MAT 1500: College Algebra for the Social and Management Sciences General Syllabus

Transcription

1 MAT 1500: College Algebra for the Social and Management Sciences General Syllabus (See your section syllabus for specific instructor information, deadlines and points.) Course Description: This is a college algebra course designed for business majors, which uses MyMathLab software, a computer program providing multiple resources. The class meets each week with your instructor for two hours (in the partitioned off room). In this course, you will have the opportunity to acquire and demonstrate your abilities to be a self-motivated, active and responsible learner. In order to succeed in the School of Business students must be problem-solvers. To that goal, a major emphasis of this course will be on solving word problems. Expect that each quiz, test and the final exam will contain several word problems. Successful completion of this course satisfies the math prerequisite for the School of Business. Learning Objectives: After completing this class, students will be able to: Conduct procedural computations with polynomial, exponential, and logarithmic functions. Apply those functions to model and solve applied story problems. Apply their mathematical skills in their specialized fields of study. Student Disability Services: If you have a documented disability that requires accommodations, you will need to register with Student Disability Services for coordination of your academic accommodations. The Student Disability Services (SDS) office is located at 1600 David Adamany Undergraduate Library in the Student Academic Success Services department. SDS telephone number is or (TDD only). Once you have your accommodations in place, please see the Lab Manager to discuss your situation. Student Disability Services mission is to assist the University in creating an accessible community where students with disabilities have an equal opportunity to fully participate in their educational experience at Wayne State University. Please be aware that a delay in getting SDS accommodation letters for the current semester may hinder the availability or facilitation of those accommodations in a timely manner. Therefore, it is in your best interest to get your accommodation letters as early in the semester as possible. Prerequisite for MAT 1500: In order to qualify to take MAT 1500 one of the following must be met: A WSU Placement Exam was taken in the past year and the placement was at the 1800/1500 level. A grade of CNC or better was earned in MAT 0995 or a grade of C or higher was earned in MAT 1050 taken at WSU in the past year. An ACT Math score of 26 or above was earned and has been verified by the Testing, Evaluation and Research Office. Students who have not qualified MUST OFFICIALLY WITHDRAW. Failure to do so in compliance with University deadlines will result in loss of tuition paid for the course. Software Package and Textbook: A course fee, paid at the time of registration for this course, provides access to the online materials required for this class. The text book is: Essentials of College Algebra 10 th Edition, by Lial, Hornsby and Schneider. There is no need to purchase the textbook. An online, interactive textbook is provided as part of the course lab fee. Every student will access course materials through a link in Blackboard. MCL Attendance Requirement: The class meets for two hours each week with your instructor (in the partitioned off room). In addition to attending class, each student is expected to spend an average of three additional hours per week in the MCL at times that are convenient for you. Experience has shown that this is a MINIMUM requirement for

2 success in this course. The additional hours are worth 1 point each. Attendance in the open lab is tracked by the computer at the main desk. Attendance is only tracked if you log in and out as you enter and exit the MCL using your WSU access ID. Religious Holidays: Because of the extraordinary variety of religious affiliations of the University student body and staff, the Academic Calendar makes no provisions for religious holidays. However it is University policy to respect the faith and religious obligations of the individual. Students with classes or examinations that conflict with their religious observances are expected to notify their instructors well in advance so that mutually agreeable alternatives may be worked out. Participation Requirement: Participation points will be awarded during each class period for activities defined by the instructor. These may include (but are not limited to) online activities, worksheets, turning in specific assignments that were due since the previous class meeting, showing notes taken while reading the textbook or watching the videos, or working specific exercises during class. All students should be prepared at each class meeting with a notebook containing current notes, homework, and quizzes. Students must be present in class to earn any participation points. Participation points cannot be made up for any reason. Requirement: All students must activate and regularly check their Wayne State account. It is recommended that students use the WSU account for all communications with the instructor. However, the instructor will reply to whatever address the student uses to contact him or her. Students who contact the instructor from an internet service account other than Wayne Connect risk exposing their personal information to interception. Students are responsible for knowing any information that is ed regarding this course. The syllabus may change during the semester. If this happens, you will be notified via . You must your instructor during the first week of class with your intended major and year of graduation. Working Outside the MCL: If additional computer time is needed at hours that the lab is not open, all of the public areas of Wayne State libraries have the necessary software installed on the computers. Students who have Internet access may install the software on their home computers using the MyMathLab Browser Check. The link may be found under Announcements on the Home page or under the Announcements tab to the left once you have logged into MyMathLab via Blackboard. The advantage of using the MCL is that an instructor and student assistants will be available at all times to help students individually. ALL QUIZZES AND TESTS MUST BE TAKEN IN THE MCL. MCL Rules: This is a math classroom. Please be quiet. Disruptive students will be asked to leave. No work, other than mathematics, may be done in the MCL. Surfing the web, typing a paper, accessing any website other than Blackboard or Wayne Connect, or playing computer games is not allowed. Laptops and tablets are not allowed. No companions are allowed in the MCL. No food is allowed in the MCL. Beverages with a cover are allowed. A Cell phone used as a music player MUST be faced down if left on the table. Otherwise, cell phones should be off and out of sight. If your phone rings or makes noise, you are texting, playing games, or checking Facebook, you will be asked to leave immediately. If you are taking a quiz or a test, you will be required to submit it whether you are finished or not. Listening to music is only allowed through a personal device, NOT websites on lab computers. The sound must be at a level that cannot be heard by others. Headphones must be removed and put away for any quiz or test. Technology Glitches: This is a computerized course and therefore, there are occasional glitches in the technology. Deadline extensions based on technology glitches will only be granted if computers in the MCL are affected for more than 30 minutes. Deadlines will be extended the amount of the outage as a minimum.

3 Occasionally, correct answers can be marked wrong by the computer. It is your responsibility to check for grading errors on your quizzes and tests. Report errors to your instructor via and necessary corrections will be made. Once you open a quiz or test, be careful not to submit until the quiz or test has been completed. Use the Previous/Next Question buttons at the bottom or the numbers at the top of the screen to navigate between questions. Headphones: Video lectures require the use of headphones. Any headphones you already have should work in the MCL. If you need to purchase headphones, they are available in the Undergraduate Library next to the Computer Support Center for $3.00. We will also have a few loaner headphones, available at the desk, in exchange for your WSU OneCard. The port to connect audio is located on a cord under the computer screen. Calculator Policy: A scientific calculator is required for this course, graphing calculators or multi-function internet capable devices, including cell phones, are not allowed. If you do not have one, there is one available on the computer but it is a little awkward to use. It is the student s responsibility to learn how to use the calculator before the first quiz, as assistance will not be given during any test or quiz. Homework: There will be 34 graded assignments, one for each section of the textbook, which must be completed before the due date shown. Homework can (and should) be worked on until it is completely correct. Three points are awarded for homework that is 100% correct and completed. If it is less than 100% correct, you will get that percentage of two points. The 4 lowest homework grades will be dropped. Homework may be completed outside of the MCL, but if any problems cause you to miss the due date, no consideration will be given. Quizzes: There will be 12 quizzes. All quizzes must be completed in the MCL before the due date. You may not use your notes or talk with other students while you are taking a quiz. Either of these will result in a zero grade for that quiz. You have two chances to complete each quiz. The highest score will be included in your average. Be careful not to hit the back button or the submit button before the quiz is complete. Each quiz is worth 10 points and the lowest 2 will be dropped. All quizzes must be taken in the open lab. Placing a blue cup on top of the computer indicates the need for a password to take a quiz. Your table should be clear except for blank paper, picture ID, calculator, and writing implement. Headphones are off and away. All other belongings are on the floor or on your own chair behind you. Picture ID is required for any and every quiz. Make-up Policy: No make-up of quizzes or homework will be allowed for any reason. All quizzes and homework will have due dates after which time they become unavailable. The 4 lowest homework grades and the 2 lowest quiz grades will be dropped. A missed homework or quiz will become a dropped grade. DO NOT PUT OFF YOUR ASSIGNMENTS UNTIL THE LAST MINUTE. Practice Tests: There will be a practice test for each of the 4 tests and the final exam. Practice tests will count toward your grade. If you score lower than 80% on the practice test you are strongly encouraged to go through the material again before attempting the test. Each practice test may be taken as many times as you wish, your highest score will be counted. Tests: There will be 4 tests, worth 150 points each. You will be given 75 minutes for each test. Tests will be given during your regularly scheduled class period. All students must present picture ID and sign in for each test. At the end of the semester, the final exam score will replace the lowest test score. Test Make-Up Policy: In the event of an unavoidable emergency, a make-up exam will be considered. You must contact your instructor within 24 hours of the exam either by or phone. The test must be made up within 3 days. One make-up exam will be allowed without penalty. If another exam requires make-up, you will be penalized 15 points (10%). Final Exam: A comprehensive final exam must be taken during final exam week. The 2½-hour exam is worth 400 points. A minimum score of 50% (200 points) is required in order to pass the class. You must reserve a

4 computer for your final exam. To reserve the computer, log in to Pipeline ( You will see a link, Math Final Exam Registration. You will click on that, then click the link it displays and register for the final exam. Be sure to write down the time and day for which you register. Failure to reserve a computer by the deadline will result in a 25-point (5%) deduction for the test. Changing a reservation after the deadline or missing your assigned time will result in a 25-point deduction for the test. Evaluation of Teaching: Students are expected to fill out an online evaluation of teaching similar to those in their other classes. You will receive an prior to test 4 with a password and directions for filling out the evaluation. This is very important as it gives us feedback on what we can do to improve the course. Early Course Completion: Students who wish to work ahead are encouraged to do so. Arrangements may be made with your instructor (or the lab manager if your instructor is not available) to take tests ahead of schedule. In order to be eligible for early testing you must have done all of the following: 1) completed all of the homework assignments with a grade of 100% for each section, 2) completed all quizzes with grades of 80% or higher on each, 3) passed all prior tests, and 4) scored above 80% on the practice test. If the entire course is completed early, all remaining attendance requirements will automatically be counted for full credit. No early testing is granted during regularly scheduled exams. Academic Dishonesty: Any of the following actions violate the Student Code of Conduct ( and will be considered cheating: Taking quizzes or tests outside of the MCL. Taking a quiz or test for another person, or allowing another person to take a quiz or test for you. Using books, notes or any other assistance on any quiz or test. Using a calculator other than the one provided on the computer, during any quiz or test. Talking to other students during a test or quiz. Appropriate action will be taken. Any student who is caught doing any of the above will immediately fail the course and may be reported for academic dishonesty. See the Student Code of Conduct for other possible sanctions. Course Drops and Withdrawals: In the first two weeks of the semester, students can drop this class and receive 100% tuition refund and course fee cancellation. Weeks three and four, students may drop the course without refund or fee cancellation, but without the class recorded on transcripts. After the fourth week, students who wish to withdraw from the class can initiate a withdrawal request on Pipeline. If your Instructor grants the request, you will receive a transcript notation of WP (passing), WF (failing), or WN (no graded work) at the time of withdrawal. No withdrawals can be initiated after the end of the tenth week. Students enrolled beyond the 10th week will receive a grade. Because withdrawing from courses may have negative academic and financial consequences, students considering course withdrawal should make sure they fully understand all the consequences before taking this step. More information on this can be found at: Grades: A % A % B % B % B % C % C % C % D % F % Any student who stops attending without filing an official withdrawal form will receive the grade of F.

5 The grade of WP will be awarded if a withdrawal form is filed when the student is passing. The grade of WF will be awarded if a withdrawal form is filed when the student is failing. Learning Mathematics: Learning mathematics takes time and lots of practice. You should plan on spending 6 to 9 hours each week working on mathematics. All tests and quizzes must be done in the MCL, but watching the video, reading the textbook and reviewing your notebook can be done at home, if you have downloaded the appropriate software, or on any library computer on the WSU campus. It is best to work on math for a couple of hours 3 or 4 days each week rather than try to complete everything in one day. DO NOT WAIT UNTIL THE LAST MINUTE TO COMPLETE YOUR ASSIGNMENTS.