MATD 0421 FAQ

Q. Can anyone register for MATD 0421?

A. No.  Students are required to have an appropriate TSI placement score or previously passed Basic Math (MATD 0330 or 0332) or passed a higher level math class.

Q. Do I need to attend class?

A. Yes.  Students are required to attend class.

Q. If it is on the computer why can't I do this at home?

A. In addition to the computer work there are written tests and interaction with your instructor during class time. The class is also supported by math tutors. You will be working on the software outside of class time at home or another location with internet access to complete homework. This is not a distance learning option.

Q. What does individualized pace mean?

A.  Students are expected to learn the equivalent to at least one lecture course in ALEKS each semester. However, a motivated student can complete more than one traditional course in a semester.  What makes this course individually paced is the way the content level is selected according to what each student needs to learn. Students get credit for lessons on topics they already know and can spend less or more time on other lessons based upon their math knowledge.  The time component is NOT self-paced; all students will be expected to spend approximately 10 hours per week (or more hours in shorter semesters) working on ALEKS.  Students that show mastery of an objective by previous knowledge and/or by working additional hours can learn more than one lecture course within the same semester at no additional cost. 

Q. Is everything online?  Is testing online?

A. Most of the work is online but students will also interact with instructors and peers.  There will be a mixture of online quizzes, paper and pencil tests and notebook work.

Q. What happens if I finish all of one level but only some of the next level?

A. Students who do not complete all 12 objectives in MATD 0421 will enroll in the appropriate corequisite course per the Exiting MATD 0421 flow chart or another MATD course.  Students who successfully complete all objectives in MATD 0421 and pass the final exam will be TSI complete and be able to register for MATH 1314, MATH 1414, MATH 1324 or a non-STEM first semester math course.

Q. How will I be graded?

A. Instructors will use a number of criteria when computing your grade. Learning progress, attendance, time spent in ALEKS, online quizzes, notebook checks, paper and pencil tests. The student will be graded on the work that they have completed in that semester.  However, if it is less than the required learning progress, then the student will not pass the class.  Students who did not successfully complete MATD 0421 may repeat MATD 0421, if they wish to continue working in ALEKS.  Students repeating MATD 0421 will continue where they left off the previous semester, if their prior MATD 0421 work is recent.

Q. What happens if I want to work when my instructor is not in the ACCelerator room?

A. At the Highland, Round Rock and San Gabriel campuses students are welcome and encouraged, to come in any time the ACCelerator is open and work on their ALEKS pie.  Your instructor will always be available during class hours.  If you attend outside of your class hours, other faculty or tutors may be available to help you with your math.  Students will also be able to work in the Learning Lab at any campus where tutor support will be available.

Q. What happens at the end of the semester?

A. There are exit points in the curriculum that will equate to the completion of Elementary Algebra and Intermediate Algebra.  At the end of the semester your instructor will put a note in Degree Map to show which courses you are eligible for the following semester. A student that completes the requirements for an exit point will be able to use this as a pre-requisite for the next level course.  See the Exiting MATD 0421 flow chart.

Q. What happens if I want to move from a traditional course to an ALEKS course?

A. Like all MATD 0421 students, you will take an initial diagnostic which will generate your individualized pie and you will work through lessons you have not shown mastery of.  This can be advantageous for students repeating a course where they know some but not all the content or for students who need a review after being away from math for a period of time.

Q. My question isn't here, who can I contact for more information?

A. Students can speak with their adviser on campus or contact Math Program Specialist, Christie Allen-Johnson by phone 512-223-2623 or email callenjo@austincc.edu.