1 CP 04023 Fundamentals of Algebra I Division of College Preparatory Arkansas Northeastern College First Day Handout Instructor: Renea Reid Office: C10 Phone: 870-838-2947 or 870-762-1020 Ext 1220 E-Mail: rreid@smail.anc.edu Term: Spring, 2014 Instructor Schedule: Office Hours, Class Times Lab Times: Posted on the Portal and on Office Door C10 Welcome! I am excited to have you in my class. I hope to inspire you to enjoy math, because it can be fun! You just have to have a positive attitude. Self-motivation is the key to be successful in any college course. Prerequisite: 15 ACT in Math or 27 in Pre-algebra on Compass or 18 in Algebra on Compass. Co-requisite: CP 04042 Review Algebra Course for Excellence (RACE) Course description: Fundamentals of Algebra I is a modular, mastery-based review of basic mathematical concepts associated with the arithmetic of real numbers and basic algebra with applications. Students must complete Modules 1 through 8 at a minimum to pass this course. Prerequisite: 15 ACT in Math or 27 in Pre-algebra on Compass or 18 in Algebra on Compass. Required text: Fundamentals of Algebra, Custom text from Pearson, packaged with an access code; Scientific calculator beginning with Module 4; Fundamentals of Algebra Notebook provided by the Math Department. 2 FAST TRACK Mathematics How-to Chart To progress through each Module, refer to the following Guide: STEP 1: Complete Module Pretest (Proctored by lab personnel) If Score < 80% ⇩ Read section in text ⇩ Go to MyMathLab and Complete homework personnel) With scores ≥ 90%⇨See “MyMathLab Chart” ⇩ Complete Quizzes Can be taken only twice ⇩ Complete Practice Exam With score of 80% or above Not proctored; may be taken many times ⇩ Complete Notebook pages For Module (Checked by lab Personnel) ⇩ Complete Module Exam If not satisfied with score, may Take one more time. Proctored: Can be taken only twice ⇩ Go to next Module Pretest (Proctored by lab Personnel) And repeat process. If Score ≥ 80% ⇩ Congratulations! ⇩ Go to next Module Pretest (Proctored by lab 3 FAST TRACK Mathematics MyMathLab How-to Chart To progress through each Module, refer to the following Guide: View Media Assignments (Videos, Power Point slides) Can be done anywhere there is internet access ⇩ Complete HW set with score ≥ 90% Can be done anywhere there is internet access ⇩ Go to next HW set only after attaining score ≥ 90% On previous HW set Can be done anywhere there is internet access ⇩ Complete any Quizzes listed in MyLabsPlus Not Proctored; Can be taken only twice ⇩ Complete Module Practice Exam (Not Proctored) Can be completed anywhere there is internet access ⇩ If score ≥ 80% ⇩ Complete Notebook Checked by lab personnel ⇩ Go to Module Exam ⇩ If score < 80% ⇩ Complete Generated HW ⇩ Re-take Practice Exam Must be completed in the lab Module Exam may be taken twice. NOTE: Students will have two chances to take the Module Exam. The higher of the two grades will be recorded in the grade book and used to calculate the final course grade. Course Policies: Pacing 4 To be on track to finish the first 8 modules in one semester, refer to the following tables. Each week Complete an average of 7 assignments per week. The assignments include homework sets, quizzes, practice exams and modules exams. Milestones End of week… Mod 2 1 5 2 6 3 12 6 15 8 Course policies: Grades All students will begin by taking the Pretest for Module 1. A student has the opportunity to test out of each module by successfully completing the pretest for that module. If a student does not successfully complete the pretest, then homework sets will be completed, quizzes completed, notebook items will be completed and, finally, a practice posttest. Students must score an 80% or above on the Practice Exam for entry into the Module Exam. Students will have two chances to take the Module Exam, with the higher of the two grades being used to calculate the final course grade. Practice Exam scores will not be used to calculate the final course grade. Mastery will be determined by the following percentage grades on pretests, homework, and posttests: Pretests (proctored): 80% or higher on a pretest will allow a student to advance to the next module’s pretest. If a student scores 80% or higher on a pretest, he/she will skip to the next module. Pretests will not be counted in the grade. Homework: Students must score 90% or higher on a homework assignment to advance to the next homework assignment, quiz, or exam. All homework must be mastered 5 before a student will be allowed to take the exam for a module. The homework average will be used to calculate the final course grade. Quizzes (not proctored): After completing several homework sets with a 90% or above, students will be required to complete a quiz over those sections. Students will have two chances to complete the quizzes, with the higher of the two grades used to calculate the final course grade. Practice Exams (not proctored): Students must score an 80% or higher on the practice exam to move to the module exam. Practice exam scores will not be used to calculate the final course grade. All notebook assignments must be completed before taking the Practice Exam. Module Exams (proctored): Students will have two chances to take the Module Exams. The higher of the two scores will be used to calculate the final course grade. Notebook: Notebook pages will be posted on the portal. Download these pages for each module and complete them before taking the Practice Exam. Notebook pages must be checked by the instructor or lab personnel. Participation: Attendance in class is required. Attendance will be taken each class period using the Portal and the percentage calculated in the Portal will be used to calculate the Participation grade in the grade book in MyMathLab. Participation will also be measured by the number of assignments completed in MyMathLab each week. Students will be required to complete at least 7assignments in MyLabsPlus per week to be on track to finish the first 8 modules. Final Exam (proctored): The final exam will be comprehensive over the first 8 modules. Students will have one chance to take the final exam. The grade will be used to calculate the final course grade. Calculation of course grades: The course grade will be calculated Using the following percentages: The grading scale is as follows: Participation Homework Quizzes Module Exams Final Exam 90-100% 80-89% 70-79% 60-69% 0-59% 10% 15% 10% 50% 15% A^ B^ C^ D^ F (Note: A^, B^, C^, and D^ are not used in calculating the grade point average.) (Counts in the grade point average.) In MyLabsPlus, all 15 modules will be available in Fundamentals of Algebra I. If a student completes 8 modules early in the semester, he/she can continue through the modules possibly finishing all 15 in one semester. If a student finishes more than 8 modules, but not all 15, then 6 he/she will continue from where he/she left off the next semester in Fundamentals of Algebra II. If a student does not finish all 8 modules, he/she will receive a grade of F for the semester, but will be allowed to continue on in the modules the next semester. If a student skips a semester (not counting summer), then the student must begin again in Module 1. Early Alert: Early Alerts will be issued by the instructor if it is evident that a student is at risk for not finishing the modules. The Early Alert, along with details, will be forwarded to Financial Aid (if the student has an Award), the advisor, and also to the student. Important Dates to Remember Mid – Term Grades due: March 7, 2014 Withdrawal Deadline: April 17, 2014 Last day of class: Mon/Wed classes is May 7, 2014 Tues/Thurs classes is May 6, 2014 Disclaimer: This First Day Handout was prepared under certain limited assumptions. Therefore, if the students in the class seem to "fit" the design for the course and if events occur as planned, the schedule, assignments, and assessments will be followed. The instructor has the option, however, to eliminate or add assignments and/or assessments if he/she feels it is in the best interest of the students.