Contemporary Mathematics I Syllabus for 2011-2012
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Instructor Information

Course Information

Recording Policy

Disability Statement

Any student who, because of a disabling condition, may require some special arrangements in order to meet course requirements should contact disAbility Services (Student Service Center room 119, phone 371-5436) as soon as possible.

Statement for Mental Health and Advocacy & Resource Center:

As a student you may experience a range of issues that can cause barriers to learning, such as strained relationships, increased anxiety, alcohol/drug problems, feeling down, difficulty concentrating and/or lack of motivation. These mental health concerns or stressful events may lead to diminished academic performance or reduce a student's ability to participate in daily activities. Amarillo College offers services to assist you with addressing these and other concerns you may be experiencing. If you or someone you know are suffering from any of the aforementioned conditions, you can learn more about the broad range of confidential mental health services available on campus by calling the AC Counseling Center at 806-371-5900. The AC Counseling Center website is https://www.actx.edu/counseling/ . Also, if you are in need of social services (affordable housing, utilities, transportation, food, clothing, childcare, medical/dental/vision, legal), please call the AC Advocacy & Resource Center at 806-371-5439. The AC Advocacy & Resource Center website is https://www.actx.edu/arc

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Administrative Drop Policy

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The Amarillo College Privacy Policy is found at https://www.actx.edu/-amarillo-college-privacy-notice , and applies to all Amarillo College students.  If you have questions about this privacy statement or you believe that your personal information has been released without your consent, send email to humanresources@actx.edu .

Course

MATH-1332-004 Contemporary Mathematics I

Prerequisites

MATH 0303-minimum grade of C, an Accuplacer score of 75, a THEA score of 270, an equivalent score on a state-approved test or Department Chair consent

Course Description

Logic; sets and counting; metric system; probability; statistics; geometry; math of finance; and exponential and logarithmic functions.

Student Resources Student Resources Website

Department Expectations

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Occupational License Disclaimer

Hours

(3 sem hrs; 3 lec)

Class Type

Online Course

Syllabus Information

Textbooks

TEXTBOOK:  Thinking Mathematically, 5th ed.  AUTHORS:   Robert Blitzer, Pearson Prentice-Hall Publishing company.  You will also need an access code for MyMathLab.

Supplies

HARDWARE REQUIREMENTS: 

Students must have regular access to a computer with the following:

PERFORMANCE/LEARNING OBJECTIVES:  After completing this course, the student will be able to demonstrate knowledge of the following topics:
\ 1.         Correct application of deductive and inductive reasoning, symbolic logic, conditionals and truth tables.
\ 2.         Investigate and apply sets and set operations, Venn diagrams and combinatorics.
\ 3.         Demonstrate an understanding of basic terms and rules, independence and conditional probability.
\ 4.         Interpret population, sample and data, measures of central tendency, measures of dispersion and normal distribution.
\ 5.         Review exponential and logarithmic functions, properties of logarithms, and investigate their applications in exponential growth and decay.
\ 6.         Compute and evaluate perimeter, area, volume, surface area and ancient geometries.
\ 7.         Evaluate simple interest, compound interest, annuities, amortized loans and annual percentage rate

Students Rights and Responsibilities

Log in using the AC Connect Portal

In order to receive your AC Connect Email, you must log in through AC Connect at https://acconnect.actx.edu .

If you are an active staff or faculty member according to Human Resources, use "Exchange". All other students, use "AC Connect (Google) Email".

Expected Student Behavior

ACADEMIC DISHONESTY will not be tolerated in this class and will result in a zero for the exam or assignment involved.  For more information, please see the college’s academic dishonesty policy in the student handbook.  Please also see the document in the orientation discussion scholastic dishonesty.  Cell phone use will not be allowed in any way during any exams for this course.  If a student attempts to use a cell phone during any exam, a zero will be given for that exam.  Further disciplinary action may be taken in accordance with the  provisions in the AC Student Rights and Responsibilities publication.

If you experience problems with your computer or if ACOnline goes down:

In previous semesters, students have experienced technical difficulties with their computer and one time, we experienced a week of class where AC Online was unavailable.  This brought to my attention that these are possibilities that we will need to prepare for.  Please print out this information for your reference:   

Make a back-up plan at the beginning of the semester.  Ask a family member, friend, or neighbor if they will agree to be your "back-up" computer plan should something go down on your computer and you need to finish an assignment right away.  You might not ever need to call them at all during the entire semester, but it is a good idea to have a back-up plan in place just in case you need it.

 Pearson Higher Education is the publisher of our text and also of MyMathLab. You can go to the website http://247pearsoned.custhelp.com or you can call 1-800-677-6337 to get help with access code questions or support for the MyMathLab website.

 Verify that your computer and internet connections meet minimum requirements for this course found in the "Let's Get Started" document found under the "Lessons" tab of your AC Online course.

If you have problems with your computer, you may use other computers such as those available at the Lynn Library Second Floor Learning Commons at Amarillo College or other library computers.

If you have problems with the Amarillo College server (things like "system unavailable" or "password not accepted"), contact the tech support staff at Amarillo College.  The AC helpdesk phone # is 371-5000 and the web address is http://www.actx.edu/~disted/on/help/helpdesk.htm

You can contact me at slclowe@actx.edu .  Please DO NOT use this address to contact me unless AC Online is down.  

If AC Online is unavailable and it is at least one week into the semester, all due dates on coursecompass.com and for your written exams will be as stated in the syllabus.  

You can still get into MyMathLab through coursecompass.com on any internet browser even if AC Online goes down for a while.

 If you have questions about assignments, I'll be glad to answer those over e-mail.  I  have backups of the files, and I can access information for you and send it to you.   

Expectations and Requirements for this course
Every online class is different; it makes sense to outline my policies and expectations so that each student is well informed as they begin the class as to what will be required of them.

1.    Online classes require additional skills of the student. You will be expected to learn the material by utilizing the online resources at coursecompass.com (which is where you find MyMathLab) and by reading your textbook.  Students must take responsibility for their learning in this course and start assignments early (several days in advance of any due date) to give yourself time to comprehend the material and get help if needed before the due date arrives.   Students will need to be strong readers, able to read a math textbook, look at examples in the textbook and online, and be able to comprehend the mathematical concepts being covered in this course. 

2.    You will need internet access. You will need internet access for several hours each week. To use coursecompass.com, you will need specific software that may not be available on all public computers, so I do not suggest using the computer at a public library for this course. You should plan to use either your personal computer or a computer at  Amarillo   College . If you plan to use a computer at  Amarillo College , please keep in mind that the library may have limited hours on weekends or holidays and keeping up with the libraryÂ’s hours is your responsibility. By signing up for an online course, you are communicating that you have access to a computer with a reliable internet connection with the appropriate software.

3.    This class demands a great deal of time. Online courses often take more time than in-class delivery courses. Please expect to spend at least 10-15 hours each week on this course (this is for fall and spring semester courses; double this time commitment for summer courses). If your other life commitments do not allow you this amount of time to spend on the course, you may want to choose another course or delivery method.

4.    Deadlines are your responsibility. Due dates are given to you in the syllabus. Online classes give you the freedom to complete your assignments at your own pace and in your own time. With this freedom comes responsibility--you are responsible for completing your assignments by the posted due dates regardless of other commitments you may have in your life beyond this class. Completing assignments a few days ahead of the due date is the best way to ensure that all your assignments are turned in on time.

5.    Technical difficulties happen. Yes, technical difficulties happen, and usually at the worst possible times. Plan on it. If ever your internet connection is going to go out, it will happen the night you left the online test until the last minute. My best suggestion is to make a "back-up plan" at the beginning of the semester.  Ask a friend or neighbor at the beginning of the semester if you can use their computer in the unlikely event that you have an emergency.  If you have technical difficulties while completing a test, run to your neighbor or friend and try to complete your exam on their computer.  I can help you; however, I will not be online at 11:30 p.m. on the due date. If technical difficulties prevent you from completing an online test on time, you will receive a 0 or the grade you had when technical difficulties prevented your finishing the test. Completing assignments a few days ahead of time ensures that if you have any technical difficulties, we can take care of them before the due date and your assignments will be completed on time.  To put it succinctly, start early on everly assignment AND have a back-up plan in place.

6.    You are responsible for asking for help when you need it. There are many ways to get help in this class, but you are the only one that will know when you need help.  There are lots of resources available to help you succeed in this course, just ask and we can work together to find help for you.

7.    This course requires organization and a good study plan. Online courses take a lot of self-motivation and discipline. This will usually be easier if you develop a system (a weekly schedule or plan) for keeping up with your assignments in the course.

8.    Please do not ask for extra credit. If extra credit is offered, I will notify you by e-mail or by placing an announcement on the homepage for the course on AC Online and it will be made available to everyone in the class.  That is the only way to be fair to everyone in the coursse.  Don'Â’t expect extra credit to be offered, and please donÂ’'t e-mail asking for extra credit.

9.    The same rules for a traditional classroom apply. You are expected to conduct yourself in this course according to the standards outlined in Student Rights and Responsibilities. Pay specific attention to the sections on plagiarism and academic dishonesty. Please also note that respect in every form toward your classmates, instructor, and Amarillo College personnel will be expected.

Course Policies continue in the "Let's Get Started" document found under the "Lessons" tab of your AC Online course.  Please log in to AC Online, click on your Contemporary Math online course to find our course home page.  From there you can click the "Lessons" tab and find the documents and links you need for this course.  Please refer to the documents found there as part of the syllabus, policies and general information about the course.

Grading Criteria

LATE WORK:  I will drop 3 (of 15) online homework grades and 3 (of 15) online exam grades at the end of the semester.  I do this because I do not allow any makeup work or late submitted work.  These dropped grades are to be used in all situations involving missed assignments including ( but not limited to ): illness, family emergency, hospitalization, family illness, death of family member, technical difficulties, forgetting assignment, etc.  Therefore, please do not e-mail asking for an extension on any assignment. 

Paper exams may not be taken late for any reason.

Attendance

This course will be web-based. Lectures will be viewed at the online site, coursecompass.com which contains MyMathLab. Mastery of the material will be facilitated by reading the text, working through examples and solving homework problems online. Weekly Tests will be given online.  Two Written Exams and a comprehensive Final Exam must be proctored at Amarillo College or at another site agreed to by your instructor. You must tell your instructor via e-mail within 3 weeks of the beginning of the course as to the date and approximate time you plan to take your two written and one final exam. Please choose a date and time from the following schedule and let me know via e-mail as soon as possible.

First Written Exam Dates: February 20th - 23th        Second Written Exam Dates:  April 2nd - 5th

Final Exam Dates: May 3rd - 4th and 7th - 8th 

The AC Testing Center is open 8am to 7pm Monday-Thursday and 8-5 on Friday.

I request that these two tests be proctored. If none of these dates are possible for you, please contact your instructor right away so that a possible solution can be worked out between you and your instructor. These testing issues must be all settled and scheduled by the first three weeks of the semester.

Attendance Policy: Since this is an online class, your attendance is achieved by logging into this course AT LEAST three times per week on different days of the week. Please stay current with your assignments and with class announcements.  You are responsible for logging into the online course to get your assignments and check messages.  You can reach the online course by going to www.actx.edu and clicking on AC Online.  You can call 371-5000 for technical assistance.  Please respond promptly to e-mails and requests from your instructor. Due dates for assignments, quizzes, and exams will be strictly enforced. Homework and tests not completed by the due date will receive a grade of zero. It is easy to get behind in an online class so stay motivated and do not procrastinate. If for some reason you stop working on the course and decide that you do not have time because of other commitments, please remember to officially drop the course via the registrar's office, otherwise you will receive a grade of F. The last day which you may drop this course with a "W" is Thursday, April 19th.

Calendar

Additional Information

Websites for this course:

www.coursecompass.com

www.actx.edu

You must be able to access www.actx.edu and then from that home page, log in to AC Online to access your online course. Inside your online course under the "Lessons" tab there will be links to www.coursecompass.com which is the website that enables you to do the MyMathLab homework assignments and online weekly tests.

The course itself uses www.coursecompass.com/MyMathLab for delivery of the majority of the online instruction and content of the course.

Any student who, because of a disabling condition, may require some special arrangements in order to meet course requirements should contact disAbility Services (Student Service Center room 119, phone 371-5436) as soon as possible.