Course: Instructor: Email: Fall 2011 College Algebra Course Orientation Math 1314.WS4 Denise Brown dbrown@collin.edu Phone: 972-881-5886 Office Hours: J106 MWF 10am-11am Spring Creek Campus TR 10am-11:30am Other times by appointment Before You Begin: To register for MyMathLab you will need: A MyMathLab student access code Your instructors Course ID number: brown22198 Your school s zip code: 75074 A valid email address Student Registration: Go to http://www.pearsonmylab.com or http://www.pearsonmylabandmastering.com and click the Register button under Students. Under I would like to, click Get access to a new course Enter the Course ID, brown22198, and click on Find Course There are 3 options. Choose one and either Enter your student access code as displayed above. Use the tab key to move from box to box and use all CAPITAL LETTERS when entering the access code. Click Next. Enter credit card number or paypal account info
Get temporary access for 17 days Please read all information in the License Agreement and Privacy Policy. Click on Accept if you agree to the terms. On the Access Information screen: If you have registered for other Pearson online products and already have a login name and password, select Yes. Boxes will appear for you to enter your login information. If this is the first time you have registered for a Pearson online product, select No. Boxes will appear for you to enter your desired login name and password. Use your email address as your login name. Make sure it is the one that you are using for the course. I might send an email to the entire class. If you aren t sure whether you have a Pearson account or not, select Not Sure. Enter your email address and click Search. If you have an account, your login information will be sent to your email address within a few moments. Change your selection to Yes, and enter your login name and password as directed. On the Account Information page, enter your first and last name and email address. Re-type your email address to make sure it is correct. In the School Location section, select United States from the School Country dropdown menu. Enter your school zip code, (75074) and then select your school from the drop-down list. Select a security question and answer to ensure the privacy of your account. Click Next. When your registration process is complete you will see a confirmation screen. Click Log In Now to reach MyLab/Mastering, and click Log In. Enter your login name and password and click Log In. Logging In: Go to http://www.pearsonmylab.com or http://www.pearsonmylabandmastering.com and click on Log In. Enter your login name and password and click Log in. On the Pearson MyLab/Mastering page, click on the course name to enter your instructor s course. The first time you enter your course from your own computer and anytime you use a new computer click the Browser Check on the Dashboard. The Browser Check will detect and then help you install the plug-ins and players you need to access the math exercises and multimedia content in your MyMathLab course. Follow the screen instructions to complete this process. NOTE: Check with your instructor to ensure all plug-ins are installed in the college computer labs. You will not need the TestGen plugin After completing the installation process and closing the wizard you will be on your course home page and ready to begin exploring your MyMathLab course. Need help?
Contact Product Support at http://www.mymathlab.com/contactus.htm for live CHAT, email or phone support. The class home page has many choices.below is a short paragraph describing them Dashboard This section is always shown when you enter the course. It contains announcements and a banner that displays the current week and any assignment that is due. There is a section that lists any assignments due the following week.
Units Expanding Units lists each unit (I-IV) with the sections in the e-text. More about how to Navigate through the e-text will be explained later in this document.
Quizzes & Exams & Labs & Practice Exams This section contains quizzes, exams, labs, and practice exams. More about these will be explained later. Practice Labs This section contains the practice labs. More about them will be explained later. Gradebook This section contains all of your grades, quizzes, exams, labs, and practice exercise points.
Tools for Success This section contains several study aids including an Algebra Review Card and graphing calculator Discussions In this section we will use the discussion board. I have set up several forums to handle questions. Note: The entire class will be able to read any posts. If you have a question regarding your grade or any exam problems please email me. If you can answer a question that someone posts, feel free to do so. The purpose of the discussion board is to replicate asking questions in the classroom. Any use of inappropriate language or disrespectful comments will not be tolerated. Course Tools The only tool in this section we will use is Document Sharing. From time to time, I might upload documents including extra notes or step by step solutions to problems that might require a detailed explanation. When I post a document, I will also post an announcement alerting you. Syllabus This section contains a copy of the course syllabus, course orientation, course calendar, and lab assignment. Calendar This section contains a monthly calendar that highlights due dates for exams, quizzes, and labs. Note the icon for both quizzes and labs is the same, but when you place the cursor on the icon it displays whether a quiz or lab is due. Below the work that is required of you will be explained. E-Text The Course Calendar outlines which sections, and objectives are grouped together to form a unit. Choose a unit and section. You will be presented with two choices:
Choose option 1. Each section of the e-text begins with a list of prerequisite material from other chapters and sections. If you choose you may go to these sections to review. Next there is the list of objectives for the section. As you read through the section each objective is explained followed by several examples. The Course Calendar outlines which objectives and examples to read through. Choose an objective. There are several ways to advance the page. At the top left corner of the page there are arrows that let you page back and forth through the text. Also the grey vertical bar on the left and right had side of each page lets you page back and forth. As you are reading through the text there are several options
you may choose to help you understand the explanations. The icon will take you to a video that explains a definition, or example. The icon is sometimes displayed after an example. If you choose it you will be given a similar problem to work. The icon explains common misconceptions which will keep you from making common mistakes. Any text highlighted in graph, or take you to another page in the e-text. will give you a definition, show a Note: This is how you learn the material before working any of the practice exercises, labs, practice exams, and exams. It is really important to watch the video and read through the assigned objectives and examples for each section before beginning the practice exercises. Practice Exercises For each section there are assigned practice exercises. When you are ready to work the practice exercises choose the unit and section. Choose the option 3 and a set of problems will appear.
Choose a problem to begin. If you do not see any problems choose As you can see below you have several options for help. Please utilize them. Once you have entered your answer choose check answer to see if you got it correct or
not. You may work these problems as many times as you wish. You can use either the numbers or the arrows to scroll from problem to problem. You will be graded on completion only. I will assign the practice exercise points per unit within 3 days after the due date of each unit exam. For each unit you receive up to 15 points (a total of 60 points 10% of your grade) for completion of the assigned practice exercises. I will post the practice exercise points for each unit after the exam due date. It is very important to complete the practice exercises. I have seen many students receive a grade that is one letter lower because they chose not to complete them. QUIZZES Eleven quizzes are assigned. The due dates are on a separate document called the Course Calendar. The quizzes are located in the Quizzes & Exams & Labs & Practice Exams section. Quiz problems are similar to the practice exercises. You will have all of the same options for help as the practice exercises. You may take quizzes 3 times until the due date. There are no time limits on quizzes. They are due by 11:59 pm on the due date. The highest of the 3 quiz grades will be counted towards your final grade. At the end of the semester I will average the highest 9 of 11 quiz grades for your Quiz Average, which is worth 100 points. I will look over the quizzes to check for correct answers entered in a different form that what was requested within 3 days after the due date. EXAMS For each exam there is a practice exam. They are located in the Quizzes & Exams & Labs & Practice Exams section. You may work the practice exam as many times as you wish. For each problem you will have the same options as the practice exercises. You must make at least 70% on the practice exam before you can take any exam. Please do not wait until the last minute to take an exam. You may not have enough time to complete the practice exam and the exam. When you are ready to take an exam choose it. You will have 90 minutes (150 minutes for the final) to complete the exam and you will have no help options. Before you take exam 1, you must install the lockdown browser. The lockdown browser will not allow one to navigate while taking an exam. You must complete the exam in one sitting. You can install the lockdown browser by choosing exam 1. You will be prompted to install the browser. Once it is installed, you do not have to begin the exam, you can exit. Make sure you are at a location where you will not be interrupted. If something happens and have to close the exam before finishing, you must contact me immediately by email. You will not be able to complete the exam without my permission. On the last day of the exam, I will be checking the site many times and will
enable access. Once you submit the exam you will not be able to access the exam for review until after the due date has passed. After the due date has passed, you may review exams by going to the gradebook and choosing review. Answers can have many forms. MML will state which form to use to enter your answer and how to round. If you enter your answer in a different form than requested, i.e. 0.5 instead of ½ (if fraction form was requested), MML will count it wrong. Not to worry I look at all missed questions(within 3 days after the due date). If your answer is correct I will give you the points back. LABS There are 4 Lab assignments. Please read the Lab Assignment document on the Course Calendar for instructions. For each lab you will be given a section, video, and examples to look over and a practice lab. The labs cover different material than the practice exercises and exams. The examples are different than the ones outlined in the Course Calendar. Once you have read through the section(s), watched the video, and looked at the examples you are ready to complete the practice lab. Practice labs are in the Practice Labs section. You must complete the Practice Lab with a grade of at least 70 % before you can work the lab. Please do not wait until the last minute to complete each lab. You may not have enough time to complete the practice lab and the lab. Once you choose the practice lab you will have all of the help options and can take the practice lab as many times as you want. Remember you must make at least 70% on the practice lab before you can begin the lab. When you are ready to complete the lab choose it in the Labs/Exams section. You will have some of the help options. You have two chances for each lab. You do not have to complete the lab in one sitting and you will not be timed, but you must complete it by 11:59 pm on the due date. Within 3 days after the due date I will look over all missed problems and check for correct answers that were entered in a form different from what was asked and assign points accordingly. HELP As mentioned above online help is available by posting a question on the Discussion Board, or e-mailing me. You can go to the Math Lab at any of the three Campuses. will get immediate feedback by email or phone during my office hours. The Math Lab locations and phone number are: Call for hours. You
Spring Creek Campus (J228) 972.881.5921 TBA Central Park (C220) 972.548.6896 TBA Preston Ridge (D141) 972.377.1639 TBA TECHNICAL SUPPORT If you are experiencing technical difficulties check the Help & Support section (top right corner of the screen.) Make sure you have gone through the installation wizard. Technical support can be contacted at by email or chat at the following URL http://247pearsoned.custhelp.com/cgibin/247pearsoned.cfg/php/enduser/std_adp.php?p_faqid=7375 OTHER STUFF It is very important that you stay on schedule. The COURSE CALENDAR is dated. You may get ahead of the calendar, but not behind. You must take the exam by the due date or contact me on or before the due date with a REALLY good reason if you require an extension. If you do fall behind and feel that you cannot keep up the last day to withdraw is Friday October 14. Withdrawing from a class is a procedure that you yourself must implement. I cannot do it for you. Students who fall behind and do not drop by the drop date will receive a performance grade, which is usually an F. You have to following choices to drop the course: in person: Visit any of the at any campus. Go to http://www.ccccd.edu/register.html for addresses. Students will fill out a withdrawal ticket and have it processed at the Admissions counter. by mail: The withdrawal request should include: student's name, CWID number, phone number, class/classes about to withdraw, and reason for withdrawal. Student's signature is required on mailed requests. For mailed withdrawals, the postmark date is the official drop/withdrawal date. Go to http://www.ccccd.edu/register.html for mailing addresses. Note: Students cannot drop or withdraw by phone or online (Webline) after classes have started. Remember that this course can be repeated only once after receiving a grade, including a W. The last day to drop without receiving a grade is September 6.