MAT 110 Online – College Algebra

Mathematics Department

Semester: Fall 2009

Catalog Course Description: This course includes the following topics: polynomial, rational, logarithmic and exponential functions; inequalities; systems of equations and inequalities; matrices; determinants; simple linear programming; solutions of higher degree polynomials; combinatorial algebra, including the binomial theorem; and introduction to probability.

Prerequisite(s):                   MAT 102 or Appropriate Assessment Score

Credit Hours:                        3.0 Credit Hours

Departmental Website:         http://www.midlandstech.edu/math/mathhome.htm

MyMathLab Login:                   http://www.coursecompass.com

Instructor:                                Dr. Kirsten Dooley         

Office:                                       LET 421-A (Beltline Campus)

Telephone:                              (803) 738 - 7804

E-mail:                                       dooleyk@midlandstech.edu

Campus Mailbox:                  LET 421

Personal Website:                www.midlandstech.edu/math/dooley

Departmental Assistant:       Mitzi Trigg – TriggM@MidlandsTech.edu – 738-7689

Department Chair:                   Rick Bailey – BaileyR@MidlandsTech.edu – 738-7618

Program Coordinator:             Rose Jenkins – JenkinsR@MidlandsTech.edu – 822-3351     

Office Hours:                         M/W: 11:10 am – 11:40 am

                                                                1:30 pm – 3:00 pm

                                                     T/Th: 11:05 am – 11:35 am

                                                                 1:30 pm – 3:00 pm

**This is not the same textbook used for Mat 110 on campus**

Textbook:                           College Algebra: Graphs & Models, 4th Edition, by Marvin Bittinger, Judith Beecher, David Ellenbogen, and Judith Penna; Addison - Wesley, 2009.

Equipment:                            Graphing Calculator, TI-83+, TI-84 or TI-84+

General Education Core Competency Statement: Programs may use this course to meet the general education core competency of mathematics.

Course Objectives: Upon completion of this course the student will be able to:

1.    Use the Cartesian Coordinate system to represent various functions (including but not limited to polynomial, rational, root, exponential, and logarithmic) and analyze shifts, stretches, and reflections of their graphs.

2.    Use the appropriate algebraic techniques to find roots of polynomial functions with both real and complex roots.

3.    Use a graphing utility to graph equations, functions and inequalities and interpret the graphs to solve problems.

4.    Solve problems involving exponential and logarithmic equations.

5.    Solve problems analytically and support you answer graphically and/or numerically.

 Course Outcomes and Competencies:

Intended Course Outcome: Students should be able to understand and apply computational skills, quantitative reasoning and symbolic reasoning to evaluate and solve problems systematically.

                Course Competency: Students should be able to solve mathematical problems by identifying what information is available and relevant to the problem; by selecting or developing appropriate procedures and relationships; by correctly applying the methods selected to the information available; and by verifying the validity and appropriateness of the solution.

                Performance Measurement Instrument: Students will be given four applied mathematical problems to solve selected by the Mathematics Department to measure successful attainment of the competency.  These problems will be embedded within student quizzes and tests.  A student correctly solving 3 out of 4 of the problems will be considered to have successfully attained the competency.  The goal is for 80% of the students completing the assessment to successfully attain the competency.

Withdrawal: 

You will be dropped from this course as a “no-show” if you have not created a MyMathLab account by August 28^th. Failure to take two of the Chapter Tests in the Testing Center by their due dates (see Due Dates chart) with result in an AUTOMATIC WITHDRAWAL from the course.

 Students who wish to withdraw from the course must do so by MIDTERM to receive a W in the course. If you withdraw after midterm, you will receive a grade of W if you are passing or a grade of WF if you are failing the course.

Course Chapters and Sections:

Course Requirements: 

·         Course Website: www.coursecompass.com – you must create as account and log in to access course materials (see instructions below)

o        One the course website, you will find the materials necessary to help you complete the course. You should familiarize yourself with the course website right away.

·         The course is made-up of the three different types of graded assignments:

1.       Homework Assignments

Click on “Do Homework”

2.       Quizzes

Click on “Take a Test”

3.       Exams

Must be taken on campus at the Student Assessment Center

Course Grading:

·         Homework Assignments (25%)

o        You may continue to redo these assignments until their due date.

·         Quizzes (15%)

o        You may take each quiz ONE time.

·         Exams (60%)

o        You may take each exam TWO times (at the testing center by their due date).

Grading Scale:                                      90-100                   A                             Superior Work

                                                                    80-89                     B                             Good Work

                                                                    70-79                     C                             Average Work

                                                    60-69                     D                             Below Average Work

                                                                       0- 59                    F                              Unsatisfactory Work

Completing the Course:

This course is made up of four units

1.       Functions and Graphs

2.       Polynomial and Rational Functions

3.       Exponential and Logarithmic Functions

4.       Systems and Matrices.

Each unit is broken down into 5 or 6 sections. For each section there is a homework assignment and a quiz. For example, the unit Functions and Graphs has 6 sections. So, for each section in Functions and Graphs, you must complete a homework assignment and a quiz. There are a total of 6 homework assignments and six quizzes for the Functions and Graphs Unit. Once you have completed all six homework assignments and quizzes, you are ready to take the Functions and Graphs Exam. The exam must be taken at the Student Assessment Center on either the Airport or Beltline Campus. You can take each exam TWO times before the due date.

Each homework assignment is completed in MyMathLab. To access the homework assignments click on “Do Homework.” There are many different types of help located in MyMathLab. For most questions, you can

1.       View the solution of a similar problem

2.       Watch an instructional animation

3.       Watch a video lecture

4.       Get help working through the problem and then try a similar one on your own.

You can redo the homework as many times as you would like (before the due date) in order to get the highest possible score. If you get a question incorrect, you can chose “similar exercise” to redo the problem until your answer is correct.

Once you have completed each homework assignment, there is a corresponding quiz to take. To access the quizzes click on “Take a Test.” Each quiz can be taken ONE time. It is best to take the quiz soon after completing the homework assignment.

After completing all of the homework assignments and quizzes for a Unit, you can take the Exam. Each exam must be taken at the Testing Center on either the Airport or Beltline Campus BY THE DUE DATE. You can take an exam TWO times. You may take your exams early, but not late. THERE ARE NO MAKEUP TESTS.

All assignments must be completed by their due dates. You can complete assignments early. Once you have completed all homework assignments, quizzes, and exams, you are finished with the course. If you complete all work early, then you finish the course early!!

Exams and Student Assessment Center:

You must come to campus to complete ALL tests. Bring a photo ID!! The tests are password protected and can be taken at the Student Assessment Center at either the Airport or Beltline Campus by their due dates. Each test may be taken twice, but both attempts MUST be completed by the due date. If you miss a due date, the test may not be made up. You may complete assignments early and all tests and assignments will be available from the first day of class. The tests may be completed during the following times at the Student Assessment Center:

All tests must be taken online in the Testing Center on either the Beltline Campus in WM 245 (Ph: 790-7523) or the Airport Campus in ASC 262 (Ph: 822-3659).

***Students will not be allowed to begin exams after this time and will have to return on the following day to take their test. Test started at 8:00 PM or earlier must be completed by 9:00 PM. Plan ahead – do not wait until the last day to complete the exam!!

Due Dates:

All homework assignments, quizzes, and BOTH exam attempts must be completed by the Unit Due Date!

Navigation in MyMathLab:

1. To get to the homepage: click “MML Home”
2. To see the syllabus: click “Syllabus”
3. To print the syllabus or the course outline: click “Syllabus and Outline”
4. To do a homework assignments: click “Do Homework”
5. To take a quiz: click “Take a Test”
6. To take a Unit exam: Go to the Student Assessment Center
7. To get calculator help: click “Calculator Manual”
8. To see your grades: click “Gradebook”
9. To locate assignment due dates: click “Course Calendar”
10. To post a message for other students: click “Discussion Board”
11. To contact the instructions: email dooleyk@midlandstech.edu

Graphing Calculator Help: VERY IMPORTANT

This course relies heavily of the graphing calculator [TI-83+, TI-84, and TI-84+]. For graphing calculator help, click on “Calculator Manual.” The manual has instructions for both the TI-83 and TI-84 calculators (as well as the TI-89). The manual structure follows the Chapter of the book. Check the Course Chapters section of the syllabus to find the corresponding chapters for each unit. For example, the Functions and Graphs Unit is from Chapter 1-3 in the textbook. Look in Chapters 1-3 in the Calculator Manual to find examples similar to your question.

College Policies

Students are expected to read the student handbook and abide by its policies. Copies of the

handbook may be obtained at various locations on campus and is located on the web: http://www.midlandstech.edu/planner/

Academic Dishonesty: The Student Code addresses what constitutes academic dishonesty. All forms of dishonesty including, but not limited to, cheating on tests, plagiarism, collusion and falsification, will call for discipline.

                        CHEATING ON TESTS includes:

§         Copying from another student’s paper.

§         Using materials during a test not authorized by the person giving the test.   

§         Collaborating with any other person during a test without permission.

§         Knowingly obtaining, using, buying, selling, transporting, or soliciting in whole or part the contents of any un-administered test.

§         Bribing any other person to obtain information about tests.

§         Substituting for another student, or permitting another student to substitute for oneself.

PLAGIARISM is the appropriation of any other person’s work and unacknowledged incorporation of that work in one’s own work offered for credit.

Campus Emergency Protocol: Students and employees are asked to report safety concerns or suspicious activities to Campus Security at 7199 (on campus) or 738-7199 (cell phone or off campus). In the event of an emergency, employees and/or students should immediately call Campus Security or local 911.  If an emergency occurs, the college will use a variety of methods to communicate additional information and instructions including the MTC Information Centers, campus loud speakers, MTC Alerts! (http://www.midlandstech.edu/Phone_Alert.htm),voice mail, email, college Intranet, and the MTC website homepage.

Inclement Weather Policy: In the event weather conditions or other emergencies cause the closing or a delayed start of Midlands Technical College, announcements will be made over local radio and TV stations, on the MTC Web site, and on the college’s information line (803-738-8234).  Notices will be sent to students via Campus Cruiser Mail when applicable.  Separate announcements may be made for day and evening classes as weather conditions change during the day.

If the college closing or reopening means that there is at least 30 minutes of a class remaining, plan to attend that class. For example, if the college opens at 10:00 a.m. in TTH, classes that normally meet at 8:00 a.m. will not meet, but classes beginning at 9:30 a.m.will meet. If the college closes at 8:00 p.m., 6:00 p.m. classes will meet for their regular time, but 7:35 p.m. classes will not meet since there are fewer than 30 minutes remaining in class.

Student E-Mail Accounts: All MTC students are assigned a college e-mail account upon admission to the college.  This account is called “Campus Cruiser Mail.”  Campus Cruiser Mail is the primary mode by which the college communicates with students.  Students are responsible for checking their college e-mail on a regular basis for important information and announcements about registration, financial aid, cancelled classes, emergency announcements and other notices.  Students can use their college e-mail accounts to communicate with faculty, staff, fellow students, and others, in support of their educational pursuits.  In addition to e-mail, students will also have access to maintaining personal calendars and “tasks lists” through their Campus Cruiser e-mail account.

Student Evaluation of Instruction: Students have the opportunity to evaluate this course. The confidential evaluation process is conducted through MTC Online using the individual student’s username and password. Announcements will be made during the term concerning how and when to complete the online evaluation. Students are encouraged to participate in this process.

Students Requiring Special Accommodations: If special accommodations are needed for a student with a disability, the student should go to Counseling Services on Beltline or Airport Campus for assistance. Documentation regarding a specific disability is required in order for special arrangements to be made. Confidentiality of information received will be maintained.