College Algebra Syllabus for 2014-2015
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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.

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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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Course

MATH-1314-003 College Algebra

Prerequisites

Prerequisite: 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

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.

Student Resources Student Resources Website

Department Expectations

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Hours

(3 sem hrs; 3 lec)

Class Type

Online Course

Syllabus Information

Textbooks

Required: MyMathLab student access code

Optional: College Algebra, 11th ed., by Lial, Hornsby, Schneider, and Daniels -- Pearson Publishing Company

Note:  The textbook for this course is optional.  All homework will be completed online using MyMathLab, where an electronic version of the text is accessible.

 

Supplies

Students will need a graphing calculator for this course.  The recommended calculator is a Texas Instruments TI-84 Plus.  Other forms of Texas Instruments or Casio graphing calculators will be permitted at the instructors discretion.  No

Student Performance

Students Rights and Responsibilities

Student 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

Students who fail to comply with the standards outlined in the syllabus and "Student Rights & Responsibilities" will be subject to disciplinary action, which may include but is not limited to: removal from the course, consultation with the department chair or other AC authority, a zero on an assignment or test, or an F in the course.

Plagiarism and cheating will not be tolerated in any math course at Amarillo College.  On the first day of class, you will be required to sign and date a Course Contract to file in your notebook. Included in the contract is the following statement:  "I fully understand that if I cheat, or attempt to cheat, on any test, I will receive an automatic "F" in the course.  This grade will go on my permanent transcript and cannot be removed.  Cheating includes, but is not limited to:  the use of a cell phone, notes, notecards, or books during the midterm or final exam, copying work from another student, or leaving the Math Testing Center with a test or questions from a test.  Cheating also includes helping, or attempting to help, other students cheat on a test".  You must submit this contract with your midterm and final exam notebook.  Please Note:  NO CELL PHONES may be used during an exam in the Math Testing Lab.  If your phone is out at any time for any reason during while in the Testing Room, you will receive an automatic "F" for the course.

The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board sets the topics that must be covered in order to receive credit for a course. The instructor sets the pace to ensure that these requirements are met. Any student having trouble maintaining the pace should seek extra help from the instructor and/or a tutor.

COMMUNICATION IN THE COURSE

Your presence in the course will be established through correspondence with me, public discussions with other students in the course, and your attendance at the midterm and final exam sessions.  Through any venue, disrespectful language will not be tolerated.  Using foul language in emails or discussions will result in receiving a zero for that assignment and possible removal from the course.  You are expected to express yourself with courtesy and consideration at all times.  This attitude of respect also applies to the proctors for the midterm and final exams.

ADDITIONAL EXPECTATIONS

1.    This is a difficult course! Online classes are not necessarily more difficult than in-class courses, but they require self discipline and motivation. You will be expected to learn the material through reading the textbook, completing the notes provided on AC Connect, finishing the homework and exams on MyMathLab in a timely manner and submitting the Focus problems on time.

2.    You need access to a computer with a reliable internet connection and a dependable printer to produce class notes.  By signing up for an online course, you are communicating that you have access to such tools.

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 5-20 hours each week on this course.  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 posted on the MyMathLab website and on the AC Connect class calendar.  However, because this is an online course, I can tailor it to your individual needs without disrupting the flow of the course.  If you need a deadline extension for online assignments (up to 2 days), please don't hesitate to ask.  No extensions are available, however, for the written midterm and final exams, which must be taken in person by the absolute due date.

5.    Technical difficulties happen. If you are kicked out of an exam, email me immediately!  I will do my best to reset your exam in a timely manner.  Please don't panic, I am here to work with you.  However, completing online exams a few days ahead of time ensures that if you have any technical difficulties, we can take care of them before the due date.

6.     You are responsible for taking the written midterm and final exams in person.  Amarillo residents will take them in the Math Testing Lab on the Washington Street Campus.  Non-Amarillo residents will be required to locate a proctor at a local college, school, or library and make an appointment for the exams.  Distant residents will also be required to submit their midterm and final exam by mail, fax, or email by the deadline posted on the calendar.

7.    You are responsible for getting help when you need it.  On the MyMathLab website, there are power points, videos, and step by step tutorials you can access for each homework problem you complete.  Take advantage of it!  Amarillo residents may obtain free tutoring from the Math Outreach Center on the first floor of Durrett Hall on the Washington Street Campus.  Online tutoring is also available through Smartthinking.

Grading Criteria

Your semester grade (90-100 A, 80-89 B, 70-79 C, 60-69 D, below 60 F) will be calculated using the following weights:

Category	Drop	Weight
MyMathLab HW Average	lowest 2 assignments	10%
Focus Average	lowest 2 assignments	10%
Online Exams (4 total)	-----	40%
Written Midterm Exam (taken in person)	-----	20%
Written Final Exam (taken in person)	-----	20%

 

Attendance

This is an online course, so required "attendance" simply means logging into the course regularly.  Several times per week, you will need to log into AC Connect to obtain the week's assignments, print class notes, and submit Focus problems.  You will also need to check your email, calendar, and grades.

To complete the course, you will be required to take the midterm and final exams in person.   The midterm exam and the final exam will be completed by hand with pencil and paper.  For Amarillo residents, these tests must be taken in the Math Testing Lab on the Washington Street Campus.  For those who live outside of Amarillo, you will be required to take these exams at an approved testing site, such as a testing center at a local school or a public library.

*The written Midterm Exam must be taken in person between Monday, June 29 and Thursday, July 1 by 10:00pm.
**The written Final Exam must be taken in person between Friday, July 24 and Wednesday, July 29 by 3:00pm.

 

Calendar

Additional Information

Homework

Homework will be assigned in two formats: written and online. Online homework involves drill and practice problems to be completed using the MyMathLab website.  Written homework will consist of completing Focus problems and will be submitted online through AcConnect. 

 Weekly Routine

1.)  LOG IN  TO AC CONNECT at the beginning of each week.  Navigate to the link for each week’s folder. These can be found by clicking on the “Content” tab on the menu on the left hand side of the screen on AcConnect.   
2.)  READ the Week's Activities document.  Here you will find information about what you need to complete for the week. 
3.)  PRINT AND COMPLETE THE NOTES from the week's folder in AC Connect.  Fill in the blanks, work the problems, and complete the graphs.  Obtain the information by watching the videos and/or reading the textbook or the e-text book from MyMathLab.  This should be completed before you start the homework on MyMathLab.
4.)  WORK THE MyMathLab HOMEWORK at www.pearsonmylab.com.  
5.)  As you work the homework on MyMathLab, carefully document each problem on notebook paper.  This means you should write the problem from MyMathLab on notebook paper, show all work necessary to complete the problem, and write down the answer.  Enter answers in MyMathLab to check for correctness. Keep your written MyMathLab work in your notebook.
6.)  WORK and SUBMIT THE FOCUS PROBLEMS on AcConnect. You will need to print off the Focus problems, complete the work by hand in the boxes and space provided on the page, then submit your Focus problem in the corresponding assignment tab. Each Focus problem needs to be submitted in PDF form. This can by done by scanning the paper to your computer and saving it as a PDF or by using your phone and the app “Cam Scanner”.  “Cam Scanner” allows you to take a picture of the Focus document and will turn it into a PDF document. You can then submit it on ACConnect using your phone, or you can email it to yourself and submit on AcConnect using your computer. 
7.)  TAKE ASSIGNED EXAMS on MyMathLab by the deadlines posted on MyMathLab.

 Getting Started with MyMathLab 

 To access MyMathLab where your online homework is located, go to www.pearsonmylab.com. You will need the following information:

Student Access Code: If you chose to purchase a new textbook, the student access code can be found in the MyMathLab kit wrapped with your textbook. If you chose not to purchase the textbook, you can buy the access code online with a credit card ($95.20) during the registration process.

Email Address: Use the address you check most often.

To register and enroll:

1.) Log into AcConnect and navigate into our course, Math-1314-003. 
2.) Click on the MyMathLab menu tab on the left side of the screen then select any option on the screen. (You may have to click “launch” after this if you have never used MyMathLab on your computer before.)
3.) This will automatically take you to the MyMathLab website and will prompt you to enter your student information to register. 
4.) Follow the instructions to register and enroll. During the registration process, you will design a username and password. Consider using the same username and password you use for AC Connect.

5.) If you received the MyMathLab kit with your textbook, click the “Access Code” button. Remember that your student access code is included in the kit. If you choose not to purchase the hard copy of the textbook, click the “Buy Now” button. You will need a credit card to purchase the access code.

To log in:

1.) After registration is complete, log in to the course from the homepage, www.pearsonmylab.com, using the new username and password you designed or log in to the course from AcConnect, using the MyMathLab menu tab as above. 
2.) Enter the class by clicking MaTH-1314-003, Summer 2015 (web).

To get started after logging in:

1.) To work on assignments, click the “Homework” button, and choose the section you wish to complete.
2.) To access the textbook, click the “Chapter Contents” button, and choose the chapter and section you wish to view.
3.) To view a power point presentation of a particular section, click the “Multimedia Library” button, and choose the chapter and section you wish to view or print.
4.) Under the “Homework” button, START YOUR FIRST HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENT, “MML Orientation”

Additional FREE Resources for Help

1.)  MyMathLab has videos, examples, and helps for solving the problem at the click of a button as you work your homework.
2.)  Free one-on-one tutoring at the Student Outreach Center at the Washington Street Campus of Amarillo College. You will need your AC ID to sign in.

Outreach Center Hours:
Monday - Friday:  8AM – 8PM
Saturday:  9AM – 8PM

Outreach Center Location:
Washington Street Campus
Durrett Hall (adjacent to Engineering Building)
Room 104

3.)  Free online Smarthinking tutoring on AC Online. This is available 24 hours a day. You will need to log on to AC Connect and navigate to the Smartthinking link to create an account.