College Algebra Syllabus for 2019-2020
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Course

MATH-1314-019 College Algebra

Prerequisites

Scores on a state-approved test indicating college-level math skills or concurrent enrollment in Math 0314.

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 ResourcesStudent Resources Website

Department Expectations

Occupational License Disclaimer

Notice to Students enrolled in an educational program for preparation of issuance of certain occupational licenses:

Students enrolled in an educational program in preparation for obtaining certain occupational licenses are potentially ineligible for such license if the student has been convicted of an offense. For further information, please contact:

Melodie Graves
Justice Involved Advocate
Student Service Center 117
mgraves24@actx.edu
806-371-5995
Make appointment at https://melodiegraves.youcanbook.me

You can also contact the Legal Clinic, or the faculty member in charge of the educational program that you seek to enroll in. The further information you will receive will include notification to you of your right to request a criminal history evaluation letter from the licensing authority in order to clarify your particular situation.

Hours

(3 sem hrs; 3 lec)

Class Type

Online Course

Syllabus Information

Textbooks

College Algebra, Twelfth Edition
Authors:  Lial, Hornsby, Schneider, Daniels
(Pearson Education Publishers)

Note:  The physical textbook for this course is optional.  Daily homework will be completed online using MyMathLab, where an electronic version of the text is accessible.  Please purchase a MyMathLab student access kit from the Amarillo College Bookstore.

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.  Note that no TI-89s or TI-Nspires will be permitted during the midterm and final exams.

Students need access to a computer with a reliable internet connection to complete online homework assignments and chapter exams and access to a printer to produce class notes and review worksheets.  Please note that this class requires a lot of printing!

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

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 by reading the textbook (or ebook on MyMathLab), watching the videos and finishing the homework and exams on MyMathLab

2.    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.

3.    Deadlines are your responsibility. Due dates are included in the weekly assignment which is posted on Blackboard every Monday morning.

4.    Technical difficulties happen. If you experience problems, email me immediately.  I will do my best to assist you.  Please don't panic, I am here to work with you.  However, completing assignments and 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 to keep you on schedule.

5.  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 arrangements for the exams.  Distant residents will also be required to submit their midterm and final notebooks by mail by the deadline posted on the calendar.

6.    You are responsible for getting help when you need it.  On the MyMathLab website, there are power points, additional 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 in Room 104 on the Washington Street Campus.  Online tutoring is also available through Smartthinking.

 

ONLINE COMMUNICATION

Your online presence in the course will be established through online correspondence with me.  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.

 

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, or withdrawl from the course or college.

Scholastic dishonesty shall constitute a violation of the rules and regulations described in the Student Rights and Responsibilities Handbook under Student Conduct and Responsibilities.  Consequences for cheating may include  receiving a zero for an assignment, permanent removal from the class, or failing the course.

Grading Criteria

Your course 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 Homework Average	lowest 2 assignments	15%
Notebook Average (notebook submitted at midterm and final exams)	-----	15%
Online Exams (4 total)	-----	40%
Written Midterm Exam (taken in person)	-----	15%
Written Final Exam (taken in person)	-----	15%

 

Attendance

Through distance learning, you will establish your presence online.  Assignments will be posted on Blackboard (and email sent) every Monday morning.  Course grades will be posted on Blackboard.  You will need to check your email and grades.  In addition, you will need to log into MyMathLab regularly to complete homework and chapter exams.

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 (Durrett Hall, Room 103) 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 Tuesday, Nov 19 and Thursday, Nov 21 by 10PM.
**The written Final Exam must be taken in person between Monday, Dec 16 and Wednesday, Dec 18 by 10PM.

Please note that NO extensions will be granted for the midterm and final exams.

 

Calendar

Additional Information

NOTEBOOK

Students will be required to submit a structured notebook for a grade at the midterm and final exam sessions. The notebook must contain a typed coversheet with the student's name, instructor's name, class, and section number. The notebook must also contain three sections (with dividers) with the following labels: 

1. Notes (your written version of the lecture notes provided on the videos)
2. Homework (to accompany the online HW from MyMathLab)
3. Reviews (to contain the midterm and final exam review worksheets.)

HOMEWORK 

As you work the MyMathLab homework problems online, you must write down all the work necessary to complete these problems on notebook paper.  (Enter answers only into MML.)  For the homework section of your notebook, please start each section of homework on a new page.  Clearly write the section number on the title line at the top of the page.  Number each problem, write down the problem, show all work, and circle or box your answers. Construct detailed graphs by hand where necessary.  Skip a line between problems.  Your notebook grade will depend on how well you document your work from MyMathLab.  Carefully follow these guidelines, and show work for all problems.

Reviews:  For the Review section, include the completed midterm and final exam review worksheets printed from Blackboard.

 WEEKLY ROUTINE

1.)  Check Blackboard and/or your email every Monday morning for that week's assignment.

2.)  Watch the video lectures and take notes as if you were in a seated course.  File these notes in your notebook.  This should be completed before you start the homework on MyMathLab.

3.)  WORK THE MyMathLab HOMEWORK at   www.pearsonmylab.com. 

Before you are allowed to take the corresponding chapter exam, you must make at least 70% on each section of homework.

4.)  BUILD YOUR HW LOG.  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. File your written work in your notebook.

5.)  TAKE ASSIGNED REVIEWS AND EXAMS on MyMathLab by the deadlines posted on MyMathLab.

GETTING STARTED WITH MYMATHLAB

 To access MyMathLab where your online homework is located, you will need the following information:

Student Access Code: This can be located inside the MyMathLab Student Access kit you purchased from the Amarillo College Bookstore.

Course ID: usnick23746   usnick39973

To register and enroll:

 

1. Go to www.pearsonmylab.com and click the Student button in the Register Area.

2. Follow the onscreen instructions to register and enroll.  Remember, if you received the My Math Lab kit with your textbook, you do not need to purchase access online.  Your student access code is included in the kit.  If you did not purchase the textbook with the kit included, you will need to purchase access online using a credit card.
3. During the registration process, you will enter an email address and password.  Use your AC email address.  Write your username and password down so you don’t forget them!  You are now ready to click on our course and you will see the course “homepage.”
4. The first time you get into our course, you will need to run the “Browser Check” found on that homepage to make sure you have what you need to view the content in your course on your computer.  Blue “checks” are good.  If you get any red “x’s”, just follow the onscreen instructions.  If you need help from the software publisher, their “help” number is 1-800-677-6337.
5. On the homepage, please also notice the links to “Pearson tutor services” and “How to Enter Answers”, which is a video that helps you learn how to put fractions, square roots, etc. into this software.  Both links are very helpful.
6. Now you are ready to access your online homework.  Inside the class, click “Do Homework” on the left side of the page, and begin!  Also note, you can view your homework grades under the button called “Gradebook.”

To get started after registering:

1.)  Go to www.pearsonmylab.com and click on "Sign In".
2.)  To work on assignments, click the “Homework” button, and choose the section you wish to complete.
3.) To access the textbook, click the “Chapter Contents” button, and choose the chapter and section you wish to view.
4.) 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.
5.) Under the “Homework” button, START YOUR FIRST HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENT, “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. You will need your AC ID to sign in.

Hours:
Monday - Friday:  8AM - 8PM
Saturday:  9AM-8PM
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.