Note: To log in to this course outside of the Math Computer Lab, go to www

INTERMEDIATE ALGEBRA – MAT 0995 – SPRING/SUMMER 2008

PLEASE COMPLETE THIS FORM CAREFULLY WHEREVER THERE IS AN EMPTY LINE. YOU WILL USE THIS FORM ALONG WITH YOUR RED ACCESS CODE BOOKLET TO REGISTER FOR COURSE COMPASS. FOLLOW THE DIRECTIONS IN THE PINK COURSE COMPASS HANDOUT.

Access Code: Open the red booklet. Type in the access code exactly as written. Double-check.

School Zip Code: 48202

Course ID: zzmath07057

First Name: ________________________________ (exactly as it appears on your OneCard)

Last Name: ________________________________ (exactly as it appears on your OneCard)

E-mail: ______________@wayne.edu (your access ID) (You must use your WSU e-mail, but it may be forwarded.)

School Name: Wayne State University

Password: ____A_____________________ (“A” followed by your student ID number, including leading zeros)

Security Question: You will pick one and answer it.

CLICK LOG IN NOW

USE YOUR NEWLY CREATED LOGIN NAME AND PASSWORD FROM ABOVE.

Note: To log in to this course outside of the Math Computer Lab, go to www.coursecompass.com

MAT 0995 – Spring/Summer 2008 INTERMEDIATE ALGEBRA

Instructor: Shereen Schultz Section: 001 CRN: 30186

E-mail: at6752@wayne.edu Meeting Time: W, 5:00 – 7:00 PM Room: 10 SCLB

Qualifying for this Course: A student is qualified to take this course in one of the following ways: 1) The student received an “SNC” grade in MAT 0993 at Wayne State University in the fall 2007 or winter 2008 semester or 2) The student took the Placement Exam on or after September 21, 2007 and was placed into MAT 0995/1050. 3) The student presents an override slip signed by a math advisor. 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. Failure to withdraw will also result in a failing grade.

Course Options at the Level of MAT 0995 and MAT 1050: Students who place into MAT 0995 or MAT 1050 have three options regarding course selection:

MAT 0995 - 3 credits (0 towards graduation). This is a computer based intermediate algebra course that does not cover as many topics as MAT 1050. Successful completion of this course will admit the student into MAT 1110 or MAT 1500, but NOT MAT 1800.
MAT 1050 - 5 credits (2 towards graduation), 5 hours/week. This is an intermediate algebra class that also includes an introduction to logarithms and trigonometry. Successful completion of this course will admit the student into MAT 1110, MAT 1500 or MAT 1800.
MAT 1050 – 7 credits (3 towards graduation), 9 hours/week. This option is referred to as PREP. Students who successfully complete PREP will be invited into the ESP Honors Program. This class meets 5 hours/week plus an additional 4 hours for Workshop. During the Workshop, students work in groups solving challenging math problems. Students majoring in Engineering, Mathematics, Math Education or Science are expected to enroll in MAT 1050 PREP. Successful completion of this course will admit the student into MAT 1110, MAT 1500 or MAT 1800.

Course Description: This course is an intermediate algebra course using MyMathLab, 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. Successful completion of this course admits the student into the next higher-level course, MAT 1110 or MAT 1500. (The next course must be taken in the spring/summer 2008 or fall 2008 semester, or a Placement Exam will be required.) This is an accommodation-friendly class. If you need accommodations and are registered with EAS, please see Shereen Schultz (at6752@wayne.edu) during the first week of class.

Software Package and Textbook: A MyMathLab Computer Access Code is required to access course materials on the computer. Each student will receive a computer access code, a loose-leaf textbook, binder, and paper at the first class meeting. The textbook is: Intermediate Algebra, Concepts and Applications, 7^th Edition, by Bittinger and Ellenbogen. Once the MyMathLab Access Code had been used, there is no refund of the lab fee, even if the student is forced to drop because of not being properly qualified.

Notebook Requirement: All students are being supplied with and are required to maintain a loose-leaf notebook. The notebook must be brought to each class meeting, and used whenever working in the MCL. Your notebook will be graded during each of your four regular exams.

MCL Attendance Requirement: The class meets each week with your instructor for two hours (in the partitioned off room). Attendance at each of these class meetings is worth 3 points. In order to receive the 3 points you must: Bring your notebook to work in, arrive on time, and stay the entire 2 hours. Besides the regular class meeting, you will be expected to spend an average of 3 additional hours per week in the MCL at times that are convenient for you. Experience has shown that this is a MINIMUM requirement for success in this course. The additional hours are worth 1 point each. Attendance in the regular class meeting is tracked by your instructor. Attendance in the open lab is tracked by the computer. Attendance is only tracked if you log in and out of the MCL computers, using your access ID as the log in and student ID as the password. Note that the computer will automatically log you off if it is untouched for 15 minutes.

MCL Hours:

Monday – Thursday: 11:00 AM – 8:30 PM

The MCL will be closed Monday, May 26 in observance of Memorial Day. University wide, Friday, May 30 is scheduled as a Monday. (Monday classes WILL MEET Friday, May 30 in the MCL, and the MCL will be OPEN Monday hours, 11:00AM – 8:30 PM) The MCL will be open only for those taking final exams beginning Monday, July 28^th, and closed for the semester on July 29^th after finals have ended.

E-mail Requirement: All students must activate and regularly check their Wayne State e-mail account. Other than the weekly course meeting, e-mail is the primary means of contact outside of the classroom. You are responsible for knowing any information that is e-mailed to you regarding this course. The syllabus may change during the semester. If this happens, you will be notified via email. You must e-mail your instructor during the first week of class with your intended major and year of graduation. This first e-mail will be worth 5 points.

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 Installation Wizard on the Announcements page when you log in to www.coursecompass.com. The advantage of using the MCL is that a mathematics instructor and an assistant 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, or playing computer games is not allowed.
Outside media (iPods, CDs, etc) is allowed in the MCL, provided it does not disrupt others. NO Outside media is allowed during an exam.
No companions are allowed in the MCL.
No food is allowed in the MCL. Beverages with a cover are allowed.
Cell phones must be turned off and out of sight. If your phone rings or is used in any way, 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.

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. Do not put off your assignments until the last minute.

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 the computers are affected for MORE THAN 30 minutes. If the deadline is that day, it will be extended an equivalent amount of time to the outage.
Occasionally, correct answers can be marked wrong by the computer. It is your responsibility to check for grading errors on your quizzes and tests. Checking your mistakes is how you learn. Report test errors to your instructor who will make the necessary corrections. Other errors can be discussed with any lab assistant.
Once you open a quiz, be careful not to submit the quiz until the quiz has been completed. Avoid closing Explorer or clicking the “back” button as these actions will result in a loss of your answers.
If there is a problem logging in to www.coursecompass.com, you may log into www.mathxl.com. Follow the “MyMathLab User?” instructions on the right hand side of the screen.

Workshops: Weekly workshops, run by Ms. Catherine Celice, are an optional way for students to get extra help. In these workshops, there is a short lecture followed by sample problems for students to work. The times, days and content of the workshops will be available on the blackboard website for the workshops. Students who are having difficulty mastering the material are strongly encouraged to attend these workshops.

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 $2.00. We will also have a few loaner headphones available in exchange for your WSU OneCard.

Calculator Policy: Only the computer calculator is allowed. It is your responsibility to learn how to use this before test day, as assistance will not be given during any test.

Homework: There will be 42 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 seven 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, one after every two sections of the text. All quizzes must be completed in the MCL before the due date. Each quiz is worth 10 points and the lowest 2 will be dropped. You are given two attempts on each quiz (excluding the syllabus quiz and the course compass quiz). The highest grade is the one that will count. If you get less than an 80% on your first attempt at a quiz, you should restudy the material prior to the second attempt. If either attempt at a quiz was taken outside of the lab, or notes or neighbors were used on either quiz, the student will receive a zero on that quiz. Each attempt at a quiz can only be accessed once. Be careful not to hit the “back” button or the “submit” button before the quiz is complete. All quizzes must be completed in the lab before the due date. If a student is caught taking quizzes outside of the lab, they will receive a zero that will not be a dropped quiz and they will be reported for academic dishonesty. 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.

Practice Tests: A practice test will be available for each of the 4 tests and the final exam. You are encouraged to take these to see if you are prepared. If you score lower than 80% on the practice test you are strongly encouraged to go through the material again before attempting the test.

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. If you do not, you will receive a zero on that test. Any of the following behaviors will result in a zero grade for the test: talking to another student, looking at any textbook or notes, using a calculator (other than the computer calculator), having any other window opened on the computer, except the test and the computer calculator. 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 e-mail 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 500 points. A minimum score of 50% (250 points) is required in order to pass the class. You must reserve a computer for your final exam. To reserve the computer, log in to Pipeline (www.pipeline.wayne.edu). 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 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. Students who do not complete the final exam and do not file an official drop form before the deadline to drop courses will receive a failing grade. In addition, if you drop the course after 4 weeks, you will be assigned one of the following three marks: WP, WF, WN.

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 e-mail 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: 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 Academic Integrity code of the University and will be considered cheating.

Taking quizzes or tests outside of the MCL.
Using books or notes on any test or quiz.
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 receive a zero on that assignment that will not be dropped and will be reported for academic dishonesty.

Grade Weighting: 4 tests, 150 points each 600 points – 41.5%

Final Exam (minimum 300 points required) 500 points – 34.6%

Best 10 of 12 quizzes 100 points – 6.9%

Best 35 of 42 homework 105 points – 7.3%

Weekly meeting attendance (3 points/week) 36 points – 2.5%

MCL attendance (average 3 hours/week, 1 point/hour) 36 points – 2.5%

Orientation quizzes/instructor email 30 points – 2%

Notebook checks 40 points – 3%

TOTAL POSSIBLE (after drops) 1447 points – 100%

Grades: ANC 90–100% 1302 – 1447 points

BNC 80–89.9% 1157 – 1301 points

CNC 70–79.9% 1012 – 1156 points

UNC Under 70% less than 1012 points

· Any student who stops attending without filing an official withdrawal form will receive the grade of UNC.

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 IN THE MATH COMPUTER LAB

Learning mathematics takes time and lots of practice. You should plan on spending six to nine 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. If possible, do homework in the MCL where help is available, but homework may be done at home. 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.

Begin by watching the video for each section of the book. Pause and review any section that confuses you. Ask the staff for help as needed. Take notes in your notebook as you would in a regular classroom.
After watching the video, begin reading the text.

Click on each colored icon as you read.
Do all interactive exercises in your notebook, while reading through the text.

Proceed to the homework for that section. Work homework until it is 100% correct.

Always write down the section and the problem that is being worked in your notebook.
Show all work carefully and neatly, one step under the other.
Write the answer in your notebook, then type the answer into the computer.

If you are having trouble understanding, ask for help. Please be aware that the function of the staff is to help you LEARN the mathematics, not give you the answer. If you are asking a question on every homework problem, you need to go back through the video and textbook again.
Take the quiz for that section. Take paper out of your notebook and put your notebook away. Write out the quiz as if you would be handing it in. Put the quiz number and date at the top of the page. Be sure you have enough time to complete the quiz before starting it.
Review any problems that were missed on the quiz by looking at the work on your quiz paper. Make sure you understand what you did wrong. If you suspect that the computer marked a correct problem wrong, ask someone in the MCL to look at it for you.
Thoroughly restudy the concepts that were missed on the quiz, and then take the quiz again.
When you have completed all homework and quizzes for that section, take the practice test.

If you do not score at least 80% on the practice test, you are not ready to take the test.
Review the problems that were missed and restudy that material.

Take the test.

Remember that you must bring photo ID and sign in for the test.
Write out the test as if you would be handing it in. Put the test number and date at the top of the page.
The test will be available for review after the test expires. Make sure you review the test to correct your mistakes and make sure that the computer did not make any errors in grading.

If you follow the steps above, you will LEARN the mathematics. If you review carefully, you should do well on the final exam and be well prepared for your next math class.

DEADLINES WILL NOT BE EXTENDED FOR ANY REASON
	Section 001
Orientation		Deadline			Possible Points	Points Earned
See Course Information	Syllabus Quiz		Orientation		15 points	_____
Yellow handout	Course Compass Quiz		Orientation		10 points	_____
Use http://webmail.wayne.edu	Instructor e-mail		Orientation		5 points	_____

TOTAL POINTS EARNED FOR ORIENTATION						______

Test 1 Material		Deadline			Possible Points	Points Earned
1.1 Some Basics of Algebra	HW 1.1	4:00PM	Thursday	8-May	3 points	_____
1.2 Operations & Properties of Real Numbers	HW 1.2	4:00PM	Thursday	8-May	3 points	_____
1.3 Solving Equations	HW 1.3	4:00PM	Monday	12-May	3 points	_____
2.1 Graphs	HW 2.1	4:00PM	Monday	12-May	3 points	_____
1.4 Introduction to Problem Solving	HW 1.4	4:00PM	Tuesday	13-May	3 points	_____
1.5 Formulas, Models, and Geometry	HW 1.5	4:00PM	Tuesday	13-May	3 points	_____
QUIZ 1	on 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4	4:00PM	Wednesday	14-May	10 points	_____
1.6 Properties of Exponents	HW 1.6	4:00PM	Wednesday	14-May	3 points	_____
1.7 Scientific Notation	HW 1.7	4:00PM	Thursday	15-May	3 points	_____
2.2 Functions	HW 2.2A	4:00PM	Thursday	15-May	3 points	_____
QUIZ 2	on 1.5, 1.6, 1.7	4:00PM	Monday	19-May	10 points	_____
2.2 Functions	HW 2.2B	4:00PM	Monday	19-May	3 points	_____
QUIZ 3	on 2.1, 2.2	4:00PM	Tuesday	20-May