SDCCD ONLINE COURSE: MATH 95
TITLE: Elementary Algebra and Geometry
COURSE REFERENCE NUMBER : see Website
OFFICE HOURS : Online.
WEB: citysite.sdccd.edu/mathcenter
PROFESSOR: David Kater
OFFICE LOCATION: M-106
PHONE NUMBER: (619) 388-3252
E-MAIL: dkater@sdccd.edu
COLLEGE: San Diego City College
SYLLABUS
This Syllabus is a working document and may be revised throughout the semester. You will be notified of changes either via your WebCT email account or a notice posted on the homepage of the course.
SDCCD ONLINE COURSE REQUIREMENTS
This course is offered through the Internet only. Students must be computer literate, motivated, disciplined and have the necessary minimum of 10+ hours to spend on the computer each week. Distance education with SDCCD
Online is a flexible and convenient opportunity for self-motivated students who have computer skills and feel they can communicate effectively through reading and writing. This program is well suited for people with busy schedules because much of the class work can be completed at any time, day or night. So, you can choose when you're ready to "go to class," as long as you keep up with the course schedule. With an Internet connection, you the student, can log onto your online course and participate anytime, anywhere.
To successfully complete this online course students should have skills or feel comfortable in the following areas - use of the WebCT Browser; standard word processing; handling e-mail, including sending e-mail attachments; basic file management; participating in online discussions; downloading software; finding information on the Internet; and completing online forms.
This course in particular offers additional flexibility. It is open-entry, open-exit, and self-paced. So, you can add virtually any time during the semester, you can progress as quickly as your mathematical skill allows, and you can exit as soon as you complete the required chapters and the final exam. You can complete the course in as little as a few weeks, or continue into the next semester, provided that you make sufficient progress (see PROGRESS AND
CONTINUATION below).
COURSE DESCRIPTION
The course, Elementary Algebra and Geometry, serves as the foundation for higher level math courses and is the first of a two semester integrated sequence in algebra and geometry. This course covers real numbers, equations, inequalities, problem solving, graphing equations and inequalities, exponents and polynomials, factoring polynomials, and selected topics in geometry including points, lines, planes, angles, triangles, polygons and perimeter. The course will also include application problems involving the topics covered. This course is the prerequisite for Math 96.
COURSE PREREQUISTITES
Mathematics 35 with a grade of 'C' or better, skill level M30, or the equivalent.
ADVISORIES
English 51 and 56, each with a grade of 'C' or better, skill level W5 and R5, or the equivalent.
COURSE OBJECTIVES
Upon successful completion of this course the student will be able to:
1. Perform the basic arithmetic operations with real numbers using exponents and the appropriate order of operations;
2. Translate verbal expressions in to algebraic expressions, and simplify them;
3. Apply properties of equality to solve linear equations and related application problems;
4. Solve linear inequalities in one variable, including absolute value;
5. Determine the equation for a linear function and graph it;
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6. Perform the basic arithmetic operations with polynomials;
7. Factor polynomial expressions using a variety of methods;
8. Solve polynomial equations by factoring;
9. Identify functions from their equations and graphs, use appropriate functional notation, and perform the basic arithmetic operations with functions;
10. Perform the basic arithmetic operations with rational expressions;
11. Identify important angle relationships when dealing with lines and triangles;
12. Identify simple geometric shapes and apply the appropriate perimeter formulas;
13. Solve and graph systems of linear equations;
14. Apply the appropriate skills in application problems.
COURSE MATERIALS
IMPORTANT:
There is no printed textbook required for this course. Instead, all the course material is online, including content, homework, and tests online. You are required to purchase an access code to the course within 15 days of the date you first log in. Go to
(Click here:
) as soon as possible for information about the required material for this course. You can also find information on how to purchase an access code, 15day temporary access, and refund policy in Essentials on the course home page. Look in FAQs > Course Materials.
Optional materials : The following materials are not required, but you may find them helpful.
- A used Elementary algebra textbook and corresponding student solutions manual.
- Navigating WebCT - A Student Guide, M.E. Sokoli, Pearson/Prentice Hall,2004, ISBN 0-13-100284-8
- A scientific calculator
SUBJECT MATTER COVERAGE
The following chapters are in the online course, Beginning Algebra , second edition, published by Content on
Demand, and will be covered in this course. Students will be responsible for all topics covered in the chapters listed below.
CHAPTER TITLE
1
2
Introduction to Algebra
Types of Numbers and Their Behavior
3
4
5
6
7
8
Algebraic Expressions
Basic Operations with Polynomials
Formulas and Applications
Solving Linear Equations and Inequalities
Graphing Linear Equations and Inequalities
Systems of Linear Equations
9
10
Factoring Polynomials
Rational Expressions
CAMPUS AND ONLINE RESOURCES
The Math Center Website: citysite.sdccd.edu/mathcenter can answer many questions about all the Math Center programs. This course and the corresponding Math 96 course are online self-paced courses. The are also on-campus self-paced Math 35, 95, & 96 courses, as well as online self-paced Math 15 refresher courses for Math 35 through
104.
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Students registered for this course are welcome to use the facilities of the City College Math Center located in T-
208 on a walk-in basis. You will be required to register for a zero unit, zero cost course, Math 044, so that the
Math Center can receive credit for your attendance. Services include peer tutors, computer tutorials, and video lectures. Typical hours for the Math Center are Tuesday through Thursday 9am - 8pm, Friday 9am through 3pm, and Saturday 9am through 2pm, though these hours are subject to change and are reduced for the summer session. Contact the Math Center at 619 388-3580 to verify hours and services. The Math Center services during the summer are subject to funding.
DSPS Students with Disabilities are asked to contact DSPS at 619.388.3513 to discuss their specific educational assistance requirements. DSPS will then notify the instructor as to the steps necessary to accommodate the student.
ONLINE TUTORS Several tutors are available to assist you throughout this course. The tutors will respond to messages posted on the Discussion Board. You can mail the tutors using WebCT Mail. You can arrange one-on-one chats with them using either Chat (typed messages and whiteboard) or Live Chat. (phone and online teleconference).
COURSE STRUCTURE
This course is separated into chapters, which are made up of topic-specific sections. Below is an outline of the elements that make up a chapter.
A chapter is made up of:
> An Overview and Learning Objectives
> A Pretest
> Sections containing:
◦ Lessons
◦ Practice Problems and Answers
◦ Video solutions to Practice Problems
◦ Section Index and Summary
◦ Section Quiz
> A Posttest
> A Chapter Exam
The course also includes a comprehensive final exam, taken on campus in the Math Center.
Navigating amongst the course elements within WebCT can be a challenge at first. The main navigation tool is the
Course Tools menu on the left side of every WebCT course page. Each item is a link – click on Syllabus to view the course syllabus, click on Assessments to take an assessment.
The other key navigational elements are the icons located on the homepage including Essentials, Orientation, Help,
Student Tools, Live Chat, and Table of Contents.
Most of the math content is located in Learning Modules. The learning modules are always available. Click on the
Learning Modules link in Course Tools or click on the Learning Modules icon on the homepage. Click on the title of a
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selected Chapter and you get the Table of Contents for that chapter. There you can access the pretest, overview, section lessons, section quizzes, posttest, and the exam for that chapter. Some of the assessments will not be available until you complete prior assessments. See Evaluation below. Click on a particular section within the chapter, and you can access the lesson for that section, practice problems and answers, and video solutions to selected practice problems. From the section, go back out to the chapter level to get to the section quiz. You can also access the section quiz in the Assessments link in Course Tools. Finally, the Chapter Exams are available in
Assessments as well as the Learning Modules, but Exams are available only if you score 70% or more on the posttest. The Final Exam is not available online. Instead, you will take the final exam on the San Diego City College campus in a secure testing environment. See Final Exam in EVALUATION below.
EVALUATION
There are several types of evaluation in this course.
Chapter-level Pretest: Pretests establish your knowledge level on a particular chapter before instruction. Pretests are available in Course Tools menu in Assessments. They are self-assessed. That is, each pretest is scored and the results are presented upon submission, but Pretests do not count toward your course grade, nor do they affect your progress in the course. You can take a pretest multiple times even though the problems are not randomized.
Section-level Quizzes: Quizzes are only visible if you meet certain criteria – namely passing the chapter exam for the previous chapter or the Course Quiz in the case of the chapter 2 quizzes. If you meet the criteria, quizzes are available in Learning Modules on the Chapter Contents page as well as the Assessments link in Course tools. Quizzes
, can only be taken once, and feedback is immediate. Quizzes are not timed, so you can save your answers and return to a quiz later. Just don’t click Submit, until you are done with the quiz. Once you click Submit, you cannot retake a quiz. You must complete (submit) each quiz in a chapter before taking the chapter posttest.
Chapter-level Posttest: Posttests establish your knowledge level on a particular chapter after instruction.
Posttests are available from the learning modules as well as in Assessments. They are self-assessed. That is, each posttest is scored and the results are presented upon submission, but Posttests do not count toward your course grade. You can take a posttest multiple times and you will see a different selection of problems each time you take a posttest. Even though posttests do not count toward your course grade, they do affect your progress. You must score a minimum of 70% on the posttest on a given chapter before taking the chapter exam.
Section-level Practice Problems: Practice Problems and answers are available in each Section. They are selfassessed. That is, all answers are provided for Practice Problems, and you grade them yourself. Practice Problems do not count toward your course grade. Think of Practice Problems as your homework.
Chapter-level Exams Exams are available in Learning Modules on the Chapter Contents page as well as the
Assessments link in Course tools if you have passed the chapter posttest. Chapter exams are timed, usually 30 problems in one hour. Chapter exams
. A Chapter Exam is only available after you score at least 70% on the corresponding posttest. You can retake a Chapter Exam, but only if you score less than
70%. Once you score 70% or better on a chapter exam, you cannot retake the exam to improve your score. Once you score 70% or better on a chapter exam, it unlocks the quizzes in the next chapter.
Final Exam The final exam is the standard 60-question departmental exam to be completed in a two-hour timeframe. The Final Exam is comprehensive of all material in Chapters 2 through 10. The final exam
. It can only be taken once, and feedback is not available.
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The Final Exam is not available online. Instead, you will take the final exam in the San Diego City College Math
Center in a secure testing environment. Once you pass the chapter 10 exam, contact your instructor to arrange for the final exam. Allow two days for your exam request to be processed The exam will be placed in the Math Center under your instructors name and course CRN. You can take the exam anytime during Math Center hours of operations. Contact the Math Center at 619 388-3580 or T-208 to verify that your exam is ready and for current hours of operations. You’ll need your student ID number for identification, instructor’s name, course name, and course CRN to locate your exam.
Class Participation In an online course, class participation is important for a couple of reasons. First, since second edition course materials are relatively new, changes will be made throughout the semester. So, it is important that you log in regularly to check the announcements and discussion board. Second, you are part of an online learning community that includes your fellow students, in-class tutors and your instructor. Your participation in the discussion board and online chat sessions can make a big difference to the other students.
You are expected to
check the Announcements on the Homepage and messages in the Bulletins Discussion Board topic daily.
access the course content (chapter lessons, quizzes, practice problems, pre and post tests, exams) regularly
participate regularly in Discussion Board topics including introductions and chapter topics.
check your WebCT email at least three times a week
ask questions via the appropriate Discussion Board topic if you need help
answer questions Discussion Board from other students if you know the answer
Class participation does not count toward the total points calculation, but it may raise or lower your score by up to
2%. See Total Points Adjustment below.
TOTAL POINTS
Your course grade is based on total points, adjusted as described below. Although all assessments in WebCT are scored by points, the assessments that count toward your total points are quizzes (one quiz per section, starting in chapter 2), nine chapter exams, and a cumulative final exam. Quizzes will count approximately 27% of your grade.
Chapter exams will count approximately 50% of your grade, and the cumulative Final Exam will count about 23% of your grade.
Chapter exams
Quizzes
Final Exam
Total
1,325 (~50%)
731 (~27%)
600 (~23%)
2,656 (100%)
Your score for each assessment is listed in My Grades (in the My Tools menu at the bottom left of the course screen). You can track your own grade at the end of each chapter by totaling your quiz, and exam scores to date, and comparing it with the Grades Tracking document in Student Tools (Student Tools icon on the Homepage).
TOTAL POINTS ADJUSTMENT
The instructor reserves the right to adjust your total points up or down a maximum of 2% based on class participation and extra credit. You can earn extra credit by posting step-by-step solutions of problems posed by other students, documenting your experiences in Math Mentor, alerting the tutors and professor of potential errors in the course material, and participating in Live Chat sessions. You can earn negative credit by posting messages that are offensive or inappropriate, posting messages about course issues that are already documented in
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Essentials, or posting solutions to problems on quizzes, posttests, or chapter exams.
GRADES
Your course grade is based on two factors, your adjusted total points and your performance on the final exam.
In addition to earning the required number of points to pass the course, you must obtain a minimum score of 36 out of 60 on the departmental final exam. This is Math Department policy. If you score 35 or less on the final, you will not pass the course, regardless of your total points. The final exam cannot be repeated; if you fail the final exam, you will receive a grade of “D” and be required to retake the course. So, make sure you allow adequate time to prepare for the final exam.
If you score at least 36 out of 60 on the final exam, your course grade is based on your adjusted total points.
2390 - 2656 A
2125 - 2389 B
1859 - 2124 C
1594 - 1858 D
0 - 1593 F
These grade cut offs are in approximately 10% increments.
ASSESSMENT AVAILABILITY
Since the course is self-paced, the availability of key assessments is based on your progress through the course.
Completion of each assessment unlocks the next assessment. You can access currently available assessments from the Assessments link in Course Tools; most assessments are available as well as from the Lesson Modules.
The course quiz is available in Assessments once you enter the course. The how the course works. The
tests your knowledge of
can be repeated. The course quiz does not count toward your grade, but you won’t be able to take any of the other assessments until you score at least 27 out of 30 on the course quiz. The fact that this course is self-paced as well as online makes it very different from any other online course in the college district. Spend some quality time getting familiar with your course. There are a lot of resources available; the sooner you discover them, the easier the course will be. Study the Syllabus and the Orientation. The
Orientation makes a good reference for the course quiz.
Passing the course quiz unlocks the quizzes in chapter 2. Quizzes in subsequent chapters are unlocked when you pass the previous chapter exam with 70% or better. You must submit each quiz in a chapter with a non-zero score to unlock the chapter posttest.
Posttests are available once you submit all the quizzes in that chapter. The chapter exam is unlocked when you pass the posttest with 70% or better.
The chapter exam becomes available when you pass the corresponding chapter posttest with 70% or better. You can retake a chapter exam until you score 70% or better. When you pass a chapter exam with 70% or better, it unlocks the quizzes in the next chapter.
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The Final Exam is not available online. Instead, you will take the final exam in the San Diego City College Math
Center in a secure testing environment. Once you pass the chapter 10 exam, contact your instructor to arrange for the final exam. Allow two days for your exam request to be processed The printed exam will be placed in the Math
Center under your instructors name and course CRN. You can take the exam anytime during Math Center hours of operations. Contact the Math Center at 619 388-3580 or T-208 to verify that your exam is ready and for current during hours of operations. You’ll need your student ID number for identification, instructor’s name, course name, and course CRN to locate your exam.
The
consists of 60 questions to be answered in 120 minutes (two hours). Notes and calculators are not allowed during the Final Exam. You are required to bring your SDCCD student ID for identification and writing implements. That’s it. Calculators are not allowed on the final and Scantrons are not required. Scratch paper will be provided. The
cannot be made up or retaken.
If you are unable to come to the campus, you may opt to pay for a test proctor and take the final exam at a different school or other suitable testing facility, subject to approval by the instructor. If you choose this option, you must contact your instructor and arrange for a proctor and testing facility a minimum of 4 weeks in advance of the date of the Final Exam. If you do not make arrangements for a test proctor and you do not take the on-campus final exam before the end of the course, a score of zero will be recorded for the Final Exam.
ATTENDANCE, DROP, AND ADD POLICY
REQUIRED MINIMUM HOURS
This is a five unit course, and as such, you are expected to spend 10 to 15 hours a week in this course. Your attendance is recorded each time you log into the WebCT course. You are required to attend a minimum of five hours per week until you complete the chapter 10 exam. If your average weekly attendance in the
WebCT course drops below 5 hours per week, you will be notified. If your attendance does not improve, then you will be dropped from the course. If you are dropped, all your quiz scores, posttest scores, and exam scores are deleted.
INACTIVITY
This course is designed for continuous activity and progress from the date that you enroll in the course to the date that you complete the course requirements. If you do not log in for a period of two weeks or longer, without prior notification of your instructor, you will be dropped for inactivity. If you are dropped, all your quiz scores, posttest scores, and exam scores are deleted.
Content on Demand REGISTRATION
Students may be dropped if they fail to purchase the required access code to Beginning Algebra second edition by Rafael Expericueta, published by Contend on Demand. If you are dropped, all your quiz scores, posttest scores, and exam scores are deleted.
ADDING THE CLASS AGAIN
Since the course is open entry, the instructor has the option of readding a student who has been dropped; however, that student will have to start from the beginning of the course with the course quiz. In addition, a student who is readding the course may be required to repay the school for the course, depending on the date of the drop and add.
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