Mathematics for Business & Social Sciences Syllabus for 2016-2017
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Instructor Information

Course Information

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Disability Statement

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Disability Services facilitates access to all programs and services according to the ADA, Americans with Disabilities Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, as well as other federal and state laws.

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If you find you are unable to access material in an accessible format please contact the Disability Services Office at (806) 345-5639 . This office will work in conjunction with other campus resources to address and accommodate your issue in a timely manner.

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

Amarillo College Tutoring for Success Policy:

Administrative Drop Policy

Students who do not attend class on or prior to the census date will be administratively dropped. Effective Fall, 2016

Student Withdrawal Procedures

Students who wish to withdraw from a class must:

• consult with their instructor to obtain a signed academic withdrawal request form to submit to the AskAC department for processing
• consult with the financial aid office if receiving financial aid
• consult with the Veterans Benefit Coordinator if receiving veteran benefits
• consult with their academic advisor to determine how withdrawing may affect their enrollment in future semesters
  • NOTE:  The Texas Education Code stipulates that students attending Texas institutions of higher education for the first time fall 2007 and later may not withdraw from more than six courses during their academic career, including courses from which transfer students have withdrawn at other Texas institutions of higher education. (Senate Bill 1231) Rule 4.10.

Privacy Statement

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-1324-005 Mathematics for Business & Social Sciences

Prerequisites

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

Course Description

Study of matrices; linear programming; quadratics; exponential and logarithmic functions; rational and other relations, functions and their graphs; finance; probability.

Student Resources Student Resources Website

Department Expectations

Occupational License Disclaimer

Hours

(3 sem hrs; 3 lec)

Class Type

Online Course

Syllabus Information

Textbooks

Optional Textbook:  Finite Mathematics and Calculus with Applications, 10th edition.  Margaret Lial, Raymond Greenwell, and Nathan Ritchey, Pearson.

Required:  MyMathLab student access kit.

Supplies

Students will need a graphing calculator for this course. The recommended calculator is a Texas Instruments TI-84 Plus. TI-83 and TI-83 Plus calculators are acceptable. Note that TI-89s, TI-Nspires, and cell phone calculators will NOT be permitted during the midterm and final exams. 

Students will also need access to a computer with a reliable internet connection to complete online homework assignments and chapter exams and access to a printer. 

Other supplies include a three ring binder and dividers. 

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

SCHOLASTIC DISHONESTY:  Scholastic dishonesty (cheating) will not be tolerated in this course and will result in a zero on the assignment or exam involved and may result in you being denied access to this course.  Further action may be sought if necessary.  Scholastic dishonesty is clearly defined in the Student Rights and Responsibilities.  You are expected to conduct yourself in this course according to the standards outlined in Student Rights and Responsibilities.  

Plagiarism and cheating will not be tolerated in any math course at Amarillo College. Cheating includes, but is not limited to: the use of a cell phone, notes, notecards, or books during the midterm or final exams, copying work from another student, or leaving the Math Testing Center with a test or questions from a test.  

BEHAVIORAL EXPECTATIONS/CLASSROOM GROUND RULES:  Students are expected to behave in the online environment the same way as in a traditional classroom.    In order to receive credit for a course, all material listed on the syllabus must be covered.  The instructor sets the pace to ensure that these requirements are met.  Complaining about the pace will not result in less material being covered.  Students who fail to comply with the standards outlined in the syllabus and/or “Student Rights & Responsibilities” will be subject to disciplinary action which may include but is not limited to; denied access to online course, consultation with department chair and/or other AC authority, withdrawal from the course and/or the college.

Grading Criteria

The final grades of A (90-100), B (80-89), C (70-79), D (60-69), and F (below 60) will be computed as follows:
    50%    My Math Lab Online Exams (highest 4)            
    15%    Written Midterm Exam (taken in person)        
    15%    Written Final Exam (taken in person)     
    10%    MyMathLab Online Homework
    10%    Blackboard Learning Activities                                    

 

Online Homework/MyMathLab Instructions:  To access MyMathLab where your online homework is located, follow the steps below: 

1.  Login to your Blackboard course.

2.  Click on MyMathLab Links in the menu on the left side of the screen.

3.  Click on MyMathLab with Pearson eText Course Home and accept the Licensing Agreement.

4.  If you have a Pearson account, enter your username and password.  If you have never used a Pearson MyLab and Mastering product, click on Create to enter information to create your account.
      a.  Make sure you enter an email address that you check often.
      b.  Please, use YOUR name as you are registered for school.
5.  If you have used MyMathLab with this textbook and this Pearson account previously, you should see a page indicating that you are done.
6.  If you have not used MyMathLab with this textbook before, you have three options.
      a.  To use an access code that came packaged with your textbook or bought as a stand alone folder, click on Access Code.
      b.  To use a credit card or PayPal account to buy the access code, click on the box with $91.30 USD.
      c.  To get temporary access while you wait for financial aid, payday, etx., click on Get temporary access without payment for 17 days at the bottom of the screen.  You will need to purchase an access code using one of the two methods above before the 17 day temporary access period is over in order to continue to work on assignments.
7.  You are now enrolled in your course and should see it listed on the Courses page when you login.
8.  Click on the course name in order to enter the course.

MyMathLab Course Homepage Menu:

1.  To work on an assignment, click on Homework, the assignment name, and then on question 1.
2.  Each homework problem will usually have some of the following buttons to the right of the problem:  Help me solve This, View an Example, Video, Animation, Textbook, Connect to a Tutor, Ask My Instructor, Print, Study Plan, Tools for Success, Multimedia Library and HTML eBook.  Each of these are further explained under your course content in Blackboard.
3.  The Grade book will show you the assignment you have worked, the scores, and give you the chance to review any assignment (without changing the grade).

Other MyMathLab Information:

1.  When you send emails from the Ask My Instructor button on a problem, it generates an email that is sent with the reply email address as the email address you used when setting up your account.  To view/edit this, click on Account at the top left corner of the page and enter your login name and password.
2.  In general, you get 3 attempts on each problem.  The following equal 1 attempt.
      a.  Entering an incorrect answer on a short answer or numeric problem 3 times.
      b.  Entering an incorrect answer on a multiple choice problem 1-2 times depending on the number of answer choices.
      c.  Using the Help Me Solve This button. (View an Example does not use an attempt.)
3.  After each attempt, you will be presented with the correct answer and the Submit Answer button will become Similar Exercise (until all attempts have been used).  To get another attempt on your problem, click on Similar Exercise and a similar problem (same problem, different numbers) will appear.
4.  You can print your assignments, work on them away from the computer, and then return to enter the answers.  On each problem, there is a button that will open a popup and ask if you want to print that page or the entire assignment.
5.  You do not have to "save" any work.  Once you click on Submit answer and see either a green check mark or a red box with hints, the answers are saved.
6.  If you open a homework assignment and see a green check next to a problem, you have received full credit for that problem.  A red X means you have attempted the problem, but have not received any credit.  If you have both a green check and a red X, you have received partial credit.
7.  Be VERY careful when entering an answer.  There are instructions written in blue below most problems, if you do not enter the answer in the specified format or with the requested rounding, the answer will be considered incorrect.  Recall that entering an incorrect answer three times is one attempt.

My Math Lab Online Exams

On exams, you will only get ONE attempt per problem. You do have the option to each exam twice, so be sure to review your first exam before taking your second attempt and acknowledge any mistakes made.

Attendance

1. I will communicate with you in Blackboard, so it is important for you to log-in regularly to check course announcements and updates.
2. If you log-in regularly, you are more likely to keep up with your work and finish each module in a timely manner.
3. I am required to verify that you participated and were present in the course.  In a face-to-face course, I would take attendance.  With online courses, this is accomplished through log-ins.

Calendar

Additional Information

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. 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, reading the instructor notes, and finishing the homework on MyMathLab and on Blackboard
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 schedule posted in this syllabus.
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 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!

 

Weekly Routine

At the beginning of each week, the student should first log in to AC Connect.  In the Mathematics for Business and Social Sciences course, navigate to the "Lessons" link on the left side menu and locate the folder for the week. You will have one week to complete each weekly lesson. Each weekly lesson will contain a “Weekly Checklist.” This checklist is not to be submitted for a grade, but is provided for your own benefit to make sure you complete all the activities and assignments for the week. Open the “Weekly Checklist” and either print it off or write down the checklist. This is your guide to get you through the lesson. The first item on each checklist will be to read the actual Lesson document. Open the Lesson and read through it entirely. At the end of the Lesson, you will find the “Learning Activities” that you will need to complete for that week. These learning activities are of course listed on the checklist, but the directions and problems are found in the Lesson. After reading the lesson, you will now need to complete all necessary activities, assignments, and exams. Most weekly lessons will have a My Math Lab homework assignment. I suggest completing the My Math Lab activity first as My Math Lab supplies many “helps” to help you solve problems. Next, complete any blackboard assignments. Last, complete the exam (if necessary). The majority of assignments will be due Monday evenings at 11:59pm, with the exceptions of the Midterm and Final exams, and the assignment for Week 8, which is due Sunday evening because of spring break.

 

TEAMWORK

This class requires that we work together as a TEAM.  Each of you can be successful in this course if we both put forth our best efforts and work together. 

As your instructor, I pledge to:

• Present the material to you in an organized manner
• Maintain the course on Blackboard and MyMathLab
• Answer your questions in a timely manner

As a student, I expect you to:

• Log in to Blackboard (AC Connect) regularly
• Put in the time it takes to read and comprehend the material presented in each weekly module
• Complete your assignments in a timely manner
• Take responsibility for your own learning
• Ask for help when you need it

 

 

Math Testing Lab(Durrett 103)	Outreach Center (Durrett 104)
Monday - Thursday	Monday - Thursday
8:00am - 10:00pm Last test handed out at 9:00pm	8:00am - 8:00pm
Friday	Friday
8:00am - 8:00pm Last test handed out at 7:00pm	8:00 - 8:00pm
Saturday	Saturday
9:00am - 8:00pm Last test handed out at 7:00pm	9:00am - 8:00pm
371-5088	371-5119

MATH LAB RULES

• Books may be placed on the bookshelf before you request a test.
• An Amarillo College picture ID is required in order to take a test in the Math Lab. 
• Once you have begun work on a test that is considered one attempt. You cannot leave the Math Lab and return to finish that test at a later time.
• In the testing room, please do not sit by someone with the same colored test. All purses must be on the floor.
• The Math Lab will not hand out a test less than one hour before closing time.
• The Math Lab personnel will pick up your test five minutes prior to closing time.
• The Math Lab hours are posted on the outside door,in this syllabus, and in the lab itself. 
• Please come prepared. If you do not have a pencil, you may purchase one from the Math Lab for 25 cents.  Please bring exact change. Pens are not allowed on any test.
• Childcare arrangements must be made prior to testing. Children may not accompany students into testing room or be left unattended anywhere on campus.
• CELL PHONE CALCULATORS ARE NOT ALLOWED.
• Cell phones must be turned off as not to disturb other students who are testing. NO CELL PHONES in the Testing Room. If we see your cell phone out AT ANY TIME, FOR ANY REASON, while in the testing room, YOU WILL RECEIVE an "F" for the course!