COURSE SYLLABUS College Algebra MATH 1314 (online) Fall 2016 3 0 3 Lecture Lab Credit TSI-Met in Mathematics Prerequisites This syllabus has been reviewed and is current on the date indicated below. Prepared By Date Troy Williamson July 26, 2016 Associate Professor Reviewed By Date Terra Alvarado July 26, 2016 Division Director
Course Syllabus Page 2 I. Instructor Information Name: Troy D. Williamson Campus Office: Abilene Campus, Room 146 Contact Information: Office Hours: Tuesday, 10:00-11:30 a.m. Wednesday, 2:00-4:00 p.m. Thursday, 10:00-11:30 a.m. (or by appointment) Advisement Hours: N/A Email or Google Chat: troy.williamson@tstc.edu Yahoo IM: tdw.abilene Cell Phone (text): 775-234-TROY (8769) Office Phone: 325-734-3634 Department Chair: Troy Williamson (same as above) Division Director: Terra Alvarado, (terra.alvarado@tstc.edu, 325-734-3687) II. Class Time, Location This is an online class, but that does not mean that the class is entirely self-paced. There will be assignments during each instructional unit which must be completed & submitted during that unit of instruction. The course will be managed through the college s Moodle learning management system. You can access the college s Moodle site through the college portal (https://portal.tstc.edu) or by going directly to https://mycourses.tstc.edu. If you have difficulty with this site, technical support is available by phone at 800-592-8784, by email at tstchelpdesk@tstc.edu, or via Yahoo Messenger at tstchelpdesk. This course also utilizes MyMathLab, which can be accessed at www.mymathlab.com. If you encounter any difficulty with this site, Pearson s technical support can be contacted at 247pearsoned.custhelp.com. Note that two proctored examinations are required; that is, there are two examinations which must be taken in person at a testing location. Students are responsible for securing an appropriate testing facility and paying any fees incurred in the process. (No fees will be required of students who complete their testing at a TSTC campus.) If a testing center is closed due to weather conditions, for example on a date when a student has scheduled to take a proctored examination, the student should communicate with the instructor as soon as possible so that the examination can be rescheduled. Mid-term grades for this course will be computed and posted after the first examination has been completed (i.e., after Unit 4 of the course has been completed).
Course Syllabus Page 3 III. Core Curriculum Objectives The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board has established six Core Curriculum Objectives which apply to general academic courses. These objectives are: 1) Critical Thinking Skills (including creative thinking, innovation, inquiry, and the analysis, evaluation, and synthesis of information); 2) Communication Skills (including the effective development, interpretation, and expression of ideas through written, oral, and visual communication); 3) Empirical and Quantitative Skills (including the manipulation and analysis of numerical data or observable facts, resulting in informed conclusions); 4) Teamwork (including the ability to consider different points of view and to work effectively with others to support a shared purpose or goal); 5) Social Responsibility (including intercultural competency, a knowledge of civic responsibility, and the ability to engage effectively in regional, national, and global communities); and 6) Personal Responsibility (including the ability to connect choices, actions, and consequences to ethical decision-making). In keeping with the guidelines established by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, this course (MATH 1314) will address the following Core Curriculum Objectives: Critical Thinking Skills, Communication Skills, and Empirical and Quantitative Skills. IV. Course Description & Introduction In-depth study and applications of polynomial, rational, radical, exponential and logarithmic functions, and systems of equations using matrices. Additional topics such as sequences, series, probability, and conics may be included. V. Learning Outcomes The following learning outcomes are found in the Lower-Division Academic Course Guide Manual, published by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board: A. Demonstrate and apply knowledge of properties of functions, including domain and range, operations, compositions, and inverses. B. Recognize and apply polynomial, rational, radical, exponential and logarithmic functions and solve related equations. C. Apply graphing techniques. D. Evaluate all roots of higher degree polynomial and rational functions. E. Recognize, solve and apply systems of linear equations using matrices.
Course Syllabus Page 4 VI. Assessment Methods & Grading Policy Course grades will be calculated as follows: Quizzes 30% Homework Assignments 30% Mid-Term Examination 20% Final Examination 20% All quizzes and homework assignments must be completed in MyMathLab. The two examinations will be proctored and may be given on paper or completed in Moodle. Grades on individual assignments will be weighted and averaged according to the distribution shown above. At the end of the semester, no rounding will occur in the final grade calculation until the final average is determined; that average will be rounded to the nearest whole value, and the course grade will be assigned as follows. 90-100 = A 80-89 = B 70-79 = C 60-69 = D 0-59 = F Grades will be updated in Moodle throughout the semester. Late assignments are not accepted. Communicate any problems regarding assignment dates as early as possible, so that alternative arrangements (if warranted) can be made. Make-up and extra credit work will not be offered in this course. The Grading Standards, published on page 26 of the TSTC College Catalog & Student Handbook 2015, apply to this course. These standards can be found on the TSTC website at http://www.tstc.edu/student_life/catalog. VII. Textbook & Reference Materials MyMathLab Standalone Access Card 4 th Edition, ISBN 9780321199911 Required materials can be reserved and purchased through the TSTC West Texas Bookstore; go to http://bookstores.tstc.edu/tstcabilene/ for more information. VIII. Additional Resources & Supplies A scientific calculator is required. Internet access is required, since the lessons and assignments are accessed through Moodle and MyMathLab.
Course Syllabus Page 5 IX. Class Participation Policy & Student Conduct It is expected that you check your MyMail email accounts daily for communication from the instructor. The instructor will also check email daily and respond to all emails within 24 hours during the school week. If you email the instructor on a weekend or holiday, the instructor will respond no later than the next school day. Students are expected to complete all assignments in order to learn the course material; mathematics is not a spectator sport. Students are expected to act in a way that maintains the standards of an academic environment. To facilitate the learning process for all students, individuals should make respectful and responsible choices. Students are expected to adhere to the Code of Student Conduct. Section J refers to academic dishonesty. While studying with other students is appropriate and encouraged, this is not meant to replace individual effort. Students who attempt to take credit for someone else s work commit a serious offense. Offenses will result in the loss of credit for the assignment (a grade of 0 for the assignment), and these offenses will be reported (as per college policy) to the Community Standards Liaison. If a student is guilty of cheating on two separate assignments, the student will automatically receive an F in the course. The following are all considered academic dishonesty in this course. A) Working with anyone else on quizzes in MyMathLab B) Copying another student s work, or allowing another student to copy your work, on any assignment (homework, quizzes, examinations) C) Allowing someone else to do any of your work in the course for you X. Safety There are no course-specific safety requirements for this class. Students are expected to comply with all of the safety requirements and guidelines published in the TSTC Student Handbook (which can be found online through the college website at http://www.tstc.edu/student_life/catalog). XI. Special Needs If you have a documented disability that will impact your work in this class, please contact the ADA Coordinator so that appropriate arrangements for your accommodations can be made. The counselor on your campus can assist you in this process. In accordance with the federal law, a student requesting accommodations must provide documentation of his/her disability to the ADA Coordinator. For more information, call (325) 236-8292 or send an email to amy.freeman@tstc.edu.
Course Syllabus Page 6 XII. Course Schedule This course is divided into eight learning units. The calendar which follows shows the topics and textbook sections to be covered during each of those units of instruction. Note that adjustments may be made to this calendar as required by unforeseen circumstances, and students will be given ample notice of any modifications to the course calendar and/or assignment due dates if such adjustments are needed. During each learning unit, students will have homework assignments and quizzes to complete in MyMathLab. These will always be due at 11:55 p.m. on the Tuesday which ends the learning unit. Students should utilize the learning resources available in Moodle as well as in MyMathLab, and should communicate with the instructor for any additional assistance that is needed. While this is an online class, that does not mean that students are expected to learn on their own; communicate with the instructor so that you can be given the instruction that you need. It is understood that some students do not particularly care for mathematics it is viewed as a necessary evil. Mathematics is not difficult, however; it is one of the most logical things that can be studied. Humans are rational beings, so a fully rational approach to problemsolving (like mathematics offers) is something that everyone can learn. If you have had bad experiences with mathematics in the past, please put negative thoughts out of your mind as much as possible. This course will help you learn skills which will be valuable in your life and in your career. Stay positive, and you may be surprised at how much you can learn. Students are encouraged to NOT wait until the last minute to begin work on homework and quizzes. Repetition is a key to learning in mathematics, and that works best when the repetition occurs over several days (instead of one marathon learning session). Additionally, if a student waits until the last minute and then encounters technical issues, a late assignment will not be accepted; in such a situation, it is the student s fault for waiting until the last minute to submit an assignment. Students are also encouraged to take notes to help review/prepare for the examinations. While a notebook is not required and will not be graded it is a good idea to have a notebook for this class, so that class materials can be kept together. Unit 4 (the mid-term examination) and Unit 8 (the final examination) are units during which the examination is the only assignment due. Students are required to take both of these examinations in person at a testing center; students need to make appropriate arrangements and notify the instructor of the testing center they will be using. If any fees are incurred (there are no fees at the TSTC testing centers), the student is responsible for paying those fees. Schedule your examinations as soon as possible, to be sure that last-minute difficulties are not encountered.
Course Syllabus Page 7 Course Calendar Unit 1 (August 29 September 13) Content from Chapter 1 Equations and Inequalities Section 1.1: Graphs and Graphing Utilities Section 1.2: Linear Equations and Rational Equations Section 1.3: Models and Applications Section 1.4: Complex Numbers Section 1.5: Quadratic Equations Section 1.6: Other Types of Equations Section 1.7: Linear Inequalities and Absolute Value Inequalities Homework assignments in MyMathLab are due by 11:55 p.m. on Tuesday, September 13 Quizzes in MyMathLab are due by 11:55 p.m. on Tuesday, September 13 Unit 2 (September 14 September 27) Content from Chapter 2 Functions and Graphs Section 2.1: Basics of Functions and Their Graphs Section 2.2: More on Functions and Their Graphs Section 2.3: Linear Functions and Slope Section 2.4: More on Slope Section 2.5: Transformations of Functions Section 2.6: Combinations of Functions; Composite Functions Section 2.7: Inverse Functions Section 2.8: Distance and Midpoint Formulas; Circles Homework assignments in MyMathLab are due by 11:55 p.m. on Tuesday, September 27 Quizzes in MyMathLab are due by 11:55 p.m. on Tuesday, September 27 Unit 3 (September 28 October 11) Content from Chapter 3 Polynomial and Rational Functions Section 3.1: Quadratic Functions Section 3.2: Polynomial Functions and Their Graphs Section 3.3: Dividing Polynomials; Remainder and Factor Theorems Section 3.4: Zeros of Polynomial Functions Section 3.5: Rational Functions and Their Graphs Section 3.6: Polynomial and Rational Inequalities Homework assignments in MyMathLab are due by 11:55 p.m. on Tuesday, October 11 Quizzes in MyMathLab are due by 11:55 p.m. on Tuesday, October 11 Unit 4 (October 12 October 18) [Note the overlapping dates!!!] Mid-term examination Proctored examination must be completed by 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, October 18
Course Syllabus Page 8 Unit 5 (October 14 November 1) Content from Chapter 4 Exponential and Logarithmic Functions Section 4.1: Exponential Functions Section 4.2: Logarithmic Functions Section 4.3: Properties of Logarithms Section 4.4: Exponential and Logarithmic Equations Section 4.5: Exponential Growth and Decay; Modeling Data Homework assignments in MyMathLab are due by 11:55 p.m. on Tuesday, November 1 Quizzes in MyMathLab are due by 11:55 p.m. on Tuesday, November 1 Unit 6 (November 2 November 15) Content from Chapter 5 Systems of Equations and Inequalities Section 5.1: Systems of Linear Equations in Two Variables Section 5.2: Systems of Linear Equations in Three Variables Section 5.3: Partial Fractions Section 5.4: Systems of Nonlinear Equations in Two Variables Section 5.5: Systems of Inequalities Homework assignments in MyMathLab are due by 11:55 p.m. on Tuesday, November 15 Quizzes in MyMathLab are due by 11:55 p.m. on Tuesday, November 15 Unit 7 (November 16 December 6) Content from Chapter 6 Matrices and Determinants Section 6.1: Matrix Solutions to Linear Systems Section 6.2: Inconsistent and Dependent Systems and Their Applications Section 6.3: Matrix Operations and Their Applications Section 6.4: Multiplicative Inverses of Matrices and Matrix Equations Section 6.5: Determinants and Cramer s Rule Homework assignments in MyMathLab are due by 11:55 p.m. on Tuesday, December 6 Quizzes in MyMathLab are due by 11:55 p.m. on Tuesday, December 6 Unit 8 (December 3 December 9) [Note the overlapping dates!!!] Final examination Proctored examination must be completed by 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, December 8
Course Syllabus Page 9 XIII. Instructor Credentials (CV) Troy Williamson Education Name of Institution Degree Earned Major (Minor) Field of Study Date Earned Texas Tech University Master of Arts Philosophy (Mathematics) August 1993 Texas Tech University Bachelor of Arts Philosophy (Mathematics & May 1992 English) Western Texas College Associate in Arts Mathematics May 1990 Western Texas Associate in Applied College Science Management May 1989 Industry, Teaching or Training, and Other (examples: publications and memberships) Experience Relevant to the Course Description of Experience Related to the Course Date Ended Date Began Texas State Technical College West Texas, Abilene, TX Instructor for philosophy, humanities, and mathematics courses Present January 2003 Howard College, Lamesa, TX Instructor for mathematics, philosophy, and humanities courses December 2002 May 2001 Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX December 1994 Instructor for philosophy courses Lubbock Christian University, Lubbock, TX Instructor for philosophy courses January 1993 December 1994 August 1993