Prerequisite

Computer Math Class Format

Distance Learning

Prerequisite

The prerequisite for Elementary Algebra (MATD 0370) is a grade of C or better in Basic Math Skills (MATD 0330) taken in Spring 2000 or later, or C or better in Prealgebra (MATD 0350), or its equivalent knowledge. To determine whether you have the prerequisite knowledge to take this course, please complete the Review for the Elementary Algebra Pretest. This review will be turned in with your first homework assignment. If you are able to understand and work correctly, without help, at least 30 out of the 42 problems on this review, then you are probably ready to take Elementary Algebra. If you cannot work correctly and understand at least 30 of these 42 problems, then you should enroll in Basic Math Skills (MATD 0330). (A kindly warning: "Fudging" your answers on this will only hurt you; if you aren't really ready for this course but sign up for it anyway, you will just waste your own time and money. Every semester, some students sign up for the course even though they aren't ready yet and drop or are dropped from the course before the semester is over. So, the next semester, they are right back where they started, without much of anything to show for it.) If you aren't able to do at least 30 of these review problems, contact me so I can help you change to Basic Mathematics (MATD 0330).

Elementary Algebra is designed to prepare you for Intermediate Algebra (MATD 0390) and to help you pass the math portion of the THEA or TCOMP test. It also offers you one way to prepare for MATH 1332 Topics in Mathematics and MATH 1342 Elementary Statistics if you have had two years of high school algebra, after you have passed the math portion of the TCOMP or THEA test. This course covers topics normally covered in the first year of algebra in high school.

Please be aware that if you begin in this math course, you will have to take one other math course (Intermediate Algebra) before taking College Algebra (if you need College Algebra for your degree) or Mathematics for Business and Economics. If you think that this course may be too easy for you, you may want to try doing the Review for the Intermediate Algebra Pretest. If you are able to understand and work correctly at least 43 out of the 61 problems on this review without help, then you are probably ready to take Intermediate Algebra and you may ask Nancy Miller to give you the pretest for that course and help you change to that course if your Intermediate Algebra pretest score is at least 75.

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Computer Math Class Format

This course requires using MyMathLab web based software, with guidance and support from your instructor. The web based software provides visual explanations in videos and step by step problem explanations. You will work through the study plan or the multi-media text before doing the online homework problems for each section.

In this class, you will be in charge of your learning in a way that is different from a traditional lecture class. You will need to stay on or ahead of schedule and work several times each week or every day. This allows you some freedom to set the times at which you work through the material, which means that you may be able to successfully complete the course before the end of the semester. It also means that you may spend less time on topics with which you can already show knowledge and skills and more time on topics which are troublesome for you. Click on "Homework/Test review" at the upper left to find a weekly schedule of topics to be covered and a schedule of exams. In order to complete the course within the semester, you must keep up with the weekly schedule and test schedule. In order to succeed in this class, you should plan to spend about 9 to 15 hours each week (or more, if necessary) working on the material, depending on how much of the material is already review for you. [Back To Top]

Distance Learning

Distance learning courses provide students the ability to plan their school schedules around their lives rather than planning their lives around their school schedules. But not all students are well-suited for a distance learning course, let alone a distance math course. Everyone has different learning styles and different personalities; therefore, it is important to for you to assess your own style and your own characteristics before enrolling in this course. To help you do this, please complete the survey "Is A Distance Learning Math Class For You?"

Important Note:

Your level of success in any course is determined by a multitude of factors. The survey presented above is meant to give you an indication of your aptitude for distance learning courses and is in no way a guarantee for success or failure in any course or program.

Taking this course by Distance Learning requires very good reading skills. If you are TASP/THEA - mandated in reading, you must have my permission, before the class begins, to be in this class.

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• This is not just a textbook course. This distance learning course requires you to use the MyMathLab software on the internet to pass the course. You will need to take care of buying the software right away. It is not acceptable to wait until later than the first week to take care of this. (It is possible to just buy the software and get started, which is significantly cheaper.)

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  4. Get your ACC email address. Most communication in this course is by ACC email. Also, many email accounts and email programs come with "anti-spam" (or "anti-junk mail") filters. Normally, this is a very good thing. However, I have had a few cases where these filters have blocked my email to students in the course. There are two things you should do to try to avoid problems with this:

• a. Once you have registered for the course and submitted the Orientation Form, you should receive an email from me on or before the first day of class. These messages are also posted on ACC Blackboard. If you have not received this, check to see if there is a message from me in your "junk" or "spam" or "trash" folder (in your email program). If there is, see if there is a way to add me to your filter's "white list" (see below for more details). If there isn't, call and leave me a message (512-223-8270) with a clearly spoken call back phone number..

  b. If your email program (or your email server) has something like a "white list" or "safe list" or "friends list" for email addresses that will never be marked as spam/junk mail, then add my email address (nmiller@austincc.edu) to that list. That way, you should safely receive any messages from me.
  
  

  5.. Complete the online orientation questions and e-mail to Nancy Miller. Go to my page on Orientation for more questions to answer and date and time if you can attend.

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  6. Buy the textbook/software license. After you unwrap it, the textbook/license is NOT RETURNABLE, so be sure you are in the right class and that you have done well on the Review for the Elementary Algebra Pretest first. Go to my course Policies page for complete information on this. You might also want to pick up the other required supplies for the course while you are there.

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  7. Ask me about the course ID you will need to sign in to the computer software. I will send these out on or before the first day of class to each student on my official roll sheet to ACC e-mail addresses or find on announcements on ACC Blackboard. See the course policies section for full details.

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  8. Set up the software on your computer, log in, and learn how to use the software.

  Sometimes there is a 24-48 hour delay after you register for the MyMathLab software before you have access to the software, so use the paper text pages or use the text (not the software) for the first two weeks online at

  http://www.austincc.edu/mthdept2/text/ -----------password: acc0370