Math 96 Intermediate Algebra in Context FALL 2018 RASMUSSEN Professor: Melonie Rasmussen Final Exam: Tuesday Dec 11 th NOON 2pm Office: Rainier 350 hours 9:00 9:50 daily 11:00-11:30 by appointment M-Th 3:20-4:00 by appointment M-Th Phone: (253) 964-6747 E-mail: mrasmussen@pierce.ctc.edu Classroom: RAI 335, MTWTh@ 12-1:30 WAMAP: Course shell containing assignments and grades **This is the best way to message me. ATTENDANCE: Attendance will be taken daily and is part of your overall grade. NO CLASSES/ COLLEGE CLOSED: Oct 19 th * Nov 12 th * Nov 21-23 Course Description: This course integrates numeracy, proportional reasoning, algebraic skills, and functional reasoning. Students will represent quantitative relationships in multiple ways in order to solve problems from a variety of authentic contexts. Linear and exponential functions, along with logarithms and radicals will be studied and applied. Modeling and interpreting quantitative data is emphasized. Course Content: A. Numeracy B. Proportional Reasoning C. Algebraic Skills and Reasoning D. Functional Reasoning E. Realistic applications from relevant themes: Prerequisite: Satisfactory placement test score, or Math 54 with at least a 2.0, or instructor permission. Required Supplies: Text book: MATH 96 Intermediate Algebra in Context, MATH 96 Course Packet 3 Ring Binder/Organizer: - This is required as the text book is loose leaf and 3 hole punched. You will also keep any notes, papers, handouts, quizzes, tests etc. in this binder. Calculator: A Scientific Calculator is all that is needed, however a graphing calculator is fine too! Using your phone as a calculator will not be permitted. Utilities: Pencils, Eraser, Highlighter, Color Pencil/Pen, Paper (lined & graphing) Computer Access: Your homework and ancillary materials will be online. Reliable access is required. If you do not have reliable access there are computers in the STEM center Rainer 338 that are open during normal classroom hours. The Dedicated Computer Lab in Olympic 301/302 is open from 8am-9pm M-Th / 8am-5pm Fri / 12-5pm Sat & Sun. DAILY: You will encounter problems that require you to use your quantitative, algebraic and critical thinking skills. Occasionally we will discuss these things as a whole class but for the most part you will be working collaboratively in small groups (as well as individually). You should prepare for class by reading or skimming the lesson before you arrive in class. You will need to work with your classmates, participate, think critically, and be ready to make mistakes that you can learn from. You will need to be actively thinking and working in class. You will need to know yourself and ask for help before getting frustrated. You will need to seek help, do the homework, go to the SI sessions, and seek help during office hours. This class is truly NO JOKE but the good news is that we will be here for each other. YOU CAN pass this class.
Attendance: Come to each class meeting ready to learn through active participation. I expect you to come to every class on time, stay for the whole period, and act in a manner that supports learning. Your participation in class is crucial for your learning in this course and it is also a part of your grade. If you miss a class, you are still responsible for knowing what happened that day. If you must be absent, get notes from a classmate and use the course website to keep up. -- In the event that class is cancelled please check WAMAP for announcements from the instructor. Electronic Devices: Devices should be turned off or silenced in the classroom. Phones should not be visible during class time. (This policy can be waived on a case-by-case basis, IF the phone must be left out for emergency purposes.) Bright screens and loud ringers (even a phone set to vibrate) can serve as distractions to anyone in the classroom. The text messages and social media updates will be there when class is over. Please exercise selfrestraint from checking them. Tutoring: If you have trouble with the course, seek assistance right away. (Please do not put it off!) I encourage you to work with other students on assignments. Form a study group or work with a classmate outside of class. This is a great way to learn! But ALSO work on your own. Find a balance that works for you. I would recommend the time before AND after class as a time to meet with classmates to study. The Tutoring Center offers math Drop-In tutoring, and has individual tutors. These services are FREE! In Cascade 504 drop-in tutoring is available. M-Th 8 am 7 pm; Fri 8 am 2 pm. In Rainier 338 (the Math Center) drop-in tutoring is available about 8 am 1 pm. There is also free online tutoring described here http://www.pierce.ctc.edu/dist/asc/online Attend the SI (Supplemental Instruction) office hours and sessions. See me during my office hours or make an appointment for another time, whenever you have questions. Academic Integrity: Students are expected to work cooperatively with classmates on homework assignments and group projects. However, please do your own work on all tests and quizzes. Be sure you have no unauthorized notes or helps available to you during a quiz or test, and provide no unauthorized aids to any other student. Keep your eyes only on your own work and shield your work from the eyes of others. Cheating is not expected. But if it does occur, the student will receive zero points on the test, quiz, or assignment. A second offense may result in a grade of 0.0 for the course. https://www.pierce.ctc.edu/policy-student-code-conduct Students with Special Needs or Disabilities, short-term or long-term: Your experience in this class is important to me, and it is the policy and practice of Pierce College to create inclusive and accessible learning environments consistent with federal and state law. If you experience barriers based on disability, please seek a meeting with the Access and Disability Services (ADS) manager to discuss and address them. If you have already established accommodations with the ADS manager, please bring your approved accommodations (green sheet) to me at your earliest convenience so we can discuss your needs in this course. ADS offers resources and coordinates reasonable accommodations for students with disabilities. Reasonable accommodations are established through an interactive process between you and the ADS manager, and I am available to help facilitate them in this class. If you have not yet established services through ADS, but have a temporary or permanent disability that requires accommodations (this can include but not be limited to; mental health, attention-related, learning, vision, hearing, physical or health impacts), you are encouraged to contact ADS at 253-964-6526 (Fort Steilacoom) or 253-840-8335 (Puyallup).
Emergency Procedures for Classrooms: Call 911 and then Campus Safety in response to an imminent threat to persons or property. In the event of an evacuation (intermittent horns & strobes), gather all personal belongings and leave the building using the nearest available safe exit. Be prepared to be outside for one hour and stay a minimum of 200 feet from any building or structure. So long as it is safe to do so students are expected to stay on campus and return to class after evacuations that last less than 15 minutes. Do not attempt to re-enter the building until instructed by an Evacuation Director (identified by orange vests) or by three horn blasts or bell rings. Please notify the nearest Campus Safety Officer or Evacuation Director of any one left in the building or in need of assistance. The phone number for Fort Steilacoom Campus Safety is (253) 964-6751. Assignments and Assessments: Grade Categories are weighted as indicated. 1. Homework (15%) Homework assignments will be completed on the WAMAP course website. Due dates are clearly indicated on the WAMAP calendar and with each assignment. You may EARN Late passes for certain tasks. There are two types of Homework question sets: Prep to practice skills and concepts so you are ready for the next lesson. They are due before class time on the day we start that lesson in class. HW to practice skills, complete the learning, and reinforce the concepts from the lessons we do in class. Start these assignments as soon as we do the lesson in class. Each one is due about 1 or 2 days after we complete the lesson in class. 2. Student Engagement (15%) Student engagement and participation will be assessed through a variety of measures such as: Attendance; short quizzes in class; worksheets completed by your group in class; worksheets completed by you alone in class; short assignments done out of class and turned in; the automaticity block in WAMAP; participation in group discussions; presenting work to the class on the white-board; participation in the on-line forum. In general no make-ups for this work! You must be present to get these points. 3. Tests (50%) This course is arranged into four modules. There will be a test at the end of each module for a total of four tests. Test dates are announced well in advance, and will be on the WAMAP calendar for your convenience. You must be present to take each test. If you have an unavoidable conflict with a class test, you must notify me and explain IN ADVANCE of the test period. Tests should be taken during the same day or a penalty may apply. This will be handled on a case by case basis. If an emergency arises at the last minute, you must call or email me as soon as possible. Depending on the situation you may not be allowed to make up your missed exam. 4. Comprehensive Final Exam (20%) There will be a final exam given during final exam week final will be cumulative over all of the material covered during the course Determining your grade: Your grade in a category will be the percent of the points you earned from those possible in that category. I will calculate the weighted average of your grades in the various categories. The percentage grade total is translated to a decimal grade as follows: 95-100% = 4.0 A 89% = 3.4 B+ 83% = 2.8 B- 77% = 2.2 C+ 71% = 1.6 C- 65% = 1.0 D 94% = 3.9 A 88% = 3.3 B+ 82% = 2.7 B- 76% = 2.1 C 70% = 1.5 C- 0-64% = 0.0 F 93% = 3.8 A- 87% = 3.2 B+ 81% = 2.6 B- 75% = 2.0 C 69% = 1.4 D+ 92% = 3.7 A- 86% = 3.1 B 80% = 2.5 B- 74% = 1.9 C 68% = 1.3 D+ 91% = 3.6 A- 85% = 3.0 B 79% = 2.4 C+ 73% = 1.8 C- 67% = 1.2 D+ 90% = 3.5 A- 84% = 2.9 B 78% = 2.3 C+ 72% = 1.7 C- 66% = 1.1 D Note about Grades: You must earn a grade of 2.0 or higher for this course to count as a prerequisite for your next math course.
Course Learning Objectives: Numeracy 1. Demonstrate operation sense by communicating in words and symbols the effects of operations on numbers. Apply the correct order of operations in evaluating expressions and formulas. 2. Demonstrate an understanding of the magnitude of real numbers represented in many forms (fractions, decimals, scientific notation, square roots of numbers) by ordering and comparing them in mathematical and real-world contexts. 3. Estimate results in appropriate contexts, using appropriate precision; use estimation to detect errors and evaluate the reasonableness of answers. 4. Use dimensional analysis to convert units, rates, and ratios from any given units to other units. Include conversions among and between U.S. and metric units using a variety of metric prefixes. 5. Demonstrate measurement sense by determining the sizes of objects and angles using measurements and estimation. Determine perimeter, area, surface area, and volume using appropriate units in both the U.S. and metric systems. 6. Demonstrate an understanding of the connection between the distribution of data and various mathematical summaries of data (measures of central tendency and of variation). 7. Read, interpret, and make decisions based upon data from tables and graphical displays such as line graphs, bar graphs, scatterplots, pie charts, and histograms. Given data, choose an appropriate type of graphical display and create it using scales appropriate to the application. Proportional Reasoning 8. Recognize a proportional relationship from verbal, numeric, and visual representations. Link and create verbal, numeric, visual and symbolic representations of the relationship. 9. Compare proportional relationships represented in different ways, considering units when doing so. 10. Apply quantitative reasoning strategies to solve real-world problems with proportional relationships using whole numbers, fractions, decimals, and percents as appropriate. Algebraic Skills and Reasoning 11. Distinguish between variables and constants. Represent real-world problem situations using variables and constants. Construct equations to represent relationships between unknown quantities. 12. Simplify algebraic expressions by using the distributive property, combining like terms, and factoring out a greatest common factor. 13. Evaluate formulas with multiple variables in a variety of contexts, including science, statistics, geometry, and financial math. Solve simple formulas for a specified variable. 14. Distinguish between expressions and equations and apply appropriate methods to each. 15. Solve linear equations in one variable, including problems involving the distributive property and fractions. 16. Construct inequalities to represent relationships, solve simple and compound inequalities in one variable, represent solutions using interval notation, and interpret solutions in the context of the situation. 17. Use basic exponent rules to simplify expressions, including those with negative exponents. 18. Solve basic power equations of the form xn = b using radicals. 19. Use the Pythagorean Theorem when appropriate in problem situations. Functional Reasoning 20. Translate problems from a variety of contexts into mathematical representation and vice versa (linear, exponential, simple quadratics). 21. Describe the behavior of common types of functions using words, algebraic symbols, graphs, and tables. Include descriptions of the dependent and independent variables. 22. Identify when a linear model is reasonable for a given situation and, when appropriate, formulate a linear model. In the context of the situation interpret the slope and intercepts and determine the reasonable domain and range. 23. Determine the exponential function for a situation when given an initial value and either the growth/decay rate or a second function value. Interpret the initial value and growth rate of an exponential function. Include compound interest as one application. 24. Translate exponential statements to equivalent logarithmic statements, interpret logarithmic scales, and use logarithms to solve basic exponential equations. 25. Use functional models to make predictions and solve problems. General Skills 26. Extract relevant information from complex scenarios. Obtain any necessary additional information from outside sources. Synthesize the information in order to solve problems and make decisions. 27. Identify which mathematical skills to use and then apply them in diverse scenarios and contexts. 28. Clearly communicate solution processes. Write solutions in the context of the problem in complete sentences, including units. Use mathematical notation and vocabulary correctly. 29. Use technology appropriately including calculators and computers.
Important Dates: September 24 th First Day of Instruction Sept 28 th 100% Refund Ends October 5 th - Instructor gone at a conference EXTRA CREDIT OPPORTUNITY October 19 th - No Classes INSERVICE DAY for facluty October 5 th Last Day to Withdraw So Class Will Not Show on Transcript/Last Day to Change from Credit to Audit or Vice Versa with Instructor Signature October 12 th 50% Refund Ends October 19 th No Class /Inservice Day faculty November 6 th - Winter Registration begins November 12 th - Veterans Day no classes November 14 th Last Day to Withdraw November 15 th & 16 th - Instructor gone at a conference EXTRA CREDIT OPPORTUNITY November 21 23 No Class / College closed December 7 th Last day of instruction Dec 10 th 12 th FINAL EXAM DAYS Dec 11 th NOON classes final exam NOON 2pm Dec 11 th 1 & 2pm Classes final exam 2pm 4pm Dec 17 th GRADES DUE 10:00 PM Dec 18 th GRADES POSTED TO TRANSCRIPTS