Office phone: (414) Office phone: (414) Office: EMS E481 Office: EMS E 480

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1 University of Wisconsin Milwaukee Mathematical Literacy for College Students I Syllabus Math 092 Section 013 (31559) Fall Semester 2015 Class Location: NWQ 1871 Class Time: Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9:30 AM 10:45 PM Dear student, Welcome to Math ! I am your instructor Dr. Kevin McLeod. Please feel free to address me as Dr. McLeod, or simply Kevin. Your teaching assistant for this class is Mr. Sahadep Upetree. This is not an easy course, nor one with a light workload. It is a useful course in which you will focus on a handful of highly-relevant topics to develop the deep level of understanding needed to use numbers when making and defending decisions: Should my business hire another worker or lay someone off? Which car should I buy? Was I overcharged? What is that deceptive political ad really saying? Is that policy fair? Expect to brainstorm, discuss, critique, and evaluate. You will write, speak, and present much more than in a traditional math course. This course provides a pathway to completing your Quantitative Literacy Part A (QLA) able to make reasonable decisions about fiscal, environmental, and health issues that require quantitative reasoning skills. An activity-based approach is used to explore numerical relationships, graphs, proportional relationships, algebraic reasoning, and problem solving using linear, exponential and other mathematical models. You will develop tools that support the use of key mathematical concepts in a variety of contexts. This course is the first in a two part sequence and is not designed for Science, Technology, Engineering, or Math (STEM) students. You will likely work harder than you have before, but you may also gain more than you have in previous math courses. I encourage you to try to keep an open mind as you start your journey. I am here to assist you in every way possible in your travels because I know each and every one of you can be successful in this course, but what you get out of the journey will be up to you. More information can be found on the UWM Math Pathways website: In this course, we are going to use an online homework system often referred to as MyQuantway. You have already paid for the access when you registered for the course. To make sure that you have a successful semester, it is important that you get the following two things done before you come to the first class, which is Thursday (Sept. 3): Register with MyQuantway and complete the Student Background Survey The instructions for how to register with MyQuantway as well as a complete list of materials needed for the first day can be found on the course D2L site. If you have any question about the course, please feel free to me. I look forward to working with you this semester and helping you to succeed in this course. Your instructor: Kevin McLeod Your teaching assistant: Sahadeb Upretee (preferred): kevinm@uwm.edu (preferred): supretee@uwm.edu Office phone: (414) Office phone: (414) Office: EMS E481 Office: EMS E 480 Page 1 of 1

2 Prerequisite: ACT Math score 16 or Placement Level D Course Description: Mathematical Literacy for College Students I is the first course in a two course sequence for nonmath and non-science majors integrating numeracy, proportional reasoning, algebraic reasoning, and functions. Satisfactory completion of this sequence satisfies the Quantitative Literacy-A Requirement, giving a student the ability to evaluate, construct and communicate arguments using quantitative methods and formal reasoning. This ability is consistent with the following Mathematical Practice (MP) standards from the Common Core: 1. Make sense of problems and persevere in solving them. 2. Reason abstractly and quantitatively 3. Construct viable arguments and critique the reasoning of others. 4. Model with mathematics. 5. Use appropriate tools strategically 6. Attend to precision. 7. Look for and make use of structure. 8. Look for and express regularity in repeated reasoning. We want you to understand how math arises in everyday situations, and to help you understand why math is relevant to your life! Specifically, the course Mathematical Literacy for College Students I covers an introduction to numeracy, proportional reasoning, algebraic reasoning, and functions. Students will develop conceptual and procedural tools that support the use of key mathematical concepts in a variety of contexts. Throughout the course, college success content will be integrated with mathematical topics. Materials You Will Need for this Course (bring these with you to class on the first day): There is no textbook for this course. However, you will need to print out the pages needed for each day s lessons. Materials are available through the course D2L site. You will be required to print out at least the first module (53 pages) and bring it to class on the first day. If you print on campus it will cost you 7 per sheet (or only 3.5 per page if you use duplex/double-sided). The following website will show you a map of the General Access Computer Labs/ Lounges on campus: You are required to access the online homework system for homework. There will be an assignment based on what we have covered in class as well as an assignment to prepare you for the next class lesson. You must complete both assignments on time in order to keep up with the course. Page 2 of 2

3 Since there is no textbook for this course, it is very important that you keep all papers organized. You are required to have a 2- or 3-inch thick, 3-ring binder with a minimum of 4 tabs with labels such as Course Information, In-Class Work, Online Homework, and Assessments. About 100 blank sheets of paper including some sheets of graphing paper (which you can print from the course D2L site) should also be in your binder Writing utensils especially pencils for use on any work turned in to me A calculator. Cell phones or other electronic gadgets will NOT be allowed to be used as calculators during assessments. Grading Scale: A: % B: 80-89% C: 70-79% D: 60-69% F: below 60% A final grade of C is required to continue in the math course sequence to Math 102. Any student who misses more than four class periods may not receive a grade higher than a C-. This is not enough to satisfy the requirement for entrance into the next math course. More about this in the attendance policy section. The final grade will be based on the following formula: 20 Online work 10 In-class work 10 Module 1 Assessment 15 Module 2 Assessment 15 Module 3 Assessment 15 Module 4 Assessment 15 Cumulative Final Assessment 100% Total Help with the Course: Instructor Office Hours: 8:30 9:15 AM on Tuesday and Thursday, or by appointment Panther Academic Support Services (PASS): Supplemental Instruction (SI): names of the two leaders will be announced soon Math Department Tutoring: Page 3 of 3

4 Important Course Responsibilities: Online work: The average student in this class is expected to spend 8-10 hours per week outside of class. See workload chart below. Most of this time will be spent completing online work. Every lesson includes a homework assignment that must be submitted online before the next class session. The homework is divided into two main sections: PNL and OCE. The Preparing for the Next Lesson (PNL) is done before class and gives a preview of the lesson you will be doing next. The Out of Class Exercises (OCE) has a section that reviews the high-level concepts from the last lesson and another section that provides example problems that reinforce, extend, and add detail to the material from the last lesson. Together, the OCE and PNL count for 20% of your overall course grade. Students with average homework scores of at least 88% will earn 100% credit. See chart for final grade contribution based on homework percentage. Homework Percentage 88% - 100% 100% 82% - 87% 95% 77% - 81% 90% 71% - 76% 80% Final Grade Contribution 63% - 70% 70% Below 63% No Change DO THE ONLINE WORK! The online work in this course is not just a set of additional problems that provide extra practice; the online work in this class is an integral part of the instruction. New concepts are introduced online before class, and concepts developed during class are extended online after class. Online work makes up the single largest component of your course grade. Assessments: There will be an assessment given at the end of each of the 4 modules in the course. There are NO make-ups, except for university sanctioned events (see attendance section). The lowest score of your 4 assessments will be dropped and replaced with your final assessment score if it improves your overall grade. The final assessment score cannot be dropped. The final is comprehensive and will cover all the topics contained in this class. It will be given at the end of the course. Exam dates are listed on the course schedule below. All assessments will be done on paper in class during the scheduled exam times. In-class work: You will record your work and your notes in your own notebook or binder, and you will record your final results on a workbook page. All of this will be kept in your binder. Regular class attendance is essential. Most assignments will be completed entirely during class. If you are absent, you may not be able to make up those assignments. If you miss course material due to absence, it is your responsibility to contact your classmates as soon as possible regarding missed material. See below for attendance policy. Your positive interactions with classmates are expected. This will be discussed further during the first two weeks of class. Page 4 of 4

5 Technology during class: Calculators are required for use during class. Cellular phone use, including texting, is not permitted during class time. Furthermore, phones should have the ringer turned off during class and they must be turned completely off during assessments. Phones out during class time without permission will be confiscated and, if seen during an assessment, may result in a score of zero. Computers or other electronic devices may be used with instructor permission only. Headphones cannot be worn during class time. Workload: According to university requirements, each credit requires the average student to expend 48 hours of energy to satisfy the course learning outcomes. This means you will need a minimum of 144 hours for this course (around 10 hours per week). The following workload estimation is based on the average student. Item Class time (for 3 credits): Instruction, group work and assessment Time spent after each class period Organize notes and papers from class Review notes Rework and/or complete problems from class Do OCE online homework problems: OCE (Out of Class Exercises) are an extension of what was done in class and are due before the next class period Do PNL online homework problems: PNL (Preparing for the Next Lesson) problems must be done before the next class period Complete any other homework activities Complete corrections for incorrect problems on assignments received back in class Read the next lesson(s) to prepare for class Create list of questions to ask instructor, TA, or tutor before next class period Attend office hours and/or tutoring sessions to get answers to questions from individual time Study time: Before each quiz or exam Be sure binder is in order Review answers to questions from individual time Work additional problems starting with any specifically assigned review problems Attend additional instructor office hours and/or tutoring session for specific assessment help Total for the semester Hours Spent ~ 3 hours per week (~ 39 hours) ~ 6 hours per week (~ 78 hours) ~ 14 hours ~ 14 hours ~ = 144 hours Page 5 of 5

6 Important Course Policies: Attendance: Students are expected to attend all classes. Please be prompt so as not to disrupt the class. Repeated tardiness will not be tolerated and may count as absences. Any student who misses more than four class periods may not receive a grade higher than a C-. This is not enough to satisfy the requirement for entrance into the next math course. Attendance is counted started the first day of class. There are no excused absences, except for university sanctioned events (such as religious observances, military duty, or UWM athletics). Students have the responsibility to meet all class requirements, to inform faculty as soon as possible (preferably at the beginning of the semester) of pending absences, and to provide faculty with documentation that they are participating in a university-sanctioned activity. Students must have excellent attendance records to be allowed to make up worked missed while away on university-sanctioned activities. BOR 30-credit policy: We have learned that students are more likely to succeed at UWM if they complete their developmental coursework right away, and we are committed to helping you do that. Therefore, all developmental course work must be successfully completed within your first 30 credits in order to stay on track for your degree at UWM. A "To Do" item will remain active in your PAWS account until you complete this developmental course with a C or better. If you have any questions please see your advisor. Late assignment and make-up policy: NO late assignments or make-ups will be allowed, except for university sanctioned events (see attendance section). Important dates: First day of class September 11 September 29 September 29 October 22 October 23 November 17 November December 8 December 14 December 15 December 17 Student survey due Math department s last day to add a class Module 1 Assessment Last day to drop full-term courses without W on record Module 2 Assessment Last day to drop or withdraw from full-term courses Module 3 Assessment Thanksgiving Recess (no classes) Module 4 Assessment Last day of classes Study Day (7:30-9:30am) Cumulative Final Exam Page 6 of 6

7 Important University Policies: Disability: Students with special needs have access to educational opportunities equal to those of non-special need students. To insure that reasonable accommodations can be made for students with special needs each student must identify him- or herself in a timely manner, preferably prior to the beginning of a term. However, if students are unsure of eligibility to receive accommodations and have not discussed this with a university representative, students should discuss these concerns with their instructor or advisor as early as possible. Further information can be found at: Religious observances: Students will be allowed to complete examinations or other requirements that are missed because of a religious observance. Military duty: Accommodations for absences due to call-up of reserves to active military duty should be allowed. University-sanctioned extracurricular activities: The University of Wisconsin- Milwaukee supports and encourages student participation in extracurricular activities that add to the overall university experience. These activities include intercollegiate athletics and academic competitions including conferences, debates, model government, science and health fairs, musical, artistic, and other intellectual endeavors. To make it possible for UWM students to participate in university-sanctioned extracurricular activities, the UWM faculty will allow students to make up work missed during participation in such activities. Incompletes: A notation of "incomplete" may be given in lieu of a final grade to a student who has carried a subject successfully until the end of a semester but who, because of illness or other unusual and substantiated cause beyond the student's control, has been unable to take or complete the final examination or to complete some limited amount of term work. Academic misconduct: The University has a responsibility to promote academic honesty and integrity and to develop procedures to deal effectively with instances of academic dishonesty. Students are responsible for the honest completion of and representation of their work, for the appropriate citation of sources, and for respect of others academic endeavors. Cheating on exams completing the online work for another student or plagiarism are violations of the academic honor code and carry severe sanctions, including failing a course or even suspension or dismissal from the University. Further information may be found at Page 7 of 7

8 Discriminatory conduct (such as sexual harassment): Discriminatory conduct will not be tolerated by the University. It poisons the work and learning environment of the University and threatens the careers, educational experience, and well-being of students, faculty, and staff. Complaint procedures: Students may direct complaints to the head of the academic unit or department in which the complaint occurs. If the complaint allegedly violates a stated university policy, it may be directed to the head of the department or academic unit in which the complaint occurred or to the appropriate university office responsible for enforcing the policy. Grade appeals: A student may appeal a grade on the grounds that it is based on a capricious or arbitrary decision of the course instructor. Such an appeal shall follow the established procedures adopted by the department, college, or school in which the course resides. These procedures are available in writing from the department chairperson or Academic Dean. Page 8 of 8