Math 125 -- Intermediate
Algebra (5 units)
Section # 0495 - Fall 2009
Virtual attendance is mandatory but physical attendance is optional! Class meets in room COSC 1512, Friday 9:35 – 11:00 AM. (Attendance is only required for the first day of class orientation, 1 in-class midterm, and the in-class final exam (MET)).
Instructor: Bob Martinez
Prerequisite: Placement, or, Math 115 with a grade of C or better.
Office hours: MTWTh 10:30 – 12 noon in 1409E, and Friday 9:35 – 11 AM in 1512
Email: martinrm@piercecollege.edu
Web page: http://faculty.piercecollege.edu/martinrm/Bob.htm
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Textbook:
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Intermediate Algebra with Applications & Visualization 2/e, by Gary K. Rockswold and Terry A. Krieger. The book comes in a package that includes the Student Solution Manual, MyMathLab access code, and Digital Video CD’s. The ISBN-10 for the book is 0-321-15892x and the ISBN-13 is 9780321158925 NOTE: If you don’t care about having a “physical” book, then you just buy your way directly into our online MyMathLab (Course Compass) course using a credit card, a valid email address, and our martinez84151 course ID. You just go to http://www.coursecompass.com and hit “Register” in the student section, then the first page that comes up has a “Purchase online access using a credit card” link – click that and you’re on your way and you follow the rest of the registering directions below without the access code part. |
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Materials: |
You will need at least a scientific calculator, and if you are continuing on in Mathematics, a Texas InstrumentTI-83 or 84 graphing calculator is recommended. 1 Scantron sheet 888-E from the bookstore: 8 ½ by 11 in. with the usual scantron letter choices on the left column and space to work in the body of the sheet. Use this for the Midterm exam. 1 special TCES/MET (green color, not red) scantron sheet from the bookstore to use for the final exam. |
How this
course works
You will be working on any PC computer (not Mac) that is connected to the Internet (at home or at the college). All your time on task and all your results will be monitored and logged via the internet on a server maintained by the Pearson Education Company. I will access this data to monitor your progress. The online “Gradebook” will show your progress.
You will do all your homework online from the “Do Homework” button and the computer grades your homework.
You will take chapter tests online from the “Chapter tests” button.
You will participate in the online discussion from the “Discussion Board” button
In addition to the work you do on the computer, you will take 1 in-class midterm and the in-class final exam (MET) exam. There will be no makeup exams.
Also – keep a journal of all your work you did to get the answers you put into the computer and bring it to the midterm – I want to see and help with your math syntax. Organize it by chapter.
During our class sessions on Friday (9:35- 11:00 AM), I am available to answer any questions you may have. And look for announcements or email blasts about review sessions or other links I create for you.
Homework, Chapter
Tests, Midterm, and Final exam dates and times:
q About online classes:
Warning!! You really must be self-motivated to succeed in this class. You must regulate your time, and be responsible for achieving the goals of the course. Do not procrastinate, or you will fall so far behind you can never catch up! If you did not realize this class was to be run in this format consider carefully whether to stay or transfer to anther section.
q Computer lab availability at Pierce:
The Math Computer Classroom in room 1512 and the
q Math tutoring:
Free math tutoring in room 1613 (enter and login at 1604) is available MTWTh 9 am – 7 pm.
q How to register for the on-line component of this class:
First, purchase the textbook package at the Bookstore. (unless you choose the “no paper book” approach mentioned earlier)
You will also need the following materials:
· A valid email address
· Our course ID: martinez84151
· A student access code (access kit book)
1) Go to http://www.coursecompass.com
2) Click the Register button.
3) Make sure you have everything you need then click Next.
4) Look for the printed student access code that came with the textbook. You will find it inside the access kit book. Type in the six "word" access code, one word in each box. Don't type the dashes.
NOTE: Once you have completed the registration, you will not need to use this information again.
5) Leave "No, I'm a new user" selected.
6) Click Next.
7) In the course ID box, type martinez84151
8) Enter a valid email address that you check on a regular basis.
9) Enter our school zip code: 91371
10) Click Next.
11) Select your school from the pull down list (Los Angeles Pierce College).
12) Click Next.
13) Create a unique login name (thousands of people are using this login software so it really has to be unique). But if it is already in use, don't worry, you'll be able to try another name until it works. Select a password. Fill in the other information requested.
14) Click Next.
15) A page will be displayed confirming that your registration is complete. Print this page to save your login name and password.
NOTE: If the login name you specified is already in use, you will be prompted to enter another one. Login name must be unique.
16) Whenever you want to log in to this course from now on, go to http://www.coursecompass.com, click the Log In button, and enter your login name and password.
How to log in and work on the materials for this course: (either at home, Pierce, or anywhere)
1) Go to http://www.coursecompass.com
2) Click the Log In button.
3) Enter your login name and password. Click the Log In button.
4) After you log in, your personalized My Course Compass page appears. To enter our course, click on Fall 2009 Math 125, under "Courses you are taking."
5) The Course Home Page appears with announcements and several buttons on the left. (Announcement, Do Homework, Chapter Tests, Gradebook, etc.)
6) Take a few moments to click items on the Course Home Page.
Working on the computer:
A. Installation of the software that you will need:
Log in and get to the Course Home Page. Look for the Installation Wizard in one of the announcements. Click on it and follow the instructions. You only need to install the software on your computer (one time only). The announcement says “run the MyMathLab Installation Wizard. “ The wizard walks you through installing the plug-ins and players you need to access the multimedia content in your course.
For Help, Contact Technical Support
Phone: 1-800-677-6337 Hours 6 am - 7 pm, Monday – Thursday; 6 am - 2 pm Friday;
2 pm – 7 pm Sunday.
B. Video lectures and interactive textbook:
1) Log in and get to the Course Home Page. Click the “Multimedia Library” bottom on the left side of the screen. A new screen opens with various sections.
2) Choose a chapter and section. “Multimedia Textbook” is just a reproduction of your textbook .
3) Now Click on “Section Video Lectures” and “Find Now” to view an explanation of the section by the author of the textbook
C. Homework on the computer:
1) Log in and get to the Course Home Page; click the Do Homework button. These are the homework sets that you are required to do on the computer.
2) Click on any Exercise. A problem appears for you to answer. Work out the problem on paper and type the answer in the appropriate space. Click the Check Answer button to see if you are correct. If you are correct you may go on to the next problem by clicking one of the unchecked exercises at the top of the page, or on NEXT EXERCISE at the bottom left side of the page. If you are wrong, you may try to answer it again. For many exercises you have three tries to get the correct answer. After 3 tries, you may ask for a new problem by clicking the similar exercise button at the bottom.
3) After answering some homework problems, the exercise list will have a check mark or an X next to the exercises you answered, depending on whether your answer is correct or not. The homework problems that you have not attempted to answer will have neither a check mark nor an X next to it. You may stop doing the homework at any time and go back to it later by following the instructions above.
4) When you are done working on the computer, you should end your session by logging out. To log out, click Log out at the top right side of the homepage. (NOTE: Logging out prevents the next user of the computer from accessing your grades and other information.)
5) When you have completed a homework set, you are ready to turn in your homework. This is done by clicking the SUBMIT button on the bottom right side of any homework problem you do. You can also submit after each completed problem.
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“Tough Love” Homework Policy:
If you do not complete the Chp. 1 Homework and the Chapter 1 test by the lockout date and time, then you will be excluded from the class for too many virtual absences. “Complete” means a score of at least 70% on the HW and 70% on the Chapter 1 test. The idea here is that if you cannot get it together to meet this first deadline then you are history anyway.
D. Online Chapter tests:
Click on the “Chapter Tests” button to take one of the chapter tests. Keep an eye on the due date (Lock out date) – after this date and time you will no longer be able to take the test. Complete a problem just like the HW (but without all the help functions!) and then click submit when finished – You can take a test up to 3 times and the last time overwrites the previous grade.
Why did I buy this book if there are no problems assigned out of the paper book?
Well, you could just buy the online access with a credit card as mentioned above. But most students say they like a paper copy to take places to study and read the examples. That’s up to you!
E. Discussion Board:
There are 50 points allocated for participation in the discussion board. Post questions and answer questions in each of the chapter forums. You can also post questions and answer concerning the MET sample test in the MET forum. Just click on the Discussion Board button. Try to make use of the Math template to write actual math and don’t just say “Can someone work exercise 33?” – you have to write out a problem and/or answer with Math symbols! And if someone else has already answered a question and has done a good job of it, then you are too late – answer another question! At the end of the class I will make a qualitative judgment of your participation (quality and quantity) and give points accordingly. And obviously you have to keep your discussions clean!
***** Sample Math 125 MET test: Check it out online at my faculty web page which you can access by clicking the “Bob’s Web Page” button. The answers are given at the end. This is a great way to get Discussion Board points – showing the worked out steps of the MET sample problems, not to mention studying for the final.
Messages from me to you:
Occasionally, there will be important announcements from me. You can read these under "Announcements" on the Course Home Page. I may also send information about the course to the email address that you set up when you registered for CourseCompass. I use this email address to reply to your email. Please check your email regularly. If you change your email address during the term, be sure to update you email address on the Account summary page.
Messages from you to me:
You can send me email through the system by clicking on the Email button on the left side of the home screen. On the next screen, click on Send E-mail. And then click on All Instructor Users. A screen will appear where you can type your message to me. After typing your message, click Submit. You can also send an email message to me by clicking on the “ask my instructor” button while doing a HW problem. I will try to answer you in one or two days. I will send my reply to the email address you set up when you registered for CourseCompass. Please check your email regularly.
Grading System:
Your grade will be determined by total points. The Gradebook button shows your progress.
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Item |
Points |
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Online Homework (Chapter 1-10 homework assignments – 25 pts. each) |
250 |
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Online Chapter tests (10 chapter tests – 30 pts. each) |
300 |
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In-class Midterm (Chp. 1 – 5) |
200 |
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On campus Final exam (MET) (Chp. 1 – 10) |
200 |
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Discussion Board |
50 |
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Total points = |
1000 |
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Total percentage |
Letter Grade |
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88 – 100 % |
A |
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78 – 87 % |
B |
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65 – 77 % |
C |
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50 – 64 % |
D |
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0 – 49 % |
F |
Drop policy:
It is your responsibility to drop if you decide not to finish the course. I will be monitoring your computer scores and I may exclude you if you are not making appropriate progress, but do not count on me to do so. If you stop working on the computer but do not drop and I do not exclude you, you will be given an F in the course. Be sure to officially drop, if you do not intend to finish the course.
q Cheating Policy:
If you cheat in this class (Cheating is defined as knowingly or unknowingly participating in the submission of unoriginal work for any assignment, quiz, or test.), the instructor is required to fill out an Academic Dishonesty Report Form. This report will be submitted to the Mathematics chair who will forward it to the VP of Student Services for disciplinary action, which may include suspension or expulsion.
In addition to sending the report, I will take the following actions:
1) Assign a grade of zero for the assignment, quiz, or test even if doing so results in the impossibility of the student to pass the class.
2) Deduct 500 points from the student’s overall total points for a Conduct Code Violation even if doing so results in the impossibility of the student to pass the class.