VVC – SPRING 2016 – MATH-42 SYLLABUS – MR GUMMO
Elementary Algebra - 4 Units
Connect Math Sections
INSTRUCTOR: Mr. Thomas Gummo (MrG)
Contact Info - EMAIL:
thomas.gummo@vvc.edu
NO Office Hours or School Phone Number – Part Time Adjunct Instructor
Math-42 on Tuesdays and Thursdays
Section Time AM
Building Room
56290
10:00 – 11:50 30
6
Math-90 on Mondays and Wednesdays
Sections
Time PM
Building Room
56321
1:00 – 3:05
30
6
56340
3:15 – 5:20
30
10
SPRING CALENDER:
February 16
March 25
April 11 – 15
May 30
June 11
Spring 2016 Semester Begins
Spring Break Day Holiday
Spring Break Week Holiday
Memorial Day Holiday
Semester ends
STATEMENT OF ACCESS: Students with special needs are encouraged to meet with instructors to discuss the opportunity
for academic accommodation and be referred to disabled student program (DSPS) and services per Administrative
Procedure (AP 3440).
ATTENDANCE POLICY:
Class attendance is not a measure of performance or proficiency. Whether a student is just
physically present in the class is not a valid basis for grading. Reference Title 5 Section 55002 of the California Code of
Regulations: (A) Grading Policy. The course provides for measurement of student performance in terms of stated course
objectives and culminates in a formal, permanently recorded grade based upon uniform standards in accordance with
section 55758 of this Division. The grade is based on demonstrated proficiency in the subject matter and the ability to
demonstrate that proficiency, at least in part, by means of written expression that may include essays, or, in courses where
the curriculum committee deems them to be appropriate, by problem solving exercises or skills demonstrations by
students.
TUTORING HELP: You are strongly encouraged to get tutoring or go to the Math Success Center, study in groups, and see
me for help outside of class. All of these are free! Students that get help outside of class are typically much more successful
than those that do not. Regular Math Success Center hours are: Monday-Thursday 9:00 AM – 9:00 PM (starting the second
week of class). The Math Success Center is located in building 42 (the Academic Commons). Outside of these those hours,
please go to the information booth at the east end of the Tech building to sign in for tutoring help.
PREREQUISITE: Math 12 with a grade of 'C' or better or from the VVC assessment procedure.
THIS IS A CONNECT MATH WEB-ENHANCED CLASS. There is no way to game the system as your homework will be done
on this Internet site. Buy the CONNECT MATH ACCESS CODE! Don’t buy a used book; the access code will be no good, as it
only works once and is good for only about a year. If you are repeating Math-42 and used Connect Math before, there is a
chance that your account is still active and can be used again (check the dates on your account). Don’t buy a book as it is
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VVC – SPRING 2016 – MATH-42 SYLLABUS – MR GUMMO
included with Connect Math access unless you really need to hold a book in your hands. There is a button on the web site
which allows you to download the chapters of the book onto your computer.
TEXTBOOK:
Introductory Algebra 3rdEdition by Miller, O’Neill, Hyde
(Costs are the best that I know at this time.)
Choice #1: Purchase CONNECT MATH access online for $100.00, tax included. Electronic access to text included.
(Good for 52 weeks)
Choice #2: Purchase CONNECT MATH access from VVC bookstore for more. Electronic access to text included.
COURSE DESCRIPTION: This course covers a review of arithmetic operations with whole, decimal, fractional and signed
numbers, exponential notation, percentages, and order of operations. Algebraic expressions, solving and graphing linear
equations and inequalities, polynomial operations and polynomial factoring, rational and radical expressions and equations,
quadratic equations and solutions to quadratic equations are also covered. This course does not apply to the Associates
Degree.
STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES: Upon completion of the course the student can:
1. Graph linear equations and inequalities.
2. Factor polynomials.
3. Solve a system of linear equations.
4. Simplify rational expressions.
5. Solve first and/or second-degree polynomial equations.
6. Translate words into algebraic expressions and equations.
CALCULATOR POLICY: It is the policy of the VVC math department that calculators are NOT to be used on quizzes and tests
in the following classes: Math 10, Math 12, and Math 42.
MY CLASS NOTES AND THIS SYLLABUS can be found inside Connect Math, select the TAB – RESOURCES, then select TAB –
Course Files, then select file you want to download. Lecture Notes for each Chapter has its own file. Files are in PDF
format. Notes were done for my use during class; there are few typos and mistakes, use at your own risk. I recommend
that you print out the notes and bring them to class. This way you can concentrate on the lecture and just add little notes
as needed. Several addition files are also included. For your entertainment, there is even a file with an article in which I
was listed as one of the author’s greatest instructors (written for an Air Force Safety Magazine).
CLASSROOM POLICIES
(in no particular order):
1. Tests and Final (30 to 40 questions) are based primarily on material presented in lecture and CONNECT MATH material.
NO CALCULATORS, NOTES, or “CHEAT SHEETS” will be allowed for Tests. Students arriving late on test day, will be given
NO EXTRA time to complete them. NO CELL PHONES or ELECTRONIC DEVICES will be allowed on your desk or your lap
during exams. Students are expected to COMPLETE ALL TESTS DURING CLASS ON THE DATES AND TIMES SCHEDULED. NO
MAKE-UP OR RE-TAKE TESTS WILL BE GIVEN (one low test score will be dropped so if you miss one test you are still OK).
Quizzes are on a NO-NOTICE basis and will cover current material covered in class (one or two questions). One or two
quizzes will be dropped depending on the number of quizzes given.
2. Class starts exactly at the scheduled time. Do not bring friends, children or your mother to class. Students will sign the
attendance roster at the start of each day (your job, NOT MINE). Any student coming in late is tardy and will not be allowed
to sign in. Students leaving early will also be removed from that day’s roster. Turn off cell-phones and iPods type devices
during class time.
3. Do not hesitate to ask questions in class or after the lecture. There will be about 15 minutes at the end of each class
available for you to ask questions. Use this time wisely.
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VVC – SPRING 2016 – MATH-42 SYLLABUS – MR GUMMO
4. Academic honesty is expected of all students at all times!! College procedures with respect to probation, suspension or
expulsion will be followed in CASES OF CHEATING. If cheating is discovered, your Participation Grade will be reduced to
ZERO for the class as well as the Test being taken.
5. You are required to attend class every day. After 4hours of absence (TWO class periods), I have the ability to drop you
from the class. Check your Student Handbook for details. As a rule I don’t drop you for attendance only but add any other
reasons, I might drop you. Missing 2 tests, I WILL drop you from this class. Two ZERO as test grades make it impossible for
you to pass the class. It is your responsibility to keep your enrollment status current. Your grade will be an “FW” if you
stop attending without officially withdrawing. Students who have not created a Connect Math account by March 1, 2016
will be dropped (date of first test).
6. Grading Policies:
Grades will be based on Chapter Tests, CONNECT MATHHomework, Quizzes and a cumulative
Final Exam. Any test not taken will be as a zero.
Event
Percent of Grade Grade Percentage
Quizzes
5
A
90.0 - 100
Homework
25
B
80.0 – 89.9
Chapter Tests
50
C
70.0 – 79.9
Final Exam
20
D
60.0 – 69.9
F
0 – 59.9
* ONE low Test score and FIVE low Homework assignments will be dropped.
**Final is mandatory.
*** Connect Math Gradebook will calculate your percentage grade.
7. It is expected that you have a minimum 2 hours of homework for each hour in classroom (about 6 hours per week is
normal, so 102 hours over the 17 weeks is minimum). CONNECT MATH homework is done online. HW is based on
problems from each section in the book and matches the sections covered during the lectures. When you select
Assignments, all the assignments will be displayed along with their due dates. Homework for the chapters being tested are
due on TEST Day. LATE homework will not be accepted - PERIOD. The computer will not allow you to work on homework
due after 11:30 PM on test days. Practice is a vital component in learning mathematics. Students are to read each section
in the e-book and do the assigned work. Videos for each section in the course may be found in two places: first, by
choosing the Resources tab at the top of your Connect window, or second by going to http://www.millerhelp.com. You may
take each homework assignment as many times as you wish, (only have to redo missing problems) and only the highest
grade for each assignment will be recorded.
8. This course requires a reliable computer and Internet access. As I understand current technology, Smart Phones are
NOTUP to the task of this course. Please ensure your computer is in good repair at the start of the semester. It is
suggested that before any major assignments, the computer be re-booted to clear any memory caches which may cause
issues. While documented power outages and Internet failures may occur, it is the student's responsibility to meet all
deadlines in this course. At the start of the semester, please go to www.connectmath.com/downloads and install the latest
versions of many key plug-ins and movie players. If you ever find your computer running slow, sometimes the cause may
be too many versions of Java running in your system. If this is the case, go into your Control Panel, uninstall both Java and
Aleks. Then go to the download page mentioned above and re-install Java first, followed by Aleks. This will solve many of
the issues that students typically face.
9. When emailing me, please use proper English, spelling, grammar, etc. That is, don’t text me. As I have three classes or
about 120 students, you have to help me know who you are and what you need. So in the subject line put your name,
which Math Class, and what the email is about. For example: “Jane Smith, Math-42, Missed Class”. Don’t ask questions
about things that can be looked up in the syllabus. For example, “Can I make up a test?” Any email not following the above
rules may not be answered.
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VVC – SPRING 2016 – MATH-42 SYLLABUS – MR GUMMO
LOG INTO CONNECT MATH for the first time: Go to: http://www.connectmath.com and click on the "SIGN UP NOW!" link
located near the top of the page.
On the next screen, you will need to enter our course code: GHQKV
– 36QT4. This will get you to our class.
On the next screen, verify you have the course, and then
click “continue”. Course: 2016 SPRING – MATH-42 and Instructor: Gummo
On the next screen, you will have three options:
1. If you have the $100 now, click on “purchase an online
code online” for the least expensive option.
2. If you have purchased the access code at the bookstore,
enter it into the boxes to gain your access.
3. If you will have one of the above in the next couple of
weeks, but not right now, then…
There is a two-week free access code to get into Connect
Math. It is 59FB3-CCA34-B35E3-50D25 (Those
are zeros, not the letter O).
Continue with the registration process until your account has been set up successfully. After you complete your account
set up, you will be logged into CONNECT MATH.
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VVC – SPRING 2016 – MATH-42 SYLLABUS – MR GUMMO
IF YOU USE THE FREE CODE: This code gives you temporary access to Connect Math for a two-week period.
Once the code expires, you will be locked out of your Connect Math account until you purchase a regular Student
Access Code. It is highly recommended that you purchase the Student Access Code BEFORE the two
weeks expire to prevent interruptions with your Connect Math account. Homework Assignments not completed
during any lock out periods will NOT be accepted. You can extend your Connect Math account at any time by
clicking on “extend your account” and entering a purchased Student Access Code. If your temporary access
expires before you purchase a Student Access Code, simply log in to Connect Math and you will be directed on
how to extend your current account. You will then be able to continue your course where you left off before the
temporary access expired. DO NOT create a new Connect Math account to continue your course.
PROPOSED SCHEDULE
HW – Home Work is due, i.e., all the sections of the tested chapters are due on test day by 10:00
AM, after that, no HW will be accepted – PERIOD!
Week
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
Date
Feb 16
Feb 18
Feb 23
Feb 25
Mar 1
Mar 3
Mar 8
Mar 10
Mar 15
Mar 17
Mar 22
Mar 24
Mar 29
Mar 31
Apr 5
Apr 7
Apr 12
Lecture/Test
INTRODUCTION
R – 2, 3, 4
1 – 1, 2, 3
1 – 4, 5, 6 Review
Test CH R + 1
2 – 1, 2, 3
2 – 4, 5, 6
2 – 7, 8, 3 - 1
3 – 2, 3, 4
3 – 5, 6 Review
Test CH 2 + 3
4 – 1, 2, 3
4 – 4, 5, 5 – 1
5 – 2, 3, 4
5 – 5, 6, 7 Review
Test CH 4 + 5
SPRING BREAK
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
Apr 14
Apr 19
Apr 21
Apr 26
Apr 28
May 3
May 5
May 10
May 12
May 17
May 19
May 24
May 26
May 31
Jun 2
Jun 7
Jun 9
SPRING BREAK
6 – 1, 2, 3
6 – 4, 5, 6
6 – 7, 8, 7 – 1
7 – 2, 3, 4
7 – 5, 6, 7
7 – 8, 8 – 1 Review
Test CH 6 + 7
8 – 2, 3
8 – 4, 5
8 – 6, 7
9 – 1, 2
9 – 3 Review
MEMORIAL DAY
Test CH 8 + 9
Review
Final
General Info about me and my policies:
I am Mr. Thomas Gummo and I am teaching a Math-42 class that you are enrolled in or on the waitlist. My graduate work
was in Chemistry and Computer Science but I teach math. In fact, I am very good at math as both Chemistry and Computer
Science are math based majors. I don’t have a PhD (just Master’s degrees), I am not a full-time professor but I am a parttime adjunct Instructor in the Math Department, so I go by “MrG”, and the “Mr” is because I am in front of the class (Plus I
am old) and it shows just enough respect and the “G” is casual enough to allow us to interact together in a friendly manner.
WebAdvisor has this class listed as Web-Enhanced and means that you will be doing your homework on-line with “CONNECT
MATH”. Using a credit card to buy the software on-line ($100.00) will save you over 70 dollars over the cost of the book
(Amazon - $178.14) and thirty dollars or so if you buy the access code from the bookstore. Delay in buying Connect Math
will affect your grade, i.e. There is NO partial credit for late homework like in some classes. Your lack of planning for college
expenses does not affect the deadlines for homework, etc. Your job as a student is to come to class prepared to work and
not wait until your financial aid arrives to start.
I am old and my eyes are already going bad. Therefore, your answers on Tests and Quizzes are NOT AN EYE TEST FOR ME.
Your work must be clearly laid out in a LOGICAL and NEAT manner to make sure I am able to follow along or points will be
deducted. ON MOST PROBLEMS, answers without showing the work will have points deducted. I don’t go over the tests in
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VVC – SPRING 2016 – MATH-42 SYLLABUS – MR GUMMO
class but will gladly help you with any questions you have during the question/answer period at the end of each class. The
answers will be posted.
Get homework done early. Besides, if done early you will have time to show me the ones you need help with. Don’t think of
homework as busy work. Math is an acquired skill. The more you do the better you learn. You don’t learn a sport without
lots of practice. Homework is the practice used to develop your math skills.
I will lecture during the classroom periods. The last 15 minutes of each class is for questions. If you are having any problems
and don’t want to bring them up during class please do it then. While I will gladly work any problem you want, it is best if
you try to work the problem in front of me. That way, I can see what part of the problem you don’t understand. But if you
get up and walk out of class, I will assume that you have a handle on the course material and don’t need my help. It
saddens me when I watch “D” and “F” students walk out without asking for any help. I have no problems with inputting
your “D” or “F” at the end of the class, if you earned them.
I am dyslexic. I passed first, second and third grade on condition that I learn to read next year (it was before they tested
students). Poor reading and being unable to spell affected my grades for many years. I was lead to believe that I was
“dumb”. (However, Math was always easy for me. I became very good at Math and know the easiest way to do most
problems.) I did poorly in school until a 10th grade history teacher told me I was much smarter than I thought and
encouraged me to do better. I ended up with the highest SAT score in math in my high school class, earned the “Freshmen
Chemistry Award” for the highest grade in a year-long Freshman Inorganic Chemistry class in college, and finally graduated
with the “Outstanding Graduating Student” award for the Chemistry Department from Cal Poly – Pomona (a very good
college). If a very poor student can learn to overcome dyslexia and do “good” in college, so can you. It did take LOTS OF
WORK. While I will help as much as possible, it will be up to you to pass this class.
A little more about me, I am a retired U.S. Air Force fighter pilot (1972 to 1992). I graduated at the top of my Pilot Training
Class and was able to select fighters. There are only two types of aircraft: FIGHTERS and targets. I wanted to do the
shooting and not be the one who was shot at. For most of my career, I flew F-4G “Wild Weasels” and the picture was from
the 1991 Gulf War. Let me say, “That there isn’t anything more EXCITING than being shot at and missed.” Due to our hard
training and LOTS OF LUCK, we didn’t have a single bullet hole in any of our aircraft. I saw lots of AAA shot in my direction
but none were close enough to worry about. I was thrown from my bed when a SCUD missile hit a couple of hundred yards
behind where I was sleeping. It was funny to watch 30 guys running around in their underwear with gas masks on.
With lots of hard work, I became a very good pilot. I earned lots of TOP GUN awards for being the best bomber in my
squadron and even the whole base (normally given out twice a year). I was also very good at “dogfighting”. But most of all,
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VVC – SPRING 2016 – MATH-42 SYLLABUS – MR GUMMO
I was a very good instructor. I even had a fellow pilot write an article about the “truly great instructors” he met and I was
one of the ones listed. So give me a fair chance, and allow me to teach you Math. I am good at teaching Math too, but the
heavy work is still done by you.
The picture above is of my aircraft – Harmon Rocket II. It took five years of my life to build it. It was totally worth all the
effort and time spent. It looks like a baby World War II fighter aircraft. It flies about 200 MPH and can do gentlemen
aerobatics and puts a big smile on my face each time I fly. Math-42 is something that is worthwhile for you to spend the
required time and effort to pass this class. The rest of your life can begin once you pass this course.
So I bring a few things to the classroom from the military upbringing. We will get along if you come to class prepared to
learn and willing to work hard. Lack of effort on your part will create no effort on my part.
Good Luck, See you in class,
MrG
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