So You re Advising a Student to Take Math

Transcription

1 So You re Advising a Student to Take Math It is our hope that this document will provide advisors and students with the information they need to be successful in the area of mathematics on our campus. On the next page you will find a table of contents that provide the reader with a quick links to math advisement information. As always, if you have any additional questions or concerns about math advisement do not hesitate to contact us. Department of Mathematics at Clinton Community College

2 Math Advisement Table of Contents Seven General Advisement Recommendations Flowchart for Sequence of CCC Math Courses Suggested Math Courses Listed by Major Changes in Math Courses Including Course Numbering Schedule of Online Math Courses Take Math 2

3 Recommendation #1: Always check math placement test scores/math faculty placement recommendation You can access these recommendations through Reflections (Faculty menu, option 8). You do not need to worry about interpreting the math placement test cut-off scores, just check the course that is listed under recommended at the end of the row labeled ACT NUM/EAL/IAL or the row labeled CPT ARITH/EALG/CLM. In the event that a student took the math placement test more than once, check the testing dates to determine the most recent recommendation. Example #1: The student has been placed via the placement exam This student should begin their math sequence at MAT100. Please contact a math faculty member if you have any questions regarding proper math placement. Take Math 3

4 Recommendation #1 (continued): Always check math placement test scores/math faculty placement recommendation via Reflection NOTE: Students scoring 85 or higher on the math B regents exam or 500 or higher on the SAT math or 20 or above on the ACT math are exempt from taking the math placement exam and should be placed into the appropriate college-level math course by a math faculty member. You can access these recommendations through Reflection (Faculty menu, option 8). Refer to the end of the row labeled GM MATH FACULTY RECOMM. Example #2: The student has been placed via a math faculty member This student should begin their math sequence at MAT161, MAT200 or MAT215 depending upon their program of study. Please contact a math faculty member if you have any questions regarding proper math placement. Take Math 4

5 Recommendation #2: Start students in the math sequence as early as possible. Students who have difficulty with math may want to put off taking a math class for as long as possible. However, these same students are often the ones who need to take one or more basic skills math courses before they are even eligible to take the college-level math courses that are required for their programs. In order to complete their program requirements within a reasonable timeframe, it is important for students to begin the math sequence in their first semester. Take Math 5

6 Recommendation #3: Schedule a succession of math courses in consecutive semesters, whenever possible. Students who need to take a sequence of math courses are generally more successful if they do not take semester (or longer) breaks between courses. An uninterrupted progression of math courses ensures continued practice and application of concepts, leading to greater retention of the material. Take Math 6

7 Recommendation #4: Be aware of lengthy gaps between math courses. It is typical for students to regress when a number of years have been taken off from coursework. Students who have not taken a math course in the last two years should be advised to retake the math placement exam. This will ensure that they will continue their math coursework at a level where they will be successful. Take Math 7

8 Recommendation #5: For returning or transferring students, please make sure that the student whom you re advising has successfully met the course prerequisites before registering them for the next level math course. Refer to the math course flowchart on the next page of this document for the proper sequence of math courses. You can access the student s transcript (Reflections, Faculty Menu, Option 2) to ensure that the student has actually completed and passed the prerequisite course. Example #3: The student has successfully completed a math course at another college. This student has transferred in 3 credits equivalent to our MAT101 from HVCC, thus they can take the next sequential math course (see the flowchart for sequencing). Please contact a math faculty member if you have any questions regarding proper math placement. Take Math 8

9 Recommendation #6: Try to schedule math classes at times that play to the students strengths. Some students are more focused in the morning versus the evening. Some students learn and retain more if the class meets four times per week as opposed to two. Ask the students about their preferences. If the students and the college s schedules will allow it, try to register them in sections that will optimize mathematical learning. Take Math 9

10 Recommendation #7: Be especially prudent when it comes to registering students for online math courses. Not only should these students have met the prerequisites but also should have a solid math background (although not a steadfast rule, students enrolling in an online math course should have earned grades of B or better in previous math courses). It is also suggested that a student s first online course NOT be a math course. In addition to learning the online format, math DL students need to use a graphing calculator, a graph link, and a symbolic editor. This can be overwhelming for a first-time distancelearning student. Take Math 10

11 Flowchart for Sequence of Math Courses MAT096 Arithmetic (3 contact hrs/ 0 credits) MAT098 Prealgebra (3 contact hrs/ 0 credits) MAT100 Introductory Algebra (4 contact hrs/ 4 free-elective credits) These three courses do not carry math credit. MAT103 Finite Mathematics (3 contact hrs/ 3 credits) MAT161 Elementary Statistics (3 contact hrs/ 3 credits) MAT215 Calculus for Business Students MAT104 College Algebra with Trigonometry I OR MAT105 Technical Mathematics I MAT204 College Algebra with Trigonometry II OR MAT205 Technical Mathematics II MAT224 Calculus with Analytic Geometry I MAT225 Calculus with Analytic Geometry II MAT226 Calculus with Analytic Geometry III Take Math 11

12 What Entry-Level Math Course Should a Student Take? MAT103 Finite Mathematics MAT104 College Algebra with Trig. I MAT105 Technical Mathematics I This course is best suited for students who: Need to fulfill math credits Will need a math course in preparation for MAT161 or MAT215 A student s initial placement into the sequence of math courses should be made via the placement exam or the placement recommendation of a math faulty member This course is best suited for students in the following programs: Math/Science Forestry CIS students who wish to transfer to a 4-year computer science program This course is best suited for students in the following programs: Industrial Technology For example, if a students placement exam results place them into MAT098, they should start their sequence of coursework there. On the other hand, if upon review of a student s transcript, the math faculty recommendation indicates proper placement to be MAT161 and/or MAT215, they can begin their math sequence there. (Thus, not having to take an entry-level math course.) Please note that a student who successfully completes MAT104 or MAT105 can take any second-level math course (MAT161 or MAT215 or MAT204 or MAT205). However, a student who successfully completes MAT103 Finite Mathematics can only take MAT161 or MAT215. While a student who successfully completes MAT104 can take MAT205 and visa versa, we strongly recommend a student remain in either the college algebra with trigonometry or technical mathematics sequence of coursework. Take Math 12 PAI Verizon

13 Changes in Math Courses Including Course Numbering Over time, a handful of math courses have been renumbered. If you come across such a course on a student transcript, the table below will show you what current catalog course it is equivalent to. Old Course Number/Name MAT099 College Prep. Math MAT197 Intro. To Algebra MAT198 Intermediate Algebra MAT221 Finite Mathematics MAT222 College Algebra with Trig. I MAT223 College Algebra with Trig. II MAT230 Elementary Statistics MAT233 Calculus for Business Students New Course Number/Name MAT100 Introductory Algebra* MAT100 Introductory Algebra* MAT101 Mathematical Functions* MAT103 Finite Mathematics* MAT104 College Algebra with Trig. I* MAT204 College Algebra with Trig. II* MAT161 Elementary Statistics* MAT215 Calculus for Business Students* *It is typical for students to regress when a number of years have been taken off from coursework. Students who have not taken a math course in the last two years should be advised to retake the math placement exam. This will ensure that they will continue their math coursework at a level where they will be successful. Take Math 13

14 Changes in Math Courses Including Course Numbering Some courses, rather than being renumbered, have been taken out of the college catalog and/or are no longer offered on our campus. Below you will find a list of such courses and where they fit on curriculum and graduation worksheets. Old Course Number/Name MAT220 Fundamentals of Mathematics MAT232 Introduction to Logic Course Type This counts as a college-level math course. After successful completion of this course a student can continue on to MAT161 or MAT215. It is recommended that this student take the placement exam to determine proper placement.* This counts as a college-level math course. This student has demonstrated an ability to take an entry-level math course. It is recommended that this student take the placement exam to determine proper placement.* *It is typical for students to regress when a number of years have been taken off from coursework. Students who have not taken a math course in the last two years should be advised to retake the math placement exam. This will ensure that they will continue their math coursework at a level where they will be successful. Take Math 14

15 Online Math Courses The following math courses will be offered online via the SUNY Learning Network (SLN) according the the schedule below. All other math courses will be offered online on an as-needed basis. Please contact our campus Distance Learning Coordinator, Vicky Sloan, for more information on distance learning (DL) at CCC ( or MAT103 Finite Mathematics will be scheduled each fall semester commencing in fall MAT161 Elementary Statistics will be scheduled each spring semester. MAT215 Calculus for Business Students will be scheduled every other spring semester on evennumbered years (spring 2008, spring 2010, etc.) MAT224 Calculus and Analytic Geometry I will be scheduled as needed. Take Math 15