Mat151 College Algebra—Mediated Learning-Spring 2002

Instructor: Dr. Phyllis J. Shaw Office # G132 787-6677 (please leave message)

Office hours: MW 7:30-8:30am & 10:30-11:30am, T 8:00-9:00am

(or by appointment)

Text: To be given out by instructor—Personal Academic Notebook (PAN).

Required Materials: Three-ring notebook with separators, headset (Walkman type), pencils-erasers-paper-hi liter, graph paper, Graphing Calculator Required---TI 83 preferred.

Course Description: Pre-req: Successful completion of Mat120/122(grade of B or A)-- or equivalent-- or ASSET placement. 4 hours credit course. This course is taught using the concept of mediated learning. It is a highly interactive course and you will spend much of your time in front of a computer in E134(or other labs/or at home) with your PAN, headset, notebook, and paper and pencil. Your instructor and teaching assistant will circulate in classss to provide individual attention to you should you need it. On some days, there may be a mini-lecture /discussion at the beginning of class on certain math topics and/or on course techniques/issues /announcements. CD-Rom disks are used with this course and YOU will be responsible for bringing and caring for your own CDs. These CDs WILL NOT WORK on any other system or personal computer without Academic Systems access. You are to exchange phone numbers with at least one member in class as a study partner(s). There are scheduled lab hours outside of class that you are strongly encouraged to participate in. The instructor may also hold an office hour in the lab for your convenience(when requested). Instructor, lab assistant, and LSC extended instructional content assistance will be provided ONLY after YOU have completed the Explain and Apply portion of the lesson at least twice and still do not have understanding of the lesson. Learning assistance on specific homework problems or specific questions in the lessons will be provided continuously.

Course Objectives: At the end of the course, the student will be able to:

--define and recognize functions and characteristics of functions

--solve & graph polynomial equations/functions and inequalities, absolute value

equations/functions, radical equations/functions, rational equations/functions, and

exponential/logarithmic equations/functions.

--solve and graph systems of equations and inequalities

--create, interpret, and apply mathematical models using real data

--perform basic operations with matrices and their applications

--graph, identify, and describe the conic sections

--apply series, sequence, permutation/combination, probability formulas

--apply the mathematics to modern environments to solve real-world problems

--utilize modern technology as a tool for computation, understanding, exploration, and

application of the mathematics

--utilize effective learning and communication skills in a mathematical environment

Class Attendance: Daily class attendance and punctuality is strongly recommended! Students are expected to promptly communicate with their study partner(s) when absent to find out what occurred in class. Students are responsible for all work missed and all information given out in class!! STUDENTS MUST TAKE TESTS ON TEST DAYS DURING THE GIVEN TIME PERIODS—THERE WILL BE NO MAKE-UP TESTS!! Attendance begins on the first scheduled day of class. Please read the PVCC catalog/student handbook CAREFULLY to become familiar with PVCC policies on withdrawals and incomplete.

Assignments: A 3-ring notebook with separators is required. This notebook will be checked for compliance only. You are expected to do and grade the Homework “odd” problems and “all” the Practice Test questions in your PAN for each lesson assigned. Do these homework problems and practice test only after you have done the Explain and Apply on the computer and in the PAN! The homework problems and practice tests in your PAN will be checked before each Test for completion. (50 points total—5 pts each). THERE IS NO EXTRA CREDIT!

Testing: There will be two off-line tests worth 100 points each and a final off-line exam worth 100 points. After each lesson, there will be an on-line computer quiz. You have up to 3 chances to pass this quiz with a minimum of an 80% score. If you do not achieve this level of mastery of the algebra concepts after 3 tries, you MUST see the instructor or LSC for assistance. Your best quiz score(%) will be taken from each lesson and all these scores averaged for an on-line quiz score worth 100 points. NOTE: There will be no make-up for class tests or for the final exam!! There is no extra credit.

Computer Technology: PVCC has a policy on the misuse of computer technology.

Please refer to the current PVCC Student Handbook (page C-27, Article III, Paragraph 15) and become familiar with the policy. We will, of course, be using computer technology in class.

Grading: Grading will be on a % of total points as follows:

PAN homework/quizzes 50 90-100%=A 405-450pts

On-line quizzes 100 80-89% =B 360-404

Tests 200 70-79% =C 315-359

Final exam 100 60-69% =D 270-314

Total course points 450

General: Courtesy, manners, and respect toward peers and instructors are expected at all times. The penalty for cheating is immediate withdrawal FAIL from the class. Correct usage of the language, complete sentences, and correct spelling is expected on all written work.

Special Notice: Students MAY receive a refund for their book if they withdraw from the course within 25 days of the time they logged on to the system AND they return the book to their instructor unwritten in and in good condition. Also, students MUST identify themselves to the instructor IN WRITING on their first day in class if they are concurrently a high school student.

NOTE: All provisions in this syllabus are subject to revision by the instructor. Such revisions, if any, will be announced in class.

Course Schedule

WEEK OF Tuesday Thursday

JAN 14 Introduction EIIID (functions) EIIID

JAN 21 14.1 (non-linear functions) 14.1

28 14.1 14.1/14.2

(theory of equations)

FEB 4 14.2 14.2

11 14.2 14.2/EIIIE (exponents and logarithms)

FEB 18 EIIIE (TEST 1)

25 15.1 (TEST 1) 15.1

(Test to be completed BEFORE class starts) (graphs of conic equations)

MAR 4 15.1 13.2

********SPRING BREAK******* (non-linear systems)

18 16.1 (determinants) 16.1

MAR 25 16.1 16.2 (matrices)

APR 1 16.2 (TEST 2)

8 17.1 (TEST 2) 17.1

(Test to be completed BEFORE class starts) (sequences and series)

15 17.1/17.2 (17.2) (Holiday)

(induction/binomial theorem)

22 17.2/17.3 17.3

(counting and probability)

APR 29 17.3 Review

MAY 6 no class **Final Exam (7:30am**)

Reminders That Lead to Student Success

1. Remember this is NOT a self-paced class in the sense that there is no schedule to follow!! There is a schedule and certain benchmarks (test dates, etc) to be followed. You are encouraged to work ahead only if your quizzes and homework indicate success and mastery of the algebra. Falling behind will require a conference with your instructor.

2. The schedule does require you to spend time outside of class as in any math class. Outside of class, you are expected to study your in-class notes, do the ODD Homework problems in your PAN on the lesson(s) you are working on, do ALL the Practice Test questions in the PAN on the lesson(s) you are working on, collaborate with classmates, seek help in the LSC if necessary, see the instructor during office hours if needed, read through the Overview, Explain, and Explore(optional) sections in your PAN for the next lesson, STUDY for your tests, and use the computer lab during our designated reserve lab hours and during open lab hours.

3. You have 3 chances to take the on-line quiz for each section studied. You should aim for a MASTERY score of 90% or above on each on-line quiz. Keep studying and taking the quiz aiming for that level of understanding. You should repeat the EXPLAIN and APPLY sections of the on-line lesson each time before taking the quiz. Also, take notes on the problems that you missed or found difficult on the quiz. If your quiz scores (all 3) fall below 80%, that is a strong signal that you need to schedule time with the LSC or the instructor on that particular algebra concept.

*4. Daily class attendance is a MUST!

*5. Bring paper, pencil, notebook, PAN, headset, and calculator to

class every day!!!!!!

6. Remember to use the special features of mediated learning:

*the Helpline(click on Red Phone)

*take a Closer Look(click on magnifying glass)

*the Glossary(click on underlined words)

*Link to Explain

*the Expression Editor

7. There are review CD’s available on arithmetic and algebra skills. Please see the instructor/lab assistant if you wish to use these CD’s.

8. If you are not using your headsets(sound) with a lesson, turning the audio OFF under the OPTIONS menu at the top of your screen will speed up the display of your lesson. However, the lessons are designed so that the sound enhances the learning. We therefore strongly recommend that you keep the sound on and use your headsets.

9. To leave the mediated learning lesson for the day, under the FILE

menu at the top of your screen, select QUIT. You can also

select QUIT from your homework window. Finally, under the FILE menu select EXIT. ***NOTE*** You must exit the system appropriately each time to have the computer save your work.

10. Using “Internet”, you may seek Academic Systems additional

lessons (and print them out if you desire) and HELP:

on Study Tips

(www2.academic.com/academiconline/imath/StudyTips.htr)

on the Grapher

(www2.academic.com/academiconline/imath/UseGrapher.htr)

on the Expression Editor

(www2.academic.com/academiconline/imath/UseExpEditor.htr)

for Technical Help

(www.support.academic.com) 24-hours

(help@academic.com) email 24-hours

1-800-681-4357 limited hours