MAT091                     INTRODUCTORY ALGEBRA                               Fall 2006                                     4 Credits

ONLINE

First Day of Class: 8/21/06                                                                  

Final Exam: Between 12/4/06 - 12/6/06

 

Instructor Information

Instructor:  Shay Cardell

Office Hours:  TBA

Email: MAT091@cardells.net

 

Course Description:

Algebra including topics such as solving equations, inequalities, functions, graphing equations, writing equations, systems of linear equations, exponents and polynomials and factoring.

 

Prerequisite 

Appropriate CAC math placement score. 

 

Textbook

Introductory and Intermediate Algebra  3rd Edition

and My MathLab CD

Lial, Hornsby, Schneider

Addison Wesley

ISBN #0321414888

Course Code: cardell97415

 

Calculator A scientific calculator is sufficient.  However, a graphing calculator such as the TI-83 is highly recommended.

 

Instructional Method  Since this is an online class, students will be expected to learn most of the material on their own.  In addition to the textbook and its accompanying CDROM, there are many resources available to help students learn.  The Course Compass web site offers tutorials, online tutoring, and sample tests, as well as study skill tips and links to help with specific math topics.  Through the online discussion group for the class, you can communicate with other students in the class and the instructor.

 

Communication   You may email me at any time. I check my email at least every 24 hours, but usually more frequently.  It is important that each student check his or her email daily.  On Mondays (or Sunday evenings) I will post our Discussion Board question of the week and send out an email summarizing the assignments for the week.  It is also important that students make sure that their CAC email is not full.  If it is full, you will not receive any more emails.  You may use any email address that you would like.  When you sign into our class site it will ask you what email address that you will be using – this is the one to which I will send all emails.

 

 

Online Discussion Group

·        If you have a problem that you cannot solve, you may find that another student had the same question and the answer is posted on the Discussion Board for Homework Questions. 

·        If you find the solution to a difficult problem that you believe would help other students, you may post your solution on the Discussion Board for Homework Questions. 

·        You will be required to post a comment or question to the Weekly Discussion Board Assignments each week.

·        The deadline for posting a comment for credit is Sunday at 11:59 PM.  (This is Arizona time; the program uses Eastern Standard Time.  So do not worry if it says you post at 2am in the morning, you will still get credit.)

·        Late postings will be accepted for one week after due date for half credit only.

 

Help:  Math tutors will be available to help you at each campus learning center and math lab. Reference textbooks, computer software and videotapes are available in the library.  The Internet is a valuable resource for math tutorials and tools.  Learning Center schedules for each campus are posted on the Central Arizona College web site.  Free math tutoring online is also available from the textbook publisher.

 

Homework 

·        A Weekly Schedule of Assignments is posted on the COURSE Documents page. Due dates for online homework (Under DO HOMEWORK) are every Sunday at 11:59 PM (Arizona Time). Read the textbook chapter and work additional problems to gain a mastery of the material before you attempt the graded homework.

·        I strongly encourage you not to wait until Sunday evening to start your online homework assignments, having a deadline that is quickly approaching can make online homework extremely frustrating.

·        Homework assignments can be frustrating at first as you are learning to use the program.  Expect to spend additional time in the beginning and plan accordingly.  Frustration usually occurs when you know that you are typing in the correct answer and the computer says that it is incorrect.  Unfortunately, the program will not accept your answer unless it is in a form that the program recognizes.   This will become easier over time.  Email me in a situation like this and I can help you sort it out.

·        Additional un-graded practice problems can be found in the textbook and in our class site (Course Compass).  If you go to the Chapter Contents page, select the Chapter that you are looking for extra problems, then select the appropriate section and then select tracked tutorial exercises.

·        If you begin the homework assignment and no problems are appearing, this indicates that you have not loaded the appropriate software.  Return to Announcements and select Installation Wizard.  Follow the steps for loading the software, then restart your computer and try again.  If this does not work email me and I will try to guide you.  If I cannot help you, we will contact Course Compass.  Course Compass has a team with generous office hours (they operate on EST) that will help you to solve technical problems. In the past when I have contacted them they have always come through, their number is 1-800-677-6337.

·        Late homework will be accepted for half credit for up to one week after the due date.

 

Tests:          

·        There will be 4 in-person exams given during the semester.  All students must take all four exams.  These exams will take place the 4th, 8th, 12th and 16th week of class. The dates for all of these exams can be found under the Course Documents tab on the Schedule of Weekly Assignments document. 

·        Mark your calendars with the dates of the exams and the times that your CAC campus offers testing during the appropriate week and plan accordingly.

·        You may bring a calculator to each exam and a 5X8 formula card.

·        Picture ID will be required.

·        Testing will be available at the Signal Peak, Superstition Mountain and Aravaipa campuses during the days and times posted.  These days and times will be posted the second week of class.

·        Although test times may vary, please allow approximately two hours for your exam.  You will need a calculator for most exams.

·        Always call ahead to the testing site to ensure that your test has arrived before you drive out to the testing site.

·        The exams will be cumulative in nature, but will emphasize the most recent material.

·        In the event that a student misses an exam, the following exam will count double.  There are no make-ups for missed exams.  It is important that every student takes his or her exams in the week that it is assigned.  If an exam is missed contact me as soon as possible.  This puts pressure on the student for the following exam, as the information becomes more difficult as time goes on.  The final exam is necessary for all students, it cannot be made up and there is no exam following it.

 

 

 

 

Online Gradebook

There is an online gradebook at the CourseCompass site where you can see the results of your online homework assignments.

 

Grading Policy:

 

Your grade percentage will be calculated based on the following percentages:

 

            Homework                               30%

            Discussion board                      10%

            Exams                                      60%    

            Total                                      100 %

 

 

Your semester grade will be assigned based on the following scale:

 

            90% - 100%                A        

            80% - 89%                  B

            70% - 79%                  C

            60% - 69%                  D

            Below 60%                  F

 

Note:  This syllabus is subject to change as the class progresses, based upon the capabilities and progress of students in the class each semester.  If the syllabus changes, I will email a new copy to each student.