Course Syllabus
Course Prefix, Number, Title & Credit Hours: MATH 102, COLLEGE ALGEBRA, 3 credit hours
Academic Term, Year: Fall 2009
Course Meeting Time and Location:
Lecture: M, W, F from 9:00 to 9:50 in the Kennedy Center room 117
Final Exam: December 16 - time: 8:00-10:00
Instructors Contact Information:
Dr. Rich Avery
208b Lowry Hall
Telephone: 256-5188
E-mail: rich.avery@dsu.edu
Monday: 10:00-11:50
Office Hours: Tuesday: 9:00-11:50
Wednesday: 10:00-11:50
Thursday: 9:00-11:50
Additional office hours by Discovery or Appointment.
Course Description: Equations and inequalities; polynomial functions and graphs; exponents, radicals, binomial theorem, zeros of polynomials; systems of equations; exponential, logarithmic, and inverse functions, applications and graphs. Other topics selected from sequences, series, and complex numbers. (2009-2010 DSU Catalog)
Additional Course
Description: College Algebra, the
study of functions and the properties and applications of functions.
Course Prerequisites:
Prerequisites: MATH 101 (with a grade of C or better) or appropriate math placement.
Technology Skills: Desire2Learn will be used to deliver course documents as well as serving as a communication tool between students and instructor. MyMathLab will be used for homework, quizzes and exams. It is the students responsibility to contact and work with the instructor if they are having any issues using either of these tools.
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. Students will be required to read the textbook and there are reading homework assignments as well as traditional homework assignments.
Course Requirements:
Required Textbook(s) and Other Materials: Trigsted, College Algebra (1st Edition), (Pearson Education, Inc, New York, 2010). Students are required to purchase a MyMathLab access code. Students may choose not to purchase a copy of the Summary Notebook (I did not ask the bookstore to order any copies so if you would like one you will need to visit the bookstore and ask them to order a copy for you), the e-book is contained in the MyMathLab site as well as many supplemental resources including video presentations and worked examples. You can purchase an Access Code at the DSU bookstore or online at www.coursecompass.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.coursecompass.com). Note, if you have already taken Math 102 (using this 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.coursecompass.com.
Course ID: avery93254 is the MyMathLab course id for Fall of 2009.
Getting Started
with MyMathLab: Go to the
CourseCompass website (powers MyMathLab) at www.coursecompass.com and under the
students section (bottom left portion of the screen) you will see instructions
for: How to Register, How to buy Access, Getting Started as well as Take a
Tour. Go to the MyMathLab settings file
in the Desire2Learn site for instructions on setting your Internet Explorer
settings to avoid turning off your pop up blockers. In addition there are MyMathLab registration
and navigation instructions on the D2L site for the course.
A
graphing calculator is required to complete some of the exercises in this
course. Graph/Calc is a freeware
graphing calculator that you can use for this course on your computer. The interface is nearly identical to a
hand-held graphing calculator. Students
can download the Graph/Calc at http://www.graphcalc.com/download.shtml.
University Deadlines:
Add/Drop Deadline (Census Day): September 10th is the last day to add this course or drop this course and receive 100% refund.
Withdraw Deadline: November 16th 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.departments.dsu.edu/studentaffairs/handbook/
DSU Catalogs: http://www.departments.dsu.edu/registrar/catalog/
DSU Student Resources Center: http://www.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
Course Goals: Regental General Education Goal #5: Students will understand and apply fundamental mathematical processes and reasoning.
Student Learning Outcome 1: Use mathematical symbols and mathematical structure to model and solve real world problems.
Assessment: Students will:
a. Use polynomial, logarithmic and exponential functions to model real world problems on quizzes and exams.
b. Use the graph of a function to optimize the function and in the case of quadratics, students will relate the extreme value to the vertex of the quadratic on quizzes and exams.
c. Use loan and annuity formulas and demonstrate the ability to modify these formulas to fit specialized needs on quizzes and exams.
d. Apply the five step Polya Problem Solving Process to solve real world problems with an emphasis on problems that involve solving equations, solving systems of equations, optimizing functions or solving inequalities as the strategy on quizzes and exams.
Student Learning Outcome 2: Demonstrate appropriate communication skills related to mathematical terms and concepts.
Assessment:
Students will:
a. Demonstrate knowledge of elementary mathematical definitions, functional notation, operations with functions and inverse functions on quizzes and exams.
b. Relate functions with their graphs and identify properties of functions from their graphs on quizzes and exams.
c. Demonstrate the ability to graph basic functions and functions which are translations, scalings and reflections of basic functions on quizzes and exams.
d. Graphically identify solutions to equations, systems of equations and inequalities on quizzes and exams.
Student Learning Outcome 3: Demonstrate the correct use of quantifiable measurements of real world situations.
Assessment: Students will:
a. Use the English and metric measurement systems and convert between the two systems. Conversions will be interpreted as functions on quizzes and exams.
b. Demonstrate measurement concepts in real world problems and demonstrate (by attaching units) that equations are dimensionally homogeneous on quizzes and exams.
c. Students will use technology as an appropriate tool on quizzes and exams.
Evaluation Procedures: Course grade will be based on the following percentages:
MyMathLab Quizzes 20%
MyMathLab HW 20%
Unit 1 Exam 10%
Unit 2 Exam 15%
Unit 3 Exam 15%
Final Exam 20%
Total 100 %
Each traditional homework assignment has a weight of five times that of a reading homework assignment (in the homework category of MyMathLab, each traditional homework assignment has a weight of ten points and each reading homework assignment has a weight of two points – note the points in other categories of MyMathLab are not equivalent). Sample exams have a weight of zero, they have no impact on your grade. Take the sample exams as many times as you would like to help you prepare for your actual exam. Your actual exam will have the same types of problems as your sample exam, but not 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).
Review Material: Students are required to complete the homework assessments from chapter R (review) in the first month of the semester. We will not spend any class time reviewing this material, however I am available during office hours to answer any questions that you have and there are math tutors in the library.
Cheating & plagiarism Policy (academic honesty): Academic dishonesty includes giving, receiving or using unauthorized aid on any academic work. The definition of academic dishonesty and the procedure for handling it are described in detail in the current version of the student handbook. You should read and understand this material. You will be allowed to use any handwritten notes during the exams as well as anything you have saved on your computer, however you are not allowed to use any communication tools during an exam (that means no email, no networking sites like facebook, no phones – turn off your cell phone or leave with your proctor, …). You will not receive credit (zero) if you are caught using communication tools during an exam or using unauthorized aid during an exam of any form.
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, test modifications) in this course, please arrange to
meet with the instructor. Also, please contact
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
University
Policy Regarding the Use of Tablets in the Classroom: 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.
The Professor
reserves the right to modify this course syllabus to better meet student needs.
COURSE OUTLINE: The unit 2 assessments will not be
available for students to work on until the unit 1 exam has been completed. The unit 3 assessments as well as the
assessments for sections 7.1 and 7.2 will not be available for students to work
on until the unit 2 exam has been completed.
REVIEW: Complete the review homework
assignments in the first month of the semester (see the deadline set in
MyMathLab for these assignments).
UNIT 1: Chapters
1 and 2
Unit 1 exam, tentatively scheduled for October 7th
UNIT 2: Chapters
3 and 4
Unit 2 exam, tentatively scheduled for November
9th
UNIT 3: Chapter
5
Unit 3 exam
- tentatively scheduled for December 4th
Final Exam: Cumulative
final which includes material from chapters 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 as well as
sections 7.1 and 7.2.
Final exam,
December 16th