Course Syllabus
Dakota State University, College of Arts and Sciences
Course Prefix and Number: MATH 341
Course Title & Credit Hours: Math Concepts for Teachers I Syllabus, 3 credit hours
Academic Term, Year: Spring 2012
Course Meeting Time and Location:
Section D30: Internet Course (see the course introduction on D2L for deadline information and course expectations)
Final Exam Information:
Section D30 (Internet students): final must be taken by or on May 2nd (earlier is fine)
Instructors Contact Information:
Dr. Richard Avery
Office: Science Center 146F
Telephone: 256-5188
E-mail: rich.avery@dsu.edu
Office Contact - Email: I will be checking email several times every business day and at least once every weekend. If you send me an email, expect a response to your email within 24 hours during the week and within 48 hours during the weekend (most of the time you will get a response much quicker than the 24 hour weekday / 48 hour weekend guidelines). Please send course email to me through Desire2Learn email. Scheduled office hours (held in the Science Center 146F):
Monday: 9:00-11:50
Tuesday: 9:15-11:00
Wednesday: 9:00-11:50
Thursday: 9:15-11:00
Course Description: An introduction to sets, numeration systems, arithmetic operations/algorithms, problem solving and other topics. (2011-2012 DSU Catalog)
Course Prerequisites:
Prerequisites: MATH 102, College Algebra
Technology Skills: Desire2Learn will be used to deliver course supplements as well as serving as a communication tool between students and instructor. MyMathLab will be used for homework, quizzes and exams. Students must run the Browser Check linked on the announcements page before they will be able to complete the MyMathLab Homework assignments as well as take Quizzes and Exams.
Securing a Proctor (Internet Students Only): All exams must be proctored and it is the student’s responsibility to secure a suitable proctor for this course. A proctor is a person that administers exams for this course (ensuring the integrity of the course). Students now submit their proctor form online at http://www.dsu.edu/disted/proctoring.aspx. The agreement form can be found on step two at the proctoring webpage. Students choose “Proctor Agreement for Distance Students” if they are using proctoring services off campus. The student fills in demographic information and the center/university that will be doing the testing. If students are using the Extended Programs services then they will choose “Proctor Agreement for Distance Students using DSU Campus Proctors”. The only information that a student needs to enter on the form is demographic information and the name of the course and instructor (Avery).
Description of Instructional and Course Delivery Methods: Students learn mathematics by doing mathematics. Lessons and assignments are developed to engage students and facilitate learning. (ACTIVE LEARNING) This is a competency based course with online homework, quizzing and testing components using MyMathLab. During the academic year there are on campus sections which use the standard lecture format and Internet sections which take advantage of the full capabilities of MyMathLab (videos included).
Course Requirements:
Required Textbook(s) and Other Materials: Billstein, Libeskind and Lott, Mathematics for Elementary School Teachers (10th Edition), (Pearson Education, Inc, New York, 2009). Students are required to purchase a MyMathLab access code (an access code can be bundled with a new textbook – if you choose to purchase a hard copy of the text be sure that it contains an access code). Students may choose not to purchase a hard copy of the book, an electronic copy of the sections of the book for this course is contained in the MyMathLab course site as well as many supplemental resources. You can purchase an Access Code at the DSU bookstore or online at www.pearsonmylabandmastering.com (the advantage of purchasing online is that in the unlikely event you drop or withdraw from the course there is an avenue to get a refund as explained under the Student section of Getting Started at www.pearsonmylabandmastering.com). Note, if you have already taken Math 341 or Math 342 (using the 10th edition of the text) you may not need to buy an Access Code, check to see if your access code is still valid by following the instructions under Getting Started for multi-semester registrations at www.pearsonmylabandmastering.com.
Course ID: avery68141 is the MyMathLab course id for Spring of 2012.
Getting Started with MyMathLab: Go to the Pearson MyLab and Mastering website (powers MyMathLab) at www.pearsonmylabandmastering.com and under the “For Students” section (bottom left portion of the screen) you will see instructions for: How to Register (click the How to Register link if you want to see how to Enroll in Another Course if you have already established an account in the MyLab/Mastering environment), How to buy Access, Getting Started as well as Take a Tour. You are expected to read the MyMathLab registration and navigation instructions on the D2L site for the course. They explain in detail how you register for the course and how you complete the course once you are onto the MyMathLab site.
Selected Bibliography:
University Deadlines:
Add/Drop Deadline (Census Day): January 20th is the last day to add this course or drop this course and receive 100% refund
Withdraw Deadline: April 2nd is the last day to withdraw from this course and receive a grade of “W”
DSU Student Information and Help Links:
Student Handbook: http://www.dsu.edu/student-handbook/ (click on student handbook)
DSU Catalogs: http://www.departments.dsu.edu/registrar/catalogs.aspx
DSU Student Resources Center: http://support.dsu.edu/
MyMathLab Support:
MyMathLab Online Support: http://247pearsoned.custhelp.com/ (click on the Ask a Question Tab)
MyMathLab Phone Support: 1-800-677-6337
Pearson Tutor Center: The Pearson Tutor Center is staffed by college level instructors to provide additional support for students using MyMathLab at no additional cost. Students can call, fax or email questions to the tutors. Go to http://www.pearsontutorservices.com/student_information.html to register for this free service provided by Pearson Education then follow the instructions on this site (Pearson Tutor Center) to send up to three questions per day to the Pearson online tutors.
Course Goals:
Measurable Learning Objectives by Unit: Questions on the exams in this course (in addition to homework and quizzes) assess the following core course objectives which have been organized by chapter below and are summarized in the course goals above.
Unit 1: Chapters 1, 2 and 3
Solve Problems using arithmetic sequences.
Solve Problems using geometric sequences.
Use indirect methods to solve problems.
Use symbolic forms of truth statements.
Use set and subset terminology.
Use Venn diagrams to solve problems.
Solve problems using addition and subtraction properties.
Solve problems using multiplication and division properties.
Solve problems involving numeration systems.
Solve problems involving addition and subtraction algorithms.
Solve problems involving multiplication and division algorithms.
Solve problems mentally and by using estimation techniques.
Unit 2: Chapters 4, 5, and 6
Assign variables then use them to represent quantities in problems.
Solve linear and quadratic equations.
Apply knowledge of functions to problems.
Combine functions using composition.
Solve problems using addition and subtraction of integers.
Solve problems using multiplication and division of integers.
Use rules of divisibility.
Solve problems involving prime and composite numbers.
Solve problems using the GCD and LCM.
Solve problems using clock and modular arithmetic.
Simplify fractions and rational expressions.
Solve applied problems.
Order fractions.
Add or subtract fractions.
Multiply and divide fractions and mixed numbers.
Convert between fractions and mixed numbers.
Work with exponents.
Unit 3: Chapters 7 and 8
Use decimal notation.
Convert between fractions and decimals.
Use rounding and estimation with decimals.
Convert between scientific and standard notation.
Solve problems involving nonterminating decimals.
Understand real numbers.
Solve problems involving percent.
Solve basic proportion problems.
Solve interest problems.
Use and apply percentages.
Evaluation Procedures: Course grade will be based on the following percentages:
MyMathLab HW 20%
MyMathLab Quizzes 20%
Sample Exams 15%
Unit 1 Exam 15%
Unit 2 Exam 15%
Final Exam 15%
Total 100 %
Each sample exam is five percent of your overall grade, your best score on the sample exams is used in the evaluation procedure. Take the sample exams as many times as you would like to help you prepare for your exam. Your actual exam will have the same types of problems as your sample exam (half as many questions). Your grade will be calculated in MyMathLab (I must submit zeros for assignments that you don’t complete for whatever reason at the end of each unit, so provided you have completed your assessments your grade is up to date) and at the end of the semester 1% is added to your truncated percent average (so for example if your percent average is 79.2% then it truncates to 79% then add 1% to bring it to 80%) then the following grade scale is applied:
A 90%-100%
B 80%-89%
C 70%-79%
D 60%-69%
F < 60%
Students near a cutoff may receive the higher grade at the discretion of the instructor.
Classroom Policies:
Class Attendance-Completion Policy: Students are expected to meet the online deadlines for assessments set in MyMathLab.
Homework Completion Policy: Students are expected to complete assignments by the deadlines set in MyMathLab and there will be no make-up opportunities for missed homework and quizzes. Students must meet the prerequisite homework score to take that sections quiz (for example Q 3.2) which contains just a few questions (sometimes just one) from that sections homework. Some quizzes can be taken more than once in which case the highest achieved score is used in the evaluation procedure. Take the quizzes anytime you are ready to take them once you have met the prerequisite (quizzes do not need to be proctored, they are done outside of the classroom).
Make-up Policy: There will be no make up opportunities for missed quizzes or homework assignments, you must meet the deadlines set in MyMathLab (all homework and quizzes leading up to an exam have the same deadline as the exam, these are listed in MyMathLab). In the case of an excusable extended illness/absence during the semester contact the instructor to make arrangements for completing the course.
ADA Statement: If you have a documented disability and/or anticipate needing accommodations (e.g., non-standard note taking, extended time on exams or a quiet space for taking exams) in this course, please contact the instructor. Also, please contact Dakota State University’s ADA coordinator, Keith Bundy (located in the Student Development Office in the Trojan Center Underground or via email at Keith.Bundy@dsu.edu or via phone (605-256-5121) as soon as possible. The DSU website containing additional information, along with the form to request accommodations, is available at http://www.dsu.edu/student-life/disability-services/index.aspx. You will need to provide documentation of your disability. The ADA coordinator must confirm the need for accommodations before officially authorizing them.
Academic Honesty: Cheating and other forms of academic dishonesty run contrary to the purpose of higher education and will not be tolerated in this course. All forms of academic dishonesty will result in no credit for the assessment. Please be advised that, when the instructor suspects plagiarism, the Internet and other standard means of plagiarism detection will be used to resolve the instructor’s concerns. DSU’s policy on academic integrity (DSU Policy 03-22-00) is available online. You will be allowed to use up to ten pages of printed or handwritten notes (standard size pieces of paper with anything you want on them) during the exams, however you are not allowed to use any communication tools during an exam, visit any Internet sites beyond the testing page for the exam you are taking in MyMathLab (that means no email, no networking sites like facebook, no phones – turn off your cell phone or leave with your proctor, …) or access any documents on your computer. You will not receive credit (zero) if you are caught using communication tools, visiting Internet pages beyond the exam being taken in MyMathLab, accessing documents on your computer or using unauthorized aid during an exam of any form.
University Policy Regarding the Use of Tablets in the Classroom (On Campus Sections): The Tablet PC platform has been adopted across the DSU campus for all students and faculty, and tablet usage has been integrated into all DSU classes to enhance the learning environment. Tablet usage for course-related activities, note taking, and research is allowed and encouraged by DSU instructors. However, inappropriate and distracting use will not be tolerated in the classroom. Instructors set policy for individual classes and are responsible for informing students of class-specific expectations relative to Tablet PC usage. Failure to follow the instructor’s guidelines will hinder academic performance and may lead to disciplinary actions. Continued abuse may lead to increased tablet restrictions for the entire class. Because tablet technology is an integral part of this course, it is the student’s responsibility to ensure that his/her Tablet PC is operational prior to the beginning of each class period.
Computer and Internet Policy (Internet Sections): Access to the Internet to work on the course assignments and view course materials in MyMathLab is required. It is the student’s responsibility to maintain Internet access as well as access to a dependable, virus free computer during the session the course is being taken. Students must download all plug-ins and players required to use MyMathLab. Pearson education will help students with these downloads (contact information is on this syllabus), however ultimately it is the students responsibility to download the necessary plug-ins and players.
Freedom in Learning Statement: Students are responsible for learning the content of any course of study in which they are enrolled. Under Board of Regents and University policy, student academic performance shall be evaluated solely on an academic basis and students should be free to take reasoned exception to the data or views offered in any course of study. It has always been the policy of Dakota State University to allow students to appeal the decisions of faculty, administrative, and staff members and the decisions of institutional committees. Students who believe that an academic evaluation is unrelated to academic standards but is related instead to judgment of their personal opinion or conduct should contact the dean of the college which offers the class to initiate a review of the evaluation.
The Professor reserves the right to modify this course syllabus to better meet student needs.
COURSE OUTLINE and DEADLINES
Introduction HW: Deadline is January 20th (to ensure everyone gets started at the beginning of the session)
UNIT 1: Chapters 1, 2 and 3 - Unit 1 exam
Unit 1 exam deadline: February 10th - the deadline is for all assessments in unit 1 as well as the unit one exam.
UNIT 2: Chapters 4, 5 and 6 - Unit 2 exam
Unit 2 exam deadline: March 23rd - the deadline is for all assessments in unit 2 as well as the unit two exam.
UNIT 3: Chapters 7 and 8 - Unit 3 exam (Final Exam)
Unit 3 exam deadline: May 2nd - the deadline is for all assessments in unit 3 as well as the unit 3 (final) exam.
Note: the exams are not cumulative! Follow the course outline in MyMathLab when completing the MyMathLab homework and quizzes.