L.A. Pierce College Math 115 ONLINE Elementary Algebra Fall 2017 Section: 27357 Units: 5 Instructor: E-mail: Office: Office Hours: Prerequisite: Daisy Lam lamd@piercecollege.edu 1409X Monday 1:00-4:00pm (IN THE CAS) Tuesday 1:30-3:30 pm (IN THE CAS) Wednesday 2:15-3:30 (IN THE CAS) Thursday 12:20-2:00pm (IN MY OFFICE) or by appointment Math 110 or Math 112 (with C or better), or passing the Prealgebra placement Test Course Description: Math 115 includes operations with algebraic expressions, solution of linear equations and inequalities, systems of linear equations, quadratic equations, graphs of lines and simple parabolas. Student Learning Outcomes: Upon completion of the course the student will be able to perform a real-world task requiring Elementary Algebra mathematics that demonstrates meaningful application of essential knowledge and skills. Examples of essential knowledge and skills at the Elementary Algebra level may include but are not limited to: a) Analyzing, constructing, and interpreting graphs of linear equations and applying these abilities to interpret graphs in the real-world, b) Modeling and solving real-world mathematics problems stated in words (word problems) whose solutions require formulating and solving either a linear equation with one variable, or a system of two linear equations in two variables, c) Solving linear and quadratic equations in one variable, and solving equations containing algebraic fractions in one variable.
Materials: Access Code for MyMathLab (Required): A MyMathLab access code must be purchased for this class. MyMathLab is a program via the internet that we will be using for this class, which contains the materials needed for this course including an electronic version of your textbook. You will be working on any computer that is connected to the internet. All assignments and all your results will be monitored and logged via the internet maintained by MyMathLab. I will access this data regularly to monitor your progress and to compute your grade. Textbook (Optional): Beginning Algebra with Applications and Visualization 3rd edition by Rockswold If you want a hard copy of the book you can buy it in Pierce's bookstore and it comes in a package that includes the MyMathLab access code. You can also purchase just the access code at our bookstore. Calculator (Required): A scientific or graphing calculator is required for this course. You can rent a calculator from the math department but keep in mind they run out of these fast. Go to Math 1409C and get a form to rent a calculator ($27) from the secretary, Jonathan Gallay. He will then check out a calculator to you. You must return the calculator at the end of the semester (after the final). If you do not there is a hold placed on your transcript. The following scientific calculators are allowed: TI-30Xa TI-30XII (S or B) The following graphing calculators are allowed: (plus, silver, or plus CE are okay) TI-83 TI-84 **Any other calculator models will not be allowed during the final exam.
Course Objectives: 1. Calculate with signed numbers and order of operations. 11. Solve equations involving algebraic fractions. 2. Perform operations with algebraic 12. Model and solve quadratic equations in expressions. one variable. 3. Model problems and solve linear 13. Apply the Pythagorean theorem to solve equations and inequalities in one problems. variable. Applications involving systems of linear equations. 4. Write ratios and solve proportions. 14. Graph simple parabolas. 5. Solve formulas for one variable. 15. Model and solve a 2x2 system of linear equations. 6. Factor polynomials. 16. Graph linear equations in two variables. 7. Add and multiply polynomials. 17. Read and interpret information from graphs. 8. Simplify expressions involving 18. Calculate and interpret slope. exponents. 9. Convert between standard and scientific notation. 19. Perform operations with radicals with limited complexity. 10. Perform operations with algebraic fractions. Grading Your grade will be determined on a weighted average, as follows: Total Percentage Your letter grade Online Homework 10% 100%-90% A Online Chapter Quizzes 10% 89%-80% B Online Discussion Board 5% 79%-70% C Online Exams 30% 69%-60% D On Campus Final Exam (MET) 45% 59%-0 F
Online Homework You will do all your homework on the computer in MyMathLab. Homework is usually due twice a week. The computer homework due dates are listed in each week button under the course map tab. You must submit all of the sections from the chapter that is due from the homework list. No late computer homework will be accepted. You must score at least 70% on EACH homework assignment in order to be able to take the corresponding chapter quiz. (Failure to do so will result in a 0% for the corresponding chapter quiz). How to Do the Homework: 1. To get to the computer homework you need to click on the Homework Link in the appropriate Week button under the Course Map. 2. Click on any section. Before you can start doing the exercise you will first need to watch the video(s) listed. 3. Once you have watched the video(s) you then can click on any exercise. A problem appears for you to answer. Work on 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 go on to the next problem by clicking on the right arrow at the top 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 three tries you may ask the computer for a new problem by clicking the SIMILAR EXERCISE button at the bottom of the page. You can repeat this process as many times as needed. You can also lot out and come back to the homework as many times as needed. If you are having difficulties typing in answers you can watch the How to Enter Answer video located on the Course Home and Course Map page. If you are having trouble answering the math questions you can use the Help me Solve It button and View and Example button, the discussion board, come to office hours or get help from tutoring. 4. You may submit your homework by clicking the Save button on the bottom right side of the screen. You can make any changes until 11:59 pm on the due date. The program will not let you work on any homework past the due date.
Online Chapter Quizzes There will be an online quiz on each chapter. Each quiz will be taken online and must be submitted at 11:59pm on the due date. The actual due dates for each quiz is listed in the appropriate Week button under Course Map. You may only take the chapter quiz if you received a 70% or more on EACH of the corresponding homework sections. You have three attempts to take the chapter quizzes. The highest score of the three attempts will be used. There are NO LEARNING AIDS available while taking the chapter quizzes. Time allowed on each quiz varies. No late quizzes will be accepted. How to Take a Chapter Quiz 1. To take a quiz you must click on the Quiz Link from the appropriate week button. 2. Click on the quiz you then click I am ready to start. You need to take the quiz in one sitting and you have a certain amount of time (per each try) to finish once you started. 3. When you are completely finished with the quiz you must end by clicking on Submit. Do not hit submit until you are finished. You cannot review the correct answers until after you submit the entire quiz. Online Discussion Board This enables all students to communicate math to each other. We will be using the discussion board to answer student homework questions, to get to know each other, and share subjective math-relevant opinions. The guidelines for each discussion are posted when you click on the Discussion Board button. Please check the calendar for the due dates of each discussion board.
Online Exams There will be four online exams. The exams will be similar to homework and chapter quizzes. You have one attempt for each online exam. You must complete the exam in one sitting. There are NO LEARNING AIDS available while taking the online exams For each exam you will have around a 48-hour period where you are allowed to take the exam before the due date. You will have 2 hours to complete each online exam. No late exams will be accepted regardless of the circumstances. v Exam 1 will cover chapters 1 and 2. It will be available Tuesday 9/19/17 at 12:00am and Due Wednesday 9/20/17 at 11:59pm v Exam 2 will cover chapters 3 and 4 and will be available Tuesday 10/10/17 at 12:00am and Due Wednesday 10/11/17 at 11:59pm v Exam 3 will cover chapters 5 and 6 and will be available Tuesday 10/31/17 at 12:00am and Due Wednesday 11/1/17 at 11:59pm v Exam 4 will cover chapters 7 and 8 and will be available Tuesday 11/21/17 at 12:00am and Due Wednesday 11/22/17 at 11:59pm On Campus Final Exam (MET) You need to come to campus to take the final; you cannot take the final online. What to bring on the day of the final: You will need a student ID with photo to take the final. An approved scientific or graphing calculator on the materials list. A MET ParScore Scantron is needed for the final. (This can be purchased at the on campus bookstore. Note: The bookstore is not open on Saturdays). Cell phones, smart watches, computer and any other electrical devices cannot be used during the final exam. The rooms for the final will be announced a few weeks prior to the date. The Final will be cumulative and held on campus: Saturday December 9 th at 3:30 5:45pm. ** You must be present on this day and time to take the final exam. The date of the final will not be changed for any individual under any circumstance. Gradebook
To view your grade click on the Gradebook button. If you click on Show Overall Score it will show you the percent you have in the class up to date. I will only add zeros to the items that are past due. The homework score is the average computer homework, the test score is the average of the exam scores and the other is the average of the discussion board and final exam. 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! Academic Honesty Policy: All students are expected to abide by ethical standards in preparing and presenting material which demonstrates their level of knowledge and which is used to determine grades. If you cheat in this class (i.e. knowingly or unknowingly participate 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 forwarded to the Math Dept. Chairman, who will send it to the VP of Student Services for disciplinary action, which may result in suspension or exclusion. In addition to sending this report, I will assign a grade of zero for the assignment, quiz or exam even if doing so results in the impossibility of the student to pass the class. **Any cell phone (or smart watch) visible during an exam will result in an immediate zero on the exam and the filing of a cheating report. Center for Academic Success (CAS) Take advantage of the FREE walk-in math tutoring available! http://www.piercecollege.edu/departments/academic_success/ Tutoring at the CAS is located on the first floor of the library Building 5130 Hours: Monday -Thursday: 9:00-5:30pm Friday: 10:00-2:00pm Special Services
If you feel that you may have a disability that will inhibit your ability to perform mathematics in this class or use of the computers in this class, please seek assistance from Special Services. For more information, please call (818) 436-0467 or visit the website www.piercecollege.edu/offices/special_services Important Dates August 28: First day of class September 4: Labor Day, college closed September 10: Deadline to drop classes without a grade of W November 10: Veteran s Day, college closed. November 19: Deadline to drop classes with a grade of W November 23-26: Thanksgiving Holiday, college closed December 9: ON CAMPUS FINAL EXAM IMPORTANT: Effective summer 2012, students will only have 3 attempts to pass a class. If a student gets a "W" or grade of "D", "F", or "NP", in a class, that will count as an attempt. If a student drops a class by the "Drop Classes without a W" date early in the semester, it is not counted against the three (3) attempts that a student has to pass the class Getting Dropped From The Course Weekly activity on MyMathLab is necessary in order to be successful. Assignments will be due on a weekly basis and cannot be made up if missed. You may be dropped from the course if you are inactive for more than one week on MyMathlab. Inactive refers to not completing any of the assignments for the week. If you choose to drop the class, it is your responsibility to follow the correct procedure. Failure to drop may result in a Grade of F. Messages from You to Me You can send me email at lamd@piercecollege.edu or through MyMathLab. To send a message through MyMathLab, click on the Email Professor Lam button on the left side of the screen. A screen will appear where you can type your message to me. Make sure you click on my name and the add button. When you are done typing in your message, click Send Message located at the bottom right portion of the screen. When sending a message through MyMathLab, I will send my reply to the email address you set up when you registered for MyMathLab. I will answer my e-mails Monday thru Thursday and will answer within 24 to 48 hours. Please check your email regularly Messages from Me to You
Regularly, 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 MyMathLab. As stated above 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.