Arts and Sciences Division
Developmental Studies Department
Course Syllabus
Spring 2008
Course: Mat 101 W02
Semester Credit Hours: 3.0
Course Title: Beginning
Algebra
Instructor: Jean Steele
Office: UT/104 323
Office Hours: TBA
Office Phone Number: (864) 250-8538
E-Mail: Use WebCT email for questions that are not time sensitive. This mailbox will be checked at least once a day Monday through Friday.
Other E-Mail: Jean.Steele@gvltec.edu This email address is checked multiple times Monday through Friday. If your question is urgent, please use this address.
Fax Number: 250-8580 ATTN: J. Steele
US Mail Address: Jean Steele
104-323
Prerequisite: ASSET test score of NS 45 - 55 or COMPASS test score of PALG 50 - 100
OR
Successful completion with “C” or better of MAT 032.
Note: Computer skills are essential to success in the online
format of this course. The
Course Description: This course includes the following
topics: operations with signed
numbers; addition, subtraction, multiplication and division with algebraic
expressions; factoring; techniques for solving linear and fractional equations;
and an introduction to graphing.
Course Purpose: Mat 101 is preparation for Mat 102.
Required Text / Access Code: Lial, Hornsby, McGinnis, Introductory and
Intermediate Algebra, 3rd edition, 2006. The book package at
the Greenville Tech Bookstore comes shrink wrapped with ISBN
0-321-39143-8. This package
includes:
·
Textbook
·
Student Solutions
Manual
·
Digital Video Tutor
(videos for computer)
·
MyMathLab Access
Code
·
Additional Skill
and Drill Manual
As an alternative to the book package, just the
MyMathLab access code can be purchased online for a
substantial savings at this website: http://www.mymathlab.com/buying.html
. The MML tutorial contains the
e-book and online videos instead of having the hard copy of the book and video
CDs.
Other Required Materials:
Required Trips to Campus:
·
You will have to come to the Barton
Campus of Greenville Technical College or an approved testing center at another
college to take the mid-term and the final exam. There will be 3 days to
take the mid-term and 3 days in which to take the final exam. See the
course calendar in WebCT for these dates.
If your trip to
the GTC testing center is 50 or more miles then information about obtaining an
alternate testing site can be found at this link: http://www.college-online.com/TestingCenter/ProcterInfo.htm You will
need to have this alternate sight secured within 2 weeks of the first day of
this course.
·
If you have difficulty making your
initial access to WebCT or MyMathLab, you will be required to meet with your
instructor before the end of the first week of classes. However, this will not be necessary if
you are able to access WebCT, read and post a bulletin message, send a private
email in WebCT and register and log into MyMathLab by the end of the first week
of class.
Course Objectives: Upon successful completion of Mat 101 with a minimum competency of 70% as measured by the section assessments and objective tests, the student should be able to show a mastery of the following skills:
Math Dept. Grading Scale:
A: 90% to 100% Outstanding performance, able to solve non-routine problems
B: 80% to 89% Good performance, and able to solve textbook problems very well
C: 70% to 79% Adequate performance, able to solve most textbook problems
D: 60% to 69% Not acceptable as a prerequisite
F: 0% to 59% Failing, not acceptable as a prerequisite
W:
Student's responsibility to initiate before withdrawal
date
WA:
Administrative Withdrawal given by the
instructor if 2 or more tests are missed prior to the last day to
withdraw.
Important Dates:
Janurary 7-11 (M-F) Add/Drop for full term courses
January 14 (M) Student must have logged into WebCT and responded to the first Bulletin message from your instructor which will indicate your intent to participate in this class
February 27-29 (W-F) Mid-term exam
March 24 -28 (M-F) Holidays
March 17 (M) Last day to Withdraw (Any non-participating student who fails to withdraw by this date, will receive a grade of WA.)
April 28 (M) Last day of classes
April 29-May 1 (T-R) Exam
Grading Policy: Included are grades for five chapter tests, MyMathLab Homework and Quizzes and a final exam. Final course grades will be determined as follows:
35% Online chapter test average
10% MyMathLab Quiz Average
5% MyMathLab Homework Average
25% Mid-term Exam
25% Final Exam
The Campus Cruiser Gradebook will have 3 categories which will each count the following and is equivalent to the above policy:
Tests - 85% Quizzes - 10% Homework - 5%
· Being enrolled in a technology-based course, understand that there are times when technology fails. In the event that the server is down, your computer is not working, etc., it is still your responsibility to continue working in the chapter using your text book and test on time. Test dates WILL NOT be extended because of technical difficulties. Please open your text, visit the math center on campus, attend a lecture class, or set up an appointment to see your instructor for additional help. IT IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO REMAIN ON TASK AND TEST ON TIME.
Online Chapter Tests:
About the tests
·
All chapter tests are given online using
the same tool used for the homework and quizzes.
·
A scientific calculator should be used
on tests for chapters 2, 3, 4, and 5 (no graphing calculators). No calculator on chapter 1.
·
Each test will have from 25 to 35
questions, and should take about 1 hour with 2 hours maximum
allowed.
·
Two attempts will be allowed for each
chapter test. If you choose to take
a test the 2nd time, the two scores will be averaged. Therefore it is recommended that you be
well prepared on the first attempt.
·
Any use of unauthorized assistance
during a test or changing a graded test to gain points will result in a grade of
zero on the test with no possibility of making it up.
When to take the tests
· The chapter tests will be available to you at the beginning of the chapter. The dates that chapter tests become available will be posted in the course calendar. Each chapter test does have a required due date (also posted in the course calendar), so you must complete a chapter test by it’s due date, or else a grade of zero will result.
. Where to take the tests
· Chapter tests will be taken using MathXL, a part of MyMathLab. This is the same tool that is
used to complete your homework and quizzes online. Since this is an online tool,
you can take the test from any computer that has Internet access, and all of the
installed plug-ins required to access MML.
Use the installation wizard in MML to obtain the plug-ins.
Missed Online Tests
· If you cannot complete a test by the testing dates scheduled, contact your instructor about the possibility of an alternate time, otherwise, the test will be considered a missed test. Your mid-term exam grade can be substituted for a missed chapter 1 or 2 online test. Your final exam can be substituted for a missed chapter 3, 4 or 5 online test
· Only 1 test can be missed and replaced by the final exam or the mid-term. The 2nd missed test will be a zero.
Mid-term and Final Exam:
About the tests
·
The Mid-term and Final exams will be
given at the
·
There will be a 3 day window to take
the midterm as well as a 3 day window to take the final
exam.
·
Test dates will be posted in the
course calendar.
·
A scientific calculator can be used
on both of these tests.
·
Each test will have from 40 to 50
questions, and should take about 1.5 hours with 2.5 hours maximum
allowed.
When to take the tests
See the WebCT Course Calendar for dates that each test is available.
Where to take the tests
· You will only be able to take your tests at the Barton Campus of Greenville Tech in room 350 of the Dental Building. Check the Testing Center's current policies and schedule at www.college-online.com It will be the student's responsibility to arrive with enough time to complete the test. A picture ID must be presented when testing. DO NOT bring cell phones, radios, etc. into the testing center, they are not allowed. If you have further questions about testing procedures call the Distance Learning office at (864) 250-8130 or toll-free: In-state 800-922-1183, Out-of-State 800-723-0673.
·
If you must arrange for another
testing center, use this hyper-link for Proctor
Information and forms to request another location. This request should be completed by the
2nd week of class.
Missed Tests
· If you are not able to take the midterm or final during the scheduled time you must contact the instructor BEFORE the test due date (the earlier the better) to be considered for a rescheduled test, otherwise, the test will be considered a missed test. If the mid-term is missed the final exam may replace it. Hence, the final exam will then count 50% of your course grade. The final exam must be taken to receive a grade in this course.
Homework and Quizzes:
§
MyMathLab
is a tutorial program located at http://www.mymathlab.com/ . A student access code for MML is
included in your book package. Since MML also includes an e-book, you may go to
the MML webpage and purchase just an access code online for a reduced
price.
§
There is
a Course ID for your instructor’s MyMathLab Course. This ID can be found in the Course
Information on WebCT.
§
MML
Homework and Quizzes are graded. The MML gradebook will give a single
average for HW (5% of your grade) and an average for Quizzes (10% of your
grade). These assignments will be
due on the same day as the online chapter test.
§
Quizzes
can be attempted multiple times.
However, you must retake the whole quiz. Only the highest score is used in
calculating your quiz average.
§
HW
problems can be redone on an individual basis. As you work on the homework after 3
wrong answers, you will be given an opportunity to have a new problem. If this one is answered correctly, you
can still make a 100% on your HW assignment.
Grades: