MAT 121 –Online College Algebra Fall Semester, 2009
Sectionn G81
CRN: 21068
CLASS TIME AND PLACE:
To Be Arranged
INSTRUCTOR: Dr. Harry S. (Steve) Mills OFFICE PHONE:
339-6238 OFFICE: EDBH 134 K E-MAIL: Use Mail Tool in Course steve.mills@aims.edu on Course
Website in WebCT. In
MAILING
ADDRESS: emergency,
steve.mills@aims.edu
Harry Mills will
work, but I won't like it.
EDBH 134K
Aims Community College
5401 W. 20th Street
Greeley, CO 80632
Catalog
Description: Includes
equations and inequalities, functions and their graphs, exponential and
logarithmic functions, linear and non-linear systems, graphing of the conic
sections, introduction to sequences and series, permutations and combinations,
the binomial theorem, theory of equations and an introduction to matrices and
determinants. 4 credit hours
Prerequisites: Completion of MAT 106 with a ‘C’ or better, ACT Math score greater than or equal to 23,
or assessment score.
Textbook: College
Algebra: Concepts through Functions,
1st Edition, Sullivan and Sullivan,
The best
deal for a new book is one with access to CourseCompass. Used books will not come with access to CourseCompass. Here are the relevant ISBNs:
· Regular
book without access to CourseCompass:
031874780 or 9708131874787
· Value
Access Package with access to Course Compass:
032158452X or 9703215854526
Course Website: To access the website, login to
http:www.aims.edu and click on My Courses tab. Then click on College Algebra.
As this is an online course, the course website will be the focal point of our
interactions. The best ways to contact me are through the Mail Tool and the
Discussions Tool in WebCT.
Please do not send e-mail to my
regular Aims e-mail, except in emergency.
Pearson Learning CourseCompass: Online delivery of instruction
will be performed by CourseCompass with MyMathLab, a product of Pearson
Learning. As a learning tool, MyMathLab offers
video lectures, exercises, quizzes, and on-demand help.
Grades: Four Categories: Pre-Tests, Tests, Homework, Writing Projects and Essays.
· Weekly 5–minute Essays will count 10% of the final grade. Each week, I will open up a discussion group on the course website. This will be an easy part of your weekly routine that may even be fun and should help you connect with your classmates. At some point near the end of week x (before Monday of the following week), the student will submit the answer to three questions in Week x :
1. What did I learn this week?
2. What did I struggle with and still not quite understand?
3. In general, how is the course going? What's working/not-working for you?
· Writing Projects will count 10% of the final grade. There are 6 topics, on 4 of which you will submit a written report. You will employ both hand-writing and type-writing in these projects, depending on the assignment. For more details, see the Writing Projects handout.
Grading Scale:
90% - 100% A
80% - 89% B
70% - 79% C
60% - 69% D
Method of Instruction: The primary means of content delivery will be provided by CourseCompass, an automated course management system. CourseCompass will also evaluate your progress using its own testing and homework utilities.
This course is self-paced, in the sense that you
can move as slowly or quickly through a lesson as you want. It is not self-paced, in the sense that you
must complete the learning modules according to a timetable. For instance, one
student may take 2 hours to get all the way through a lecture, stopping
frequently to write things down, or ask for more help on the concept or the
terminology used.
Important Dates: You only need to attend one orientation. You must attend one of the following three orientations:
|
10:00am - 11:00am |
Horizon Hall 301 |
08/25-08/25 |
|
|
Wednesday, August 26th |
07:10pm - 08:10pm |
Loveland Camp--104 East 4th St 107 |
08/26-08/26 |
|
Thursday, August 27th |
06:00pm - 07:00pm |
Horizon Hall 301 |
08/27-08/27 |
General
Education Competencies:
This course satisfies the following General Education
competencies: Critical Thinking,
Technology, and Mathematics. It also
satisfies the Aims requirement for Writing.
Refer to Aims Community College catalog for descriptions.
Learning
Outcomes:
A. Be familiar with set notations, subsets of the real numbers and properties
of real numbers.
B. Perform algebraic
manipulations including working with exponents, radicals, polynomial
operations, factoring and algebraic fractions.
C. Solve the
following types of equations: linear, quadratic, equations involving radicals,
equations in quadratic form and equations involving absolute value.
D. Work with formulas
including formula evaluation and solving a formula for any of the variables.
E. Read and analyze
problems in the form of word problem applications and obtain solutions using
equations.
F. Solve first
degree inequalities, higher degree inequalities and inequalities involving
absolute value.
G. Recognize and
graph linear functions, rational functions, absolute value functions, and graph
inequalities in two variables.
H. Work with function
notation and demonstrate knowledge of the meaning “function”.
I. Demonstrate an
understanding of function composition, one-to-one functions and inverse
functions.
J. Evaluate and
graph exponential functions.
K. Evaluate and graph
logarithmic functions.
L. Work problems and
solve equations containing exponential and logarithmic functions.
M. Use at least two of
the following techniques to solve linear and non-linear systems of the
equations: substitution, addition, Gaussian elimination, Cramer’s rule.
N. Have some
familiarity with matrices and operations involving matrices.
O. Graph systems of
inequalities.
P. Graph conic
sections including circles, parabolas, ellipses and hyperbolas.
Q. Identify the conic
section represented by a given second degree equation.
R. Work with series
notation and sequence formulas, and counting principles.
S. Apply the Binomial
Theorem.
T. Demonstrate an
understanding of proof by mathematical induction.
U. Present topics in
theory of equations.
V. Perform synthetic
division.
W. Use the Remainder
Theorem and the Factor Theorem to factor and evaluate polynomials.
X. Solve polynomial
equations using the Rational Root Theorem and/or approximation techniques.
Y. Write and speak
clearly and logically about topics related to algebra.
Z. Demonstrate the
ability to select and apply contemporary forms of technology to solve problems
or compile information in the study of algebra.
GENERAL
STUDENT CONDUCT (Taken from Aims Catalog):
“Aims
Community College students are expected
to conduct themselves in a manner which is not disruptive of college functions;
does not interfere with free movement of students, school personnel, or guests;
and does not cause or threaten to cause injury to persons or damage to
property. Aims will not tolerate menacing behavior or threats by any student
toward another student or toward any College employee. The College also
prohibits the use of controlled substances and alcohol while on campus or at a
College-sponsored event. Aims prohibits
the use of tobacco products in all buildings owned and operated by the College.
Aims Community College reserves the right to take necessary and appropriate
action to protect the safety and well-being of the campus community. Any
interference, damage, or threat to persons or property will be deemed misconduct
and will be subject to disciplinary sanctions by the College ranging from a
warning to suspension or expulsion.”
Academic
Integrity: The student
is expected and required to exercise academic honesty and generally behave in a
mature and civilized manner.
From
the college catalog:
“Aims
Community College students are expected to practice academic honesty and to
refrain from any form of cheating, plagiarism, or knowingly furnishing false
information to the College. Breaches of academic dishonesty will be considered
misconduct and may result in disciplinary action. Additionally, the College
expects students to contribute to a positive learning environment in classroom
situations. Students who conduct
themselves contrary to the best interests of the class as a whole may be
subject to disciplinary action, including being withdrawn from the course.”
From the Aims
Student Code of Conduct:
“Conduct
Relating to Academic Dishonesty. The maintenance of academic honesty and
integrity is a vital concern of the College community. Any student found guilty
of academic dishonesty may be subject to both academic and disciplinary
sanctions as defined herein. Academic dishonesty includes, but is not limited
to, the following:
a. Cheating.
Copying or attempting to copy the academic work of another Student (including
but not limited to quizzes, examinations, assessment tests, and assignments);
using or attempting to use unauthorized materials, information, notes, study
aids or other devices for an academic examination or exercise; engaging or
attempting to engage the assistance of another individual in misrepresenting
the academic performance of a Student; or communicating information in an
unauthorized manner to another person for an academic examination or exercise.
b. Fabrication
or Falsification. Falsifying or fabricating any information or citation in any
academic exercise, work, speech, or examination. Falsification is the
alteration of information, while fabrication is the invention or counterfeiting
of information.
c. Plagiarism.
Presenting another person’s academic work as one’s own.
d. Complicity
in Academic Dishonesty. Helping or attempting to help another student to commit
an act of academic dishonesty.
e. Falsifying
Grade Reports. Changing or destroying, or attempting to change or destroy
grades, scores, or markings on an examination or in an instructor’s or the
College’s records.
f. Lying to
Avoid Academic Assignments. Fabricating an otherwise justifiable excuse such as
illness, injury, accident, death in the family, etc. in order to avoid or delay
timely submission of academic assignments or to avoid or delay the taking of an
examination or test.
g. Other.
Additional standards of conduct relating to academic honesty specified in
writing by an academic division or department and/or an individual faculty
member for a particular course.”