BEGINNING AND INTERMEDIATE ALGEBRA FOR SLAM

SANTA ANA COLLEGE   Spring 2018       MATH 083    Instructor: Don Felton                 Section: 47500                          Room H-109                 T/TH:1:30pm -4:35 pm

 

TEXTBOOK: PATHWAYS to Math Literacy by Dave Sobecki and Brian Mercer. It contains most of the Lessons we will be doing in class; the rest are in the Additional Documents.

 COURSE OVERVIEW: Prerequisite: Math N48 with a minimum grade of C or a sufficient score on the Mathematics Level 2 Placement Exam and a course equivalent to Mathematics N48 or 060. This is a combined course in algebra that includes systems of equations, inequalities, graphs and functions, radicals, quadratic polynomials, rational expressions, exponential and logarithmic functions, and problem solving aimed specifically at liberal arts and social science majors going into Math 105, Math 204, or Math 219.

 SUCCESS: This course is different from traditional math classes in two ways. (1) Most of the material will be learned by doing rather than watching. We will spend a lot of our class time doing lessons in groups. (2) You will be learning the material in a contextual setting rather than learning rules and procedures. Our emphasis will be on the algebra, critical thinking, and analytic skills that you will need in Math 105, Math 204, and Math 219. Aim high, for an “A” or a “B,” please don’t aim at just passing. Your success in your transferable class is much more likely.

 Approach this course by working to understand (as opposed to memorize) the terminology and concepts. Then it will be easier to build upon that understanding as we apply it. There are 3 steps to learning: understanding, practicing, and going solo. The lessons are built on these three steps. The last step is most important. It is the only way you will know if you truly get it.  

 I want all my students to be successful. In order to do this you must first make the commitment to attend class on time and every day (Upon your 5th absence you may be dropped; two tardies count as 1 absence; Inform me of any special circumstances). Next, you must spend time outside of class practicing, just like a musician or an athlete. Plan on working and doing problems until you feel that a concept is easy. The amount of time will vary with each individual and with each topic. Our adaptive learning program ALEKS is perfect for this. A general rule of thumb is 12 hours of time outside class for a class meeting 6 hours per week. Mathematics, unlike other subjects, needs short daily study sessions, rather than long cram sessions.

 Thirdly, you must ask questions whenever you don't understand something. Time outside of class is useless if you don’t ask for help in class. Sometimes a little help will do the trick. Feel free to stop me during class with questions or to slow me down. Please don't avoid a problem, thus getting behind; tackle it, and solve it.

 BY ALL MEANS, IF YOU ARE HAVING TROUBLE, LET ME HELP. PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF YOU ARE THINKING OF DROPPING THE COURSE. STOPPING ATTENDANCE DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A DROP; THIS MUST BE DONE IN THE RECORDS OFFICE.

CALCULATORS: You must have a scientific calculator for this course. On quizzes and exams you must have your own calculator or you will not be able to use one. Phones, graphing calculators, and any devices that have access to the Internet are prohibited.

YOUR WORK: Must be neat and organized, with erasures not cross-outs; Write questions, answers, and APPROPRIATE WORK. This is why I recommend using pencil or typing. Please, no paper torn from spiral notebooks with ragged edges. Be sure to label each assignment with the name of the assignment; Have questions stand out from answers. If you are absent due to illness, work must be submitted at the next class meeting. You may turn things in early or send them with another student.

 ETIQUETTE:  Be courteous to fellow students when they ask a question. Put ALL electronic devices in silent mode and out of sight when class begins. Otherwise you may be sent out of class for that day. No food is allowed and only drinks in containers that will not break or spill if dropped are acceptable. I’d rather you come in late than not at all. Enter via the back door (H-109 only) and quietly take your seat. Only leave the classroom during the group or individual work time, during the break, to go to the restroom, or in an emergency. Please ask if it is during an exam; I will ask for your phone before you leave and only one person will be allowed out of the room at a time.

 ALEKS:           We will be using an online assessment and learning system called ALEKS. This is where you will work on the mathematical skills needed for success in SLAM (statistics and liberal arts math) majors. There is a built-in calendar to assist you with due dates. There will also be a schedule posted in the Resources for the course. The coverage may vary slightly on an exam, but the exam date will not change unless I am ill.

 You will keep a notebook (I recommend a spiral to keep things in order) where you will write down the topic, problems, necessary work, and box your answers. This way your notebook will assist you in quiz and exam preparation. Some time will be given in class to work on your ALEKS objectives. Count on spending about 5 hours/week outside of class working in ALEKS. Your ALEKS percentage will be worth 15% of your course grade.

LESSONS: The text / additional lessons are extremely important. The math department has selected the best lessons in the text and have written several. The assigned follow-up Applications, Reflections, and Looking Ahead questions are due at the beginning of the class meeting after we do the Class and Group questions in class. You may not turn them in late, since it is important to discuss the answers on the due date. If you are absent, you are still responsible for completing the activity by the due date. You will receive a score (out of 10 points) based on completion and the quality of your responses. Typically the Applications are 6-8 points, the Reflections 2 points, and Study Skills 2 points. Lessons will be 15% of your course grade.

Exams are heavily based upon these problems, the ALEKS objectives, and class discussions. My policies are strict to help keep you on schedule, since getting behind makes your successful completion of the course much more difficult. Note that the Lessons and ALEKS are equally weighted, because they are equally important. Also, they encompass 30% of your course grade. They are not only where you learn the material, but how you show your effort in this class.

 STUDY SKILLS: Often it is not the mathematics that prevents success in a math course. These exercises are designed to assist you in developing the personal qualities and study skills necessary for success. These exercises will be part of the Activity assignments.

QUIZZES: Quizzes will generally be given each week and will cover the previous week’s suggested work from the text, worksheets, and ALEKS objectives, so they are another incentive to keep up to date on everything. If you miss one due to absence, I will record a zero. The last quiz is extra credit, so this will make up for one missed quiz or one poor score. Quizzes are 10% of your course grade.

 

EXAMS: Four exams will be given. Each is worth 100 points. Each exam date is written on the calendar. If you miss an exam, your percentage on the final exam will count in its place. Since students rarely do better on the final than they do on a regular exam, please plan on taking all four exams. Also, students rarely do well on make-up exams, but do get behind schedule. This is why I do not give them. Exams will be 40% of your course grade. 

 

GRADING SCALE:       

            90%      -           100%    A          

            80%      -           89%      B          

            70%      -           79%      C          

            60%      -           69%      D          

            Final (200 possible points) is   20% of your grade   

            Exams (400 possible points) are 40% of your grade

            Quizzes (120 possible points) are 10% of your grade           

            Lessons (320 possible points) are 15% of your grade

            ALEKS (100 possible points) is   15% of your grade

Borderline cases will only be considered if you have at least 85% of ALEKS and all lessons completed. If so I will look at attendance, class participation, improvement, and your final exam.

If you feel that a mistake was made in the recording of any score, the only way I can change it is if you bring me the graded paper in question. So, please keep all old papers until the end of the semester. However, no grade changes of any type will be made after May 14, 2018.

 

IMPORTANT DATES: 

            2/18/18 -          Last day to add w/ an add code; last day to drop with no            

                                      record or fees

              3/9/18 -          Last day to file for CR/NCR

              5/6/18 -          Last day to drop with a “W”

             5/30/18 -         Final exam

 

 ACADEMIC ACCOMMODATIONS 

Santa Ana College is eager to provide reasonable accommodations for students with disabilities. A student with a disability, who would like to request an academic accommodation, is responsible for identifying herself/himself to the instructor and to the Disabled Student Programs and Services (DSPS) in a timely manner. To make arrangements for academic accommodations, contact the Learning Disabilities Program in Johnson Center, U-103 (714-564-6264, TTY 714-564-6284), for a referral to the appropriate DSPS Department. Individual tutoring is available in the Learning Center in D-307 (714-564-6542).

 

 ACADEMIC HONESTY POLICY: Students at Santa Ana College are expected to be honest and forthright in their academic endeavors. To falsify the results of one’s research, to steal the words or ideas of another, or tocheat on an examination, corrupts the essential process by which knowledge is advanced. Academic dihonesty is seen as an intentional act of fraud, in which a student seeks to claim credit for the work of another without authorization, or uses unauthorized materials or fabricated information in any academic exercise. As institutions, we also consider academic dishonesty to include forgery of academic documents, intentionally impending or damaging the academic work of others, assisting other students in acts of dishonesty or coercing students into acts of dishonesty.

Procedure: In cases where a violation of academic honesty is discovered, the faculty member is encouraged to file an “Academic Misconduct Incident Report” form and distribute the form to the appropriate offices listed.

There are two categories of sanctions: Limited and College-wide. Limited sanctions include an academic action such as assigning a lower grade or a grade of “F” or No-Credit for the assignment, project, or test (On the first offense a zero will be given on that quiz or exam to you and any collaborators. A second offense or an occurrence on the final will involve the college administration. Giving answers is equivalent to taking them). College-wide sanctions include any sanction that will affect a student’s standing with the college-at-large, up to and including suspension or expulsion from the College.

In matters related to academic honesty violations, the primary responsibility for disciplinary proceedings rests with the instructor and the academic division where the violation allegedly occurred. The Dean of Student Affairs will assist in all College-wide sanctions.

 

STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES

 Thinking and Reasoning

 By the end of the semester students will be able to construct and analyze consumer graphs; apply linear, quadratic, polynomial, rational, logarithmic, and exponential equations and functions numerically, graphically or algebraically in appropriate applications; and find models of best fit for given sets of data.

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EXTRA RESOURCES:

Instructor - will be available before and after class. Contact the Science/Math Division to leave messages or

e-mail felton_donald@sac.edu

Math Study Center - free help available. L 204

Tutorial Learning center - Individual tutoring by appointment. U 103