Preview MyMathLab software.
First Day Handout for Students
MATD 0370 - 46584
Elementary Algebra (computer mediated
- distance learning )
Spring, 2012 - 16 week session
- Jan. 17 - May 10, 2012
Welcome to your on-line developmental mathematics course pages.
Please
bookmark this page.
Dr. Nancy C. Miller, Ph.D.
Office Hours: Tuesdays 9:30am-10:40 & 1:15pm-2:15 & 2:30pm-3:30 & 3:45pm-4:30
Thursdays 9:30am-10:40 & 2:30pm-3:30 & 3:45pm-4:30
Call or e-mail if you need an appointment.
Mailing address: Pinnacle ACC Campus, 7748 Highway 290 West, Austin, TX 78736
web pages: www.austincc.edu/
<
Orientation: send your e-mail responses to the orientation
questions linked from the list on the left and attend in person orientation if you like, Thursday Jan. 19, 5-6pm, 6th floor learning lab computer room at PIN campus on Highway 290 west.
All of the information to help you get started and important information for the course are linked from the list at the left and listed below.
If you still have questions or concerns contact me at nmiller@austincc.edu .
To promote a sense of collective community among students and eliminate the anonymity that may sometimes characterize computer courses, this course requires interaction with your professor and/or your classmates by e-mail or on ACC Blackboard discussion board each week.
This course requires regular weekly online homework on MyMathLab software, software quizzes, and weekly homework on paper showing steps that you must turn in every Monday.
You will have 4 major
tests on paper, and a final exam on paper in any
that includes the online text. If you have purchased
a new text at an ACC bookstore, it includes the software MyMathLab access
kit.
You can access the text (not the software) for the first two weeks online
at
MyMathLab software access is required for this course. The paper text is not required as you can read the text in MyMathLab online software after you purchase access. All new MATD
0370 textbooks purchased at an ACC bookstore include MyMathLab access.
It is usually not included with the purchase of a used book, and may not be
included with a new book purchased at a different bookstore. Refer to
the handout Information about MyMathLab.
Course Objectives:
They are posted at http://www.austincc.edu/mthdept2/tfcourses/obj0370.htm
and included in this handout.
Students who are not TSI complete in math are not allowed to enroll
in any course with a math skill requirement.
All students are required to be "continually progressing"
in order to remain enrolled in this course. If this is the only developmental
class you are enrolled in, and you withdraw yourself from this course
or are withdrawn by your instructor, then:
a) You may be withdrawn from courses that you should not be enrolled
in, such as any class with a math skill requirement.
b) You will have a hold placed on your registration for the following
semester. The Hold will require that you register for the next semester
in person with an advisor or counselor and that you work with the Developmental
Math Advisor during that semester.
c) You will continue to face more serious consequences, up to being
restricted to only registering for developmental courses, until you
complete the required developmental math course or satisfy the TSI requirement
in another way.
Importance of Completing
Developmental Course Requirements
The first steps to achieving any college academic goal are completing
developmental course requirements and TSI requirements. The first priority
for students who are required to take developmental courses must be
the developmental courses. TSI rules state that students are allowed
to take college credit courses, if they are fulfilling their developmental
requirements. Because successful completion of dev courses is so important,
ACC will intervene with any student who is not successfully completing
developmental requirements. This intervention can mean a hold on records,
requiring developmental lab classes, working with the Dev Math Advisor,
and monitoring during the semester. More information can be found at
http://www.austincc.edu/math/tsiwarning.htm.
** If you are unsure whether or not this warning applies to you, see
an ACC advisor immediately
Withdrawal Policy:
It is the student's responsibility
to initiate all withdrawals in this course.
The instructor may withdraw students for not showing progress
each week, but makes no commitment to do this for the student. After
the withdrawal date, neither the student nor the instructor may initiate
a withdrawal. TSI-mandated students
not showing weekly progress will be withdrawn. The withdrawal deadline is
1. Online homework. Work through my study plan or multi-media text watching videos before working through each section's online homework assignment in MyMathLab software. Click "check" after doing each online problem. The numbers on the software online homework do not match those numbers listed on our assignment sheet, but they are the same type problem, with different numbers, so you can get help with that matching text problem in an ACC learning lab or from a friend or family member using your text if needed. Redo each online homework problem until you get it correct, by selecting a similar problem when you miss one. Come back to a homework problem after study, when you need to redo and select a similar problem. All online homework in MyMathLab must be completed by the time and date listed on the assignment sheet with a score of 80% or higher. You can come back later and raise your score to 100% by doing similar problems on those you missed. Keep a paper math notebook showing steps for online homework and quiz problems for each section after 1.7, to review.
2. Written paper homework should be sent
in every Monday as listed on the assignment
sheet that
Tests: You will be
taking Tests and a comprehensive departmental Final Exam
in the
- Grading policy: Final overall grades in this class will be calculated based on the following:
- grading components
|
PARTICIPATION |
4% |
|
OVERALL AVERAGE |
GRADE |
|
HOMEWORK AVERAGE (ONLINE & PAPER) |
10% |
|
Both 90% minimum average and final exam
score of at least 80 or higher |
A |
|
QUIZ AVERAGE |
10% |
|
Both 80% minimum average and final exam
score of at least 70 or higher |
B |
|
4 MAJOR TESTS |
56% |
|
Both 70% minimum average and final exam
score of at least 60 or higher |
C |
|
FINAL EXAM |
|
|
Both 60% minimum average and final exam
score of at least 50 |
D |
|
|
|
|
Below 60% average or final exam score
below 50 |
F |
v Policy about late work:
Participation on discussion questions must take place at least once
every week. No late or make-up participations are accepted
after 10 days, except for the second week for students who may change
into our course the second week of the semester.
Late homework is accepted for 80% credit up to 7days late, but
let Nancy know the reason. Late
tests have 3 points deducted from the test grade for 1-7 days late. Tests not prepared for and taken by 7 days
after the date listed on the homework sheet result
in withdrawal from the course.
Speak to your instructor if
you have any questions or concerns about participating in this class.
If, for any reason, you would prefer to attend a traditional lecture
class, please ask your instructor to help you make a schedule change
during the first 7 days in the semester.
|
|
Week
1..... Introduction, Pretest, 1.1-1.6
2..... 1.7, 1.8, 2.1-2.3
3..... 2.4-2.6, Test 1
4 .....3.1-3.4
5 .....3.5-3.7
6 .....4.1-4.3, Test 2, 4.4
7 .....4.5-4.8, 5.1
8 .....5.2-5.5
9 .....5.6-5.7, Test 3, 6.1
10 ....6.2-6.4
11 ....6.6, 6.7, 7.1
12 ....7.2-7.3
13 ....7.4, Test 4
14 ....8.1, 8.2, 9.1
15 ....9.3, 9.4
16 ....Review, Final Exam
Students will:
1. Perform operations involving integers, fractions, decimals, percents, signed exponents, scientific notation, ratios and proportions.
2. Solve problems involving geometric figures including perimeter, area, similarity, and the Pythagorean Theorem. Analyze, interpret, and solve problems from line graphs, bar graphs, pictographs, and pie charts.
3. Use appropriate forms of linear equations to identify slope, intercepts, and to graph lines. Find linear equations from given points and graphs of lines. Find solutions to systems of two equations by graphing.
4. Solve applied problems by defining variables, writing equation(s), solving equation(s), and writing an answer to the question in context. Problems requiring quadratic equations are included as well as problems requiring single linear equations and systems of linear equations.
5. Factor and perform operations to combine and/or simplify expressions and solve equations including numerical, some polynomial, and some rational expressions and equations. Simplify some radical expressions.
6. Use mathematical language, symbols, and notation to communicate mathematical concepts, demonstrate reasoning, and solve problems.
ACC Course Policies
Students who enroll for the third or subsequent time in a course taken since Fall, 2002, may be charged a higher tuition rate, for that course.
State law permits students to withdraw from no more than six courses during their entire undergraduate career at Texas public colleges or universities. With certain exceptions, all course withdrawals automatically count towards this limit. Details regarding this policy can be found in the ACC college catalog.
Statement on Scholastic Dishonesty: A student attending ACC assumes responsibility for conduct compatible with the mission of the college as an educational institution. Students have the responsibility to submit coursework that is the result of their own thought, research, or self-expression. Students must follow all instructions given by faculty or designated college representatives when taking examinations, placement assessments, tests, quizzes, and evaluations. Actions constituting scholastic dishonesty include, but are not limited to, plagiarism, cheating, fabrication, collusion, and falsifying documents. Penalties for scholastic dishonesty will depend upon the nature of the violation and may range from lowering a grade on one assignment to an “F” in the course and/or expulsion from the college. See the Student Standards of Conduct and Disciplinary Process and other policies at http://www.austincc.edu/current/needtoknow
Student Rights and Responsibilities: Students at the college have the rights accorded by the U.S. Constitution to freedom of speech, peaceful assembly, petition, and association. These rights carry with them the responsibility to accord the same rights to others in the college community and not to interfere with or disrupt the educational process. Opportunity for students to examine and question pertinent data and assumptions of a given discipline, guided by the evidence of scholarly research, is appropriate in a learning environment. This concept is accompanied by an equally demanding concept of responsibility on the part of the student. As willing partners in learning, students must comply with college rules and procedures.
Statement on Students with Disabilities: Each ACC campus offers support services for students with documented disabilities. Students with disabilities who need classroom, academic or other accommodations must request them through the Office for Students with Disabilities (OSD). Students are encouraged to request accommodations when they register for courses or at least three weeks before the start of the semester, otherwise the provision of accommodations may be delayed.
Students who have received approval for accommodations from OSD for this course must provide the instructor with the ‘Notice of Approved Accommodations’ from OSD before accommodations will be provided. Arrangements for academic accommodations can only be made after the instructor receives the ‘Notice of Approved Accommodations’ from the student.
Students with approved accommodations are encouraged to submit the ‘Notice of Approved Accommodations’ to the instructor at the beginning of the semester because a reasonable amount of time may be needed to prepare and arrange for the accommodations.
Additional information about the Office for Students with Disabilities is available at http://www.austincc.edu/support/osd/
Safety Statement: Austin Community College is committed to providing a safe and healthy environment for study and work. You are expected to learn and comply with ACC environmental, health and safety procedures and agree to follow ACC safety policies. Additional information on these can be found at http://www.austincc.edu/ehs. Because some health and safety circumstances are beyond our control, we ask that you become familiar with the Emergency Procedures poster and Campus Safety Plan map in each classroom. Additional information about emergency procedures and how to sign up for ACC Emergency Alerts to be notified in the event of a serious emergency can be found at http://www.austincc.edu/emergency/.
Please note, you are expected to conduct yourself professionally with respect and courtesy to all. Anyone who thoughtlessly or intentionally jeopardizes the health or safety of another individual will be dismissed from the day’s activity, may be withdrawn from the class, and/or barred from attending future activities..
Use of ACC email: All College e-mail communication to students will be sent solely to the student’s ACCmail account, with the expectation that such communications will be read in a timely fashion. ACC will send important information and will notify you of any college related emergencies using this account. Students should only expect to receive email communication from their instructor using this account. Likewise, students should use their ACCmail account when communicating with instructors and staff. Instructions for activating an ACCmail account can be found at http://www.austincc.edu/accmail/index.php.
Testing Center Policy: Under certain circumstances, an instructor may have students take an examination in a testing center. Students using the Academic Testing Center must govern themselves according to the Student Guide for Use of ACC Testing Centers and should read the entire guide before going to take the exam. To request an exam, one must have:
ACC Photo ID
Course Abbreviation (MATD )
Course Number (0370)
Course Synonym (46584)
Course Section (112)
Instructor's Name,,, Nancy Miller, be sure to include first and last name
Do NOT bring cell phones to the Testing Center. Having your cell phone in the testing room, regardless of whether it is on or off, will revoke your testing privileges for the remainder of the semester. ACC Testing Center policies can be found at http://www.austincc.edu/testctr/
Student And Instructional Services: ACC strives to provide exemplary support to its students and offers a broad variety of opportunities and services. Information on these services and support systems is available at: http://www.austincc.edu/s4/
Links to many student services and other information can be found at: http://www.austincc.edu/current/
ACC Learning Labs provide free tutoring services to all ACC students currently enrolled in the course to be tutored. The tutor schedule for each Learning Lab may be found at: http://www.autincc.edu/tutor/students/tutoring.php
For help setting up your ACCeID, ACC Gmail, or ACC Blackboard, see a Learning Lab Technician at any ACC Learning Lab
Course-Specific Support Services: ACC main campuses have Learning Labs which offer free first-come first-serve help with math from tutors and computer tutorials for math courses. Learning Lab information is posted at http://www.austincc.edu/tutor . DVDs that cover all topics can be checked out in the Learning Resource Centers (libraries). Ask your instructor if you need help finding them.
Common Course Objectives for MATD 0370 ELEMENTARY ALGEBRA (Revised October 2009):
The following objectives are listed in a sequence ranging from the simple to the more complex. As such, this document should not be viewed as a chronological guide to the course, although some elements naturally will precede others. These elements should be viewed as mastery goals which will be reinforced whenever possible throughout the course.
Overall objectives:
1. Students will feel a sense of accomplishment in their increasing
ability to use mathematics to solve problems of interest to them or
of use in their chosen fields. Students will attain more positive attitudes
based on increasing confidence in their abilities to learn mathematics.
2. Students will learn to understand material using standard mathematical
terminology and notation when presented either verbally or in writing.
3. Students will improve their skills in describing what they are doing
as they solve problems using standard mathematical terminology and notation.
1. Description and classification of whole numbers, integers, and rational numbers using sets and the operations among them
1. identify and use properties of real numbers
2. simplify expressions involving real numbers
3. evaluate numerical expressions with integral exponents
2. Polynomials
1. distinguish between expressions that are polynomials and expressions
that are not
2. classify polynomials in one variable by degree and number of terms
3. simplify polynomials
4. add, subtract, multiply (including the distributive law), and divide
polynomials (including division by monomials, but excluding long division)
5. factor polynomials in one or more variables (including factoring
out the greatest common factor, factoring by grouping, factoring trinomials
in which the leading coefficient is one, factoring trinomials in which
the leading coefficient is not one, and factoring the difference of
two squares)
6. understand and use the exponent laws involving integer exponents
7. convert numbers into and out of scientific notation and perform multiplication
and division with numbers written in scientific notation
3. Solve linear equations in one variable involving integral, decimal, and fractional coefficients and solutions
4. Solve and graph linear inequalities
5. Application problems
1. write and evaluate linear expressions from verbal descriptions
2. solve application problems which lead to one of the following types
of equations: linear equations in one variable, systems of two linear
equations in two variables, quadratic equations, and rational equations
with monomial numerators and denominators)
3. solve literal equations for a specified variable using addition and
multiplication principles
4. use given data to estimate values and to evaluate geometric and other
formulas
5. solve problems involving the Pythagorean theorem, similar triangles,
and proportions
6. Linear equations in two variables
1. identify the relationship between the solution of a linear equation
in two variables and its graph on the Cartesian plane
2. understand and use the concepts of slope and intercept
3. determine slope when two data points are given
4. graph a line given either two points on the line or one point on
the line and the slope of the line
5. write an equation of a line given one point on the line and the slope
of the line, or two points on the line
6. identify lines given in standard, point-slope, or slope-intercept
forms and sketch their graphs
7. solve systems of linear equations
7. Quadratic equations
1. find solutions to quadratic equations using the technique of factoring
and using the principle of square roots
2. recognize a need to use the quadratic formula to solve quadratic
equations and solve quadratic equations by using the quadratic formula
when some simplification of square roots is needed
8. Description and classification of irrational numbers
1. simplify radical expressions
2. use decimal approximations for radical expressions
9. Rational expressions
1. determine for which value(s) of the variable a rational expression
is undefined
2. simplify rational expressions containing monomials, binomials, and
trinomials
3. multiply and divide rational expressions containing monomials, binomials,
and trinomials
4. add and subtract rational expressions with like denominators and
rational expressions with unlike denominators (only monomials and binomials
that do not require factoring)
10. Geometry
1. understand the difference between perimeter and area and be able
to use formulas for these appropriately
2. solve application problems involving angles and polygons.