Click Here to go to the Calendar, which includes assignments and deadlines.
Syllabus is Tentative until 8/23/10. I have made it as accurate as possible, but there may be typos or mistakes. If so, I will announce changes in CC.
FALL 2010 MATH 830 Elementary Algebra section #2984 MiraCosta College
Fall 2010 Math 830 CourseCompass Course ID: harland44814
By 8/23/10, you must be enrolled in my class at MCC and also be enrolled in CC using the above course ID. Also, you must turn in an assignment ON 8/23/10 (or the previous weekend.)
Instructor Info: Julie Harland: jharland@miracosta.edu; 760-757-2121 ext. 6387 I am online often, and will usually reply asap and within 48 hours. Email me if you have personal questions. State your first and last name, which online class you are taking, a phone number and days/times you can be reached. Contact me if you need help or have questions. I AM HAPPY TO HELP—All you have to do is ASK!! You may also contact me to set up a time to see you in person. Online office hours are Wed 11am - 1pm.
CC: CourseCompass; HW: Homework; MLC: Math Learning Center; MML: MyMathLab
Required: Scientific calculator--the TI-30X-IIS calculator is recommended if you need to buy one. MML--gives online access to course, HW, quizzes. The printed text is optional; it is titled Algebra, a combined approach, 3rd ed by Martin-Gay.
Student Responsibilities, Computer/Internet requirement, and My Expectations for Students: Read the syllabus, announcements, emails, discussion board posts, and info in all the links posted in CC. If anything is unclear, ask. Follow the Calendar, adhere to all deadlines, and log in and submit work at least four days a week. Follow directions for taking tests on campus. You need reliable internet access. Computers with internet are available in the MLC on campus. CC or MML is sometimes unavailable. Plan for that possibility and submit work early, especially quizzes.
Attendance and Drop Policy: Attendance is mandatory, just as it is for a class taught on campus. You may be dropped if you do not follow the Attendance Policy below.
YOU MUST ATTEND THE FIRST DAY OF CLASS by SUBMITTING at least one HW problem in MML on Sat, Sun, or Mon, 8/21, 8/22, or 8/23, EVEN if you already submitted work before class officially began. At the minimum, submit the Orientation or at least one problem from another HW on 8/21, 8/22, or 8/23. Several people are on the wait list and I will drop students not following this first day attendance policy to add students on the wait list. In classes on campus, students must attend the first day of class or they may be dropped. The same is true in online classes.
The first week, HW is due Wed and Fri. Log in and submit work at least 3-4 days a week. Student taking this class on campus would be required to attend M-Th for 2 hours a day. Online means you submit work online 3-4 days a week but on the days convenient for you. It's especially important to submit work at least every other day the first week of class as I drop students not attending regularly by the last day students may drop the class with no record and get a refund.
Once class begins, submit work A MINIMUM of EVERY OTHER DAY during the weekdays or you may be dropped. After week 1, if you go more than 4 days without submitting at least one problem from a HW assignment in MML, you MAY be dropped.
Spend 24 hours a week on this class each week, follow the Calendar, which has assignments, due dates and deadlines.
Contact me asap in case of an emergency or any reason that prevents you from turning in work. To drop the class, officially drop the class in SURF by the withdrawal deadline of 10/1/10.
Grading: See Calendar for ALL assignments and due dates.
A: 90.0% - 100% B: 80.0% - 89.9% C: 70.0% - 79.9% and earn at least 50% on the final exam D: 60.0% - 69.9% F: Below 60.0%
You must do well on the proctored tests (a midterm and a final taken on campus in the MLC--these are paper/pencil tests where you show your work) to pass the class as they are worth 80% of your grade. In general, HW and quiz grades do not count enough to result in a passing grade unless you are also passing the Midterm and Final Exam. To do well on the midterm and final, do all the HW and quizzes ON YOUR OWN by the due date without referencing examples or getting help, always do my posted reviews and/or practice problems for tests, and get help if you need it.
10% of your grade: Homework and Reviews submitted in MML
10% of your grade: Quizzes submitted in MML (There are 6 quizzes; only the 5 highest scores will count.)
30% of your grade: Midterm
50% of your grade: Final Exam
No make-ups! No extra credit. Earn all the credit possible already by putting in the necessary time, preparing thoroughly for quizzes and tests, watching my youtube videos, reading my handouts, asking questions, etc.
Discussion Board: I encourage everyone to introduce themselves in the Discussion Board. Use the Discussion Board to ask me math and more general questions so that all students will benefit from the answer. You can also use the Discussion Board or the Send Email feature to email/connect with other students. Please use the correct forum and write something useful in the subject line so students will know what your post is about.
HW Info: The first week of class, HW is due Mon by midnight, and Wed, and Fri by noon. You must submit work at least 3 days the first week of class. After the first week of class, HW is usually due at noon on Tuesdays and Fridays, but submit each HW as you work through it. Turn it in 3-4 days a week. The Calendar specifies when HW is assigned and due. Each HW has a prerequisite, so you must work sections from each chapter in order. To be up-to-date, students should turn in assignments by the due date. However, there is no penalty for turning HW in late (even if it is marked past due) or for working on it later to raise a score. You may always re-do a missed problem to raise your score and still get 100% up until the final deadline of 11:59 pm on Wednesday, 10/13/10. To earn credit on a HW problem, click Check Answer. If your answer is correct, you'll get a green checkmark by that problem number which means you earned credit on it. Some questions require more than one step. Check your scores by going to Grades, then click on Check MyMathLab Grades.
NOTE: For each HW assignment in CC, first go to that section in Learn the Material to first read the e-text, see examples, and watch the video. Also, go to Videos by Julie to watch the youtube videos for that section, go to Handouts by Julie for notes, and see the discussion board for that chapter. After feeling confident on the material in that section, go to DO HW.
QUIZ Info: Follow the Calendar, which specifies the due date/time for each quiz. You may take a quiz as many times as you'd like up until the due date/time. Quizzes are timed, so take one when you will not be disturbed. I usually allow 2 hours to complete a quiz, which is more time than you should need. I suggest you take each quiz at least once at least one day before the due date. If an emergency occurs on the due date, you may not take it after noon on the due date.There are 6 quizzes, but I drop the lowest score in case an emergency occurred and you had to miss one quiz. Each quiz should be taken after you have completed the HW and review, and after you take and do well on the Chapter Test in the e-text. I count the highest score submitted for each Chapter quiz. You will need to keep up with the HW due dates to be prepared to take the quizzes on time. On quizzes, you enter all of your answers and then you must press SUBMIT for your quiz to be graded and scored. You can retake a quiz as many times as you'd like as long as it is before noon on the due date. You can check your scores by going to Grades, then click on Check MyMathLab Grades. You may print a copy of your grades for your records.
A Proctored Midterm and Final must be taken on campus in the MLC in the library during their testing hours. See Calendar for deadlines. See Test Info for more information, including how to make an appointment. These are paper/pencil tests where you show your work.
Midterm: The midterm may cover anything from my notes and handouts, my videos, and from HW sections through Chapter 3. Section 3.6 is not assigned as HW, and is not on the quiz or proctored tests, but you may learn it for your own knowledge in Learn the Material. Do the Review for the Midterm under Handouts by Julie. Notes are not allowed on the midterm. A non-graphing calculator is allowed on the midterm. I make an announcement after all midterms are graded and scores are posted in MML. If you earn less than 80% on or do not take the midterm, and do better on the final exam than the midterm, I will replace your midterm score with your final exam score up to a max of 80%. You may pick up your graded midterm in the Oceanside MLC in the library. I will send it to you via mail if you bring a LARGE (9" by 11") self-addressed, stamped envelope with three (3) first-class stamps on it (or put $1.50 inside the envelope) to the MLC by the due date for taking the midterm. If you do not bring in a large enough envelope or do not put enough stamps on it or do not address it correctly or do not get it to the MLC by the deadline, I will not send it to you. In that case, you can pick it up in the MLC.
Final Exam: The final is cumulative, and may cover any material through 7.3. You may use a non-graphing calculator, and your own notes/formulas on one side of a regular-sized piece of paper (8.5” by 11”). Your one side of notes may be typed or hand-written. Notes may NOT contain any examples or worked-out problems. FINALS are NOT returned.
Academic Accommodations for students with any disabilities: A student with a verified disability may be entitled to appropriate academic accommodations. If you need accommodations, contact both me and the Disabled Students Program and Services the first week of class. Students needing special testing accommodations are responsible for making all arrangements (day/date/time/location) with DSPS at least one week before each proctored test to allow me enough time to get the test to the proctor. I am unable to make any specific arrangements such as room/time/location for you. Because this is an online class, you do not need to obtain my signature on the form. I can send verification via email.
Student Learning Outcomes: Students will be able to make use of factoring techniques to perform algebraic computations with rational algebraic expressions, simplifying results. Students will be able to translate applied problems involving geometry into computational problems involving a variable and solve. Students will be able to verify solutions to applied problems.
IMPORTANT COLLEGE DATES regarding deadlines for adding, dropping, petitioning for credit/no credit grades, holidays, etc. ARE IN THE CURRENT SCHEDULE OF CLASSES.
Last date to withdraw from this class with no record on your transcript and to receive a refund is Sat, August 28, 2010.
Last date to withdraw from this class with a “W” and not receive a letter grade is Friday, October 1, 2010.