How To Complete Math 1314 Online

Transcription

1 Orientation, page 1 of 6 Orientation for Math : College Algebra PROFESSOR'S CONTACT INFORMATION: Instructor: Department: Course Syllabus: Course Calendar: Course Website: Matthew Hudock Mathematics (Be Sure to Read This) mhudock@alamo.edu Phone Number: Fax Number: Office Location: NTB 100-E (1st floor of the Norris Technical Building on the Main Campus) Office Hours: M W 9 am Noon (NTB 100-E) T R 8 am 9 am (NTB 100-E) T R 10:30 am Noon (NTB 100-E) T R 1:30 pm 2:30 pm (NTB 307) Mail: St. Philip's College Attn: Matthew Hudock Professor of Mathematics 1801 Martin Luther King San Antonio, TX TEXTBOOK: The textbook that will be used in this online course is College Algebra (5 th edition) by Robert Blitzer. The textbook is published by Pearson (Prentice Hall). You will need a student access code for MyLab (formerly MyMathLab Course Compass). You can purchase the textbook with MyLab code (ISBN: ) or just the MyLab code by itself (ISBN: x) and use the ebook embedded in MyLab. Both are available at the St. Philip's College bookstore or you can purchase the MyLab code at the publisher's website at:

2 Orientation, page 2 of 6 If you have used MyLab (formerly MyMathLab Course Compass) for another section of Math 1314 before for a different math course taught at St. Philip s College, you do not need to buy a new code. You can transfer into this course. (Go to for directions). SOFTWARE: In this course you will be using Blackboard Vista and MyLab for all course instruction. You will also need Adobe Acrobat Reader and Adobe Flash Player. If you do not already have the reader, click on the following link to download the free reader: If you do not already have the flash player installed, click on the following link to download the free flash player: You must have a working address to take this course. If you do not already have an address, you can use your free Alamo ACES address. Through the ACES website you have access to academic resources, , and other online services. The following link will provide you access to ACES: You can get help with logging into ACES by calling the ALAMO Help desk or visiting their website at Most of the communication between you and me will be through . When I write to you, I will use your address you provide in MyLab, so you will need to check your frequently. You are free to me from any address. Again, it is very important to check your regularly. I will be available to answer questions or concerns that you may have by phone ( ), (mhudock@alamo.edu), or by visiting me in my office (NTB 100-E) during my office hours. I usually answer all s within 24 hours including weekends and holidays during the semester. INTERNET: You must have access to the Internet. This access may be through the campus computer labs, library, or from home via an Internet provider. The computers in NTB (Norris Technical Building) 116 and NTB 307 have all the appropriate software and plug-ins you will need for this course already loaded on them. It is your responsibility to ensure that your computer is reliable and has all proper hardware and software for the course. A DSL or a high-speed Internet connection is strongly recommended. The URL for the website you will be using for the course content is HOMEWORK: You will be assigned 29 homework assignments (roughly 1 assignment for each section that will be covered in this course). The assignments will be grouped by weeks. All homework assignments for a particular week are

3 Orientation, page 3 of 6 due on Monday evening at 11:59 pm. Homework assignments will not be available after the due date. If you do not work a homework assignment, you will be given a zero for that assignment. Your average for these assignments will constitute 15% of your course grade. All the homework assignments are in MyLab (formerly MyMathLab Course Compass) under Do Homework. On the course menu you will find a link to the course calendar that gives all due dates for homework reviews, and tests. REVIEWS FOR THE TEST: In additional to the 29 homework assignments, there will be four reviews, one before each test. Usually, they are longer and harder versions of the in-class unit tests. The reviews are open book and open notes and are to help prepare you for the test. The reviews are practice and do not count for a grade. TESTS: There will be 4 tests plus a comprehensive final exam for this course. Each test will be worth 15% of your grade and the final exam (see below) will be worth 25% of your grade, given the tests and the final a total worth 85% of your final grade. The tests will be administrated online and will be available for approximately 5 days so that you will have sufficient time to take the test. All tests are closed book and closed notes and no help of any kind is allowed. You are allowed to use only a scientific calculator when taking a test. The test must be completed in one sitting (you will have a time limit of 2.5 hours for the online tests, 3.5 hours for the final). You will not be allowed to stop and restart the test. There will be no makeup or retakes on tests. If you fail to take a test, the grade recorded will be a 0 (zero). To receive partial credit on tests that are administrated online, you will need to provide me with your work immediately after completing the test. No work will be accepted after the test closes. Turning in your work is strongly encouraged and can be delivered either by: 1) Scan it and it to me as an attachment immediately upon completing the test at mhudock@alamo.edu 2) Bring to the Math Department Office (NTB 100 between the hours of 9 am and 5 pm MTWRF). Be sure to have an office worker sign and date the Memo and put it in my box by the due date. OR 3) Fax it to me (Attn: Mr. Hudock) at immediately upon completing the test. If you work your test questions in pencil, you may need to set your fax machine to a darker scan or make a photocopy of the worksheets and then fax or scan the photocopy.

4 Orientation, page 4 of 6 Please note the following information: 1) I am not responsible for equipment failure on your part. "My computer is not working" or The cat ate my mouse, are not excuses that will allow you take the exam after the expiration date or have an extra opportunity to take a test. 2) Reliable computers can be found in Math World, NTB 307, or Educational Support Services Tutoring Center, NTB 116, on SPC's Main Campus. 3) You are responsible for verifying that I received your work for your test immediately upon completing the test online and for ensuring the work is complete and legible. 4) No extension will be given for a test unless extreme circumstances warrant otherwise and are brought to my attention at least 48 hours prior to the test deadline. COURSE CONTENT: Within MyLab (formerly MyMathLab Course Compass) under the chapter contents and multimedia library tabs on the main menu on the left side, there are many resources such as videos, powerpoint presentations, a multimedia textbook, and other useful features you can use to help you learn the course material. To progress through the course material, I recommend that you follow the course calendar ( and spend at least 12 hours a week on learning the material. Read the section from the textbook, view the associated videos, work the "Try It Now" problems, and then attempt your homework assignment. When working the homework assignments, you have available to you many resources for extra help. I have also included a link to my lecture notes that I use in the face-to-face version of this course. TUTORING: If you need help, you can contact me via or phone, but is the best way to contact me especially on the weekends and holidays. My contact information is on the course home page and also at the beginning of this document. On campus, tutors are available in Math World (NTB 307) or Educational Support Services (NTB 116) free of charge. I strongly encourage you to take advantage of these free services, especially the support that is available in Math World. You also have access to an online Tutoring in MyLab. WITHDRAWING FROM THIS CLASS: If you decide to stop working in the course, it is your responsibility to withdraw from the course by the day posted in the Class Schedule. Otherwise, you will receive an F for the course.

5 Orientation, page 5 of 6 HELPFUL LINKS AND INFORMATION: Here are some web pages that are designed to help you get started: System Requirements for MyLab (formerly MyMathLab Course Compass): Register for MyLab (formerly MyMathLab Course Compass) Help (Course ID: hudock15793): MyLab (formerly MyMathLab Course Compass) Course Homepage: Additional help to navigate MyLab (formerly MyMathLab Course Compass): Course Material Multimedia Library Help MyLab (formerly MyMathLab Course Compass) Technical Support phone number is ACES and BlackBoard Vista Technical Support number is Tutoring Help: MathWorld (NTB 307, MTWR 8 am - 8 pm, FS 8 am - 2 pm) Setting up Online Tutoring in MyLab (formerly MyMathLab Course Compass): (formerly MyMathLab Course Compass)onlineTutoring.pdf MyLab (formerly MyMathLab Course Compass) Course Home page will provide you information about the layout of course materials. Videos, powerpoint presentations, and the multimedia textbook are available through the Chapter Contents and Multimedia Library links in MyLab (formerly MyMathLab Course Compass). Homework assignments and tests are found under the Do Homework

6 Orientation, page 6 of 6 and Take a Test links. During the registration process you will be asked to input the Course ID for this course. For this semester, my Course ID is hudock Once you have successfully registered into MyLab you will need to send me a Memo of Understanding stating that you have read all the information on the website and enrolled in MyLab You will also be asked to provide contact information. You will find the Memo of Understanding in Memo link in MyLab. You will need to print out the form and fill in the requested information and sign it. You can then get it to me by one of the following ways: 1) Scan it and it to me as an attachment by Sept. 6, 2011 at Noon at mhudock@alamo.edu 2) Bring to the Math Department Office (NTB 100 between the hours of 9 am and 5 pm MTWRF). Be sure to have an office worker sign and date the Memo and put it in my box by Sept. 6, 2011 at noon. 3) Mail it to me with delivery confirmation (must be post marked by Sept. 6) St. Philip's College Attn: Matthew Hudock Professor of Mathematics 1801 Martin Luther King OR San Antonio, TX ) Fax it to me (Attn: Mr. Hudock) at by Sept. 6, 2011 at noon. It is responsibility to ensure that I receive the memo of understanding by Sept. 6, 2011 at noon and that it is completely filled out and legible. To avoid being dropped from this course, I must receive the memo of understanding and you must be enrolled in the MyLab by the due date. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me. I look forward to working with you this semester. Thanks! - Mr. H