send class correspondence to students using those email addresses. Therefore, you MUST activate your ACC email account now. Your ACC email address is firstname.lastname@g.austincc.edu, unless another ACC student has your same first and last name. Then your last name may have a number immediately following it, such as firstname.lastname2@g.austincc.edu. To find out for sure, go to Online Services at http://www.austincc.edu/. Click on Current Students. Then log in with your ACCeID and password, and click on ACCmail to find your ACCmail user name, initial password, and a link to activate your new ACCmail account. Unless it has changed, your initial password will be ten digits: the last 4 digits of your ACCeID or ACC ID (both ACCeID and ACC ID have the same last 4 digits), followed immediately by your 6-digit birthday in MMDDYY form. If you want to have all email automatically forwarded from your ACCmail to your regular email account, follow these instructions to set up your ACCmail to forward email automatically. Note: the only difference between your ACC ID and ACCeID is that your ACCeID has 8 digits: the first initial of your official first name followed immediately by your full 7-digit ACC ID number, which is in the upper right part of your ACC Photo ID.

4) Read through all of the links here and on the left side of the page, and please let me know if you find any bad links or errors. Please also read through the handouts posted at http://www.austincc.edu/jbickham/handouts and let me know if you find any mistakes in those, particularly in the Syllabus and Weekly Schedule. Be sure to get the handouts for MATD 0390 Intermediate Algebra, and not for my other 2 developmental math courses.

5) If after doing all of this, you are sure that this is the correct class for you, then buy your MyMathLab access (with or without a printed copy of the book because the MyMathLab access comes with the book and solutions online) as soon as possible. Register for MyMathLab by following the instructions at http://www.austincc.edu/jbickham/mymathlabinfo.pdf. For students with short-term financial issues, such as waiting for financial aid to arrive, brief temporary access to the MyMathLab computer program is available. The method for obtaining this temporary access has changed, so you should contact your instructor if you need temporary access to MyMathLab. You will also need notebook paper, pencils (or pens) with erasers, and an inexpensive scientific (non-graphing) calculator. You may get rectangular graph paper if you want it for graphing lines, but you may also print graph paper from here.

6) All information necessary to complete the online orientation is now posted, so please submit your online orientation quiz in Blackboard as soon as this course becomes available to you in Blackboard, shortly before the semester begins. You do NOT need the MyMathLab access or book in order to complete the online orientation. Just read the information in the web pages and handouts, and you should be able to answer the questions. After you have completed the online orientation quiz and have received feedback explaining what you missed and where to get that information, you should retake the orientation quiz as many times as necessary to get a perfect score (10 correct out of 10 possible because the Testing Center question does not count in your score). After taking the orientation quiz and reviewing your answers, which tells where to find the answers to each question, if you still are unable to find the information you are looking for, please contact me. If you have not completed the orientation with a perfect score by the end of the first week of classes, you may be dropped from the course.

7) Get started in the Weekly Schedule right away because the first assignments are due by the beginning of Week 2.

8) For more information about what to accomplish no later than the first week, please refer to http://www.austincc.edu/jbickham/0390firstweek.pdf.

9) I will be emailing the entire class with more information regularly. These emails sent to the class will also be posted as announcements in Blackboard at http://acconline.austincc.edu/ for easy reference. Please keep in mind that I have many students I am dealing with, and the beginning and end of the semester are my busiest times because that is when most students contact me by telephone, by email, and in person, wanting help. Except for possible minor changes, all reviews have been created and are posted at http://www.austincc.edu/jbickham/handouts. I will be distributing tests to all of the Testing Centers and Offices for Students with Disabilities, and I will be emailing you to notify you as soon as those are ready for you to begin taking. I am working as fast as I can to assist everyone, so please be patient until you hear from me. I will be returning your messages as soon as I can and I will also be contacting the entire class with more information soon.

My goal is for my students to achieve victory over the math concepts and therefore succeed in my classes!

You have to do your part in order for this to occur!