MAT 117 Syllabus, Online| Spring 2014

Course Syllabus: MAT 117, College Algebra Session B

Instructor: / Email:
Office Phone: use email instead / Office Hours:
Office: ECA

Course Information

Course Description

Welcome to College Algebra! The purpose of this course is to develop skills in linear and quadratic functions, general polynomial functions, rational functions, and exponential and logarithmic functions. You will also study systems of linear equations. We will emphasize problem-solving techniques, specifically by means of discussing concepts in each of these topics.

Course Objectives

·  Students will be able to apply algebraic reasoning to solve a range of problems.

·  Students will develop skills required for success in future studies in calculus.

Prerequisites

·  MAT 106 or MAT 113 with a C or better or completion of the ALEKS Math Placement Test with a score of 40% or higher or completed MAT 194 or 110: EFM with skills mastered for MAT 117.

Course Materials & Structure

Textbook

You are not required to purchase a textbook for this course. Reading materials will be provided online in each lesson as pdf chapters. Practice problems with solutions are also provided through the left menu under course home.

If you would like to purchase a hard copy, this is the text: College Algebra; 9th Edition by Michael Sullivan, ISBN 978-0-321-71681-1.

Calculator

A graphing calculator (such as the TI-83/84) is required. You are expected to use your calculator daily. Cellular phone calculators are not permitted during an exam. Also, the sharing of calculators is not permitted during exams. Calculators with QWERTY keyboards or those that do symbolic algebra, such as the Casio FX2, Casio 9970Gs, TI-89,or TI-92 cannot be used during an exam.

Mastery 20% of your grade

Your Study Plan is personalized by adaptive algorithms in MyMathLab. You are expected to read the textbook and watch the lecture video for each lesson before starting on the Study Plan practice problems. When you finish practicing, take the Quiz to assess your understanding. If you get more than 70% on the Quiz, you earn the Mastery Points and will continue on to the next lesson. If you fail, you can do more practice problems and take the Quiz as often as needed until you pass.

Your grade for Mastery Points will be equal to the percentage of the total which you complete. You may work on the lessons in your Study Plan to earn Mastery Points until the last day of class, but we strongly recommend you complete all related lessons in a unit before you take that exam.

Problem Solving Sessions (Problem sets, participation) 20% of your grade

Each student is expected to complete all the problem sets found in the dropbox. All the problem sets in a unit should be completed and turned in the dropbox before taking the unit exam. You need to have a printer with scanner. Down load the problem sets, work on them, then scan and turn in the dropbox. There are 12 problem sets for you to complete.

Exams 60% of your grade

You will take three unit exams during the semester according to the target dates listed below. You need to complete all the sections in a unit including practice exam/PrepQuiz and then take the unit exam. Based on the recommended pace of the course you should not have any trouble meeting these deadlines. Each exam will involve a mix of mechanical skills and conceptual reasoning. No exam scores will be dropped. Each exam including prepquiz is worth 12% of your grade. Another 24% is for the final exam plus final prepquiz.

The unit exams will be given online using the LockDown browser. Final exam must be proctored. It can be taken in any of the Computer Testing Labs on ASU campuses, free of charge (you need to schedule a time at www.studentsuccess.asu.edu). Or the exam can be taken (ProctorU the paid program) from proctoru.com (you must have webcam in your computer and good internet connection.)

To schedule your Exam with ProctorU, go to proctoru.com

Quiz/Exam / Target Date / Day / Points possible
Unit 1 PrepQuiz / Mar 28, 2014 / FRI / 2
Unit 1 Exam / Mar 28, 2014 / FRI / 10
Unit 2 PrepQuiz / Apr 11, 2014 / FRI / 2
Unit 2 Exam / Apr 11, 2014 / FRI / 10
Unit 3 PrepQuiz / Apr 25, 2014 / FRI / 2
Unit 3 Exam / Apr 25, 2014 / FRI / 10
Final PrepQuiz / May 2, 2014 / FRI / 2
Final Exam / MAY 2, 2014 / FRI / 22


Schedule for MAT 117 Online, Session B, Spring 2014

Week / Dates / Topic / Exams / Comments
1 / Mar 17-21 / 3.1a Identifying Functions
3.1b: Domain of a Function
3.1c: Combining Functions
3.2a: Reading Graphs
3.2b: Determine Func. Algebraically / Short week
2 / Mar 24-28 / 3.3a: Even and Odd Functions
3.3b: Intervals and Extremes
3.3c: Average Rate of Change
3.4: Piecewise-defined Functions
3.5: Graphing: Transformations / Exam 1 closes on Mar. 28, FRI
Exam 1 covers Ch3
PrepQuiz 1 due on Feb 28, Friday / Schedule Exam 1 now to take on or before closing date
3 / Mar 31-Apr4 / 4.1a: Properties of Linear Functions
4.1b: Applications of Linear Func.
4.2: Linear Models
R.5: Factoring and R.6: Division
4.3a: Graphing Quadratics
4.3b: Max/min values of quadratics / ASR#1 due 3/28-4/2
4 / Apr 7 -11 / 5.1a: Understanding Polynomials
4.3a: Graphing Quadratics
4.3b: Max/min values of quadratics
5.1a: Understanding Polynomials
5.1b: Graphs of polynomials / Exam 2 closes on Apr, 11 FRI
Exam 2 covers Ch4-5
PrepQuiz 2 due on Apr 11, Friday / Schedule Exam 2 now to take on or before closing date
5 / Apr 14 -18 / 5.2: Prop. of Rational Functions
5.3: Graphs of Rational Functions
5.5: Zeros of Polynomial Functions
5.6: Fundamental Theorem of Algebra
6.1: Composite Functions
6.2: Inverse Functions
6 / Apr 21 - 25 / 6.3a: Exponential Functions
6.3b:Exponential Equations
6.4a: Logarithmic Functions
6.4b: Graphs of Logarithms
6.4c: Logarithmic Equations
6.5a: Evaluating Logarithms
6.5b: Sum/Difference of Logarithms / Exam 3 closes on Apr, 25 FRI
Exam 3 covers Ch 6.
PrepQuiz 3 due by 4/25 / Schedule Exam 3 now to take on or before closing date
7 / Apr28 – May2 / 6.6a: Solve: Log equations
6.6b: Solve: Exponential Equations
6.7: Financial Models
6.8: Exponential Growth and Decay
8.1: Systems of Linear Equations
8.2a: Matrix Row Operation
8.2b: Solving Using Matrices / Schedule Final Exam now to take on or before closing date
8 / May 2 / Final PrepQuiz due on May 2 / Final Exam closes on May2, Friday / Final Exam is cumulative

Course Expectations & Student Resources

Course Expectations

·  You are expected to complete a minimum of 2 lessons per week (4 lessons in a 7.5 week format) as outlined on the course schedule.

·  Over the course of the semester, you are expected to remain ahead of schedule or “on track” based on the syllabus calendar. Students who are “off track” by the day/time designated by your instructor may receive a loss of points for your participation grade.

Student Resources / Computer Lab

·  Your primary resource for tutoring is the computer lab. During non-class and non-testing times, tutors will be available to answer questions for you regarding the course content. You can also visit the Student Success Center. Specific hours for when a MAT 117 tutor is available at the Student Success Center can be found on their webpage at: http://studentsuccess.asu.edu

·  If you own a laptop computer, you are encouraged to bring it with you to the computer lab when you are working on course content or taking an exam.

·  The Technology Studio can check your laptop or personal computer free of charge to make sure you are ready to access all the course content from your computer. If you choose to use your laptop for exams, the Technology Studio will also assist you in installing the secure browser required for testing.

·  You must wear headphones while in the computer lab.

How to Succeed in this Course

·  Make time for math every day.

·  Staying “on track” is a critical component of student success in this course. Stay ahead of schedule and make sure you are aware of all the resources available to you that are listed in the syllabus and on the course site so you don’t fall behind.

·  Check your ASU e-mail regularly.

·  Log in to the course site every day.

Grading Policy

Point Distribution / Percentage / Grade / Grading Scale
3 Unit Exams + PrepQuizzes
(15% each) / 36% / A+ / 97% or above
Final Exam and PrepQuiz / 24% / A / 90% - 96.99%
Problem sets and participation / 20% / A- / 89.5% - 89.99%
Study Plan Mastery Points / 20% / B+ / 87% - 89.49%
B / 80% - 86.99%
Total / 100% / B- / 79.5% - 79.99%
C+ / 77% - 79.49%
C / 70% - 76.99%
D / 60% - 69.99%
E / < 60%

Key Semester Dates

Please refer to the ASU Academic Calendar for specific dates for your session.

Drop/Add Deadline: / March 18, 2014
Course Withdrawal Deadline: / Apr 6, 2014
(Complete withdrawal 5/2/14)

Additional Information

·  The highest standards of academic integrity are expected of all students at all times. Violations of academic integrity include, but are not limited to, cheating, fabrication, tampering, plagiarism, or facilitating such activities. We will act very harshly against any acts of academic dishonesty.

·  Students with disabilities should arrange to meet with me as soon as possible to arrange for reasonable accommodations for their learning needs. Students registered with DRC must notify the instructor at least two weeks prior to any exam close date.

·  Alternative arrangements for any religious observances, ASU sanctioned activity, or ASU student athlete obligations must be arranged with the instructor at least two weeks prior to the event. As a reminder, there are no extensions or makeups for exams after the exam close date.

·  No individual extra credit assignments will be offered.

Academic Integrity

ASU expects and requires all its students to act with honesty and integrity, and respect the rights of others in carrying out all academic assignments. For more information on academic integrity, including the policy and appeal procedures, please visit http://provost.asu.edu/academicintegrityand theStudent Conduct Statementbelow.

Conduct

Students are required to adhere to the behavior standards listed in the

·  Arizona Board of Regents Policy Manual Chapter V – Campus and Student Affairs: Code of Conduct

·  ACD 125: Computer, Internet, and Electronic Communications

·  ASU Student Academic Integrity Policy.

Students are entitled to receive instruction free from interference by other members of the class. If a student is disruptive, an instructor may ask the student to stop the disruptive behavior and warn the student that such disruptive behavior can result in withdrawal from the course. An instructor may withdraw a student from a course when the student's behavior disrupts the educational process underUSI 201-10.


Appropriate classroom behavior is defined by the instructor. This includes the number and length of individual messages online. Course discussion messages should remain focused on the assigned discussion topics. Students must maintain a cordial atmosphere and use tact in expressing differences of opinion. Inappropriate discussion board messages may be deleted if an instructor feels it is necessary. Students will be notified privately that their posting was inappropriate.

Student access to the course Send Email feature may be limited or removed if an instructor feels that students are sending inappropriate electronic messages to other students in the course.

Note: This syllabus is tentative and should not be considered definitive. The instructor reserves the right to modify it (including the dates of the tests) to meet the needs of the class. It is the student’s responsibility to attend class regularly and to make note of any changes.

MAT 117 Course Syllabus | Fall 2013 Page 1