MATH 91 Prealgebra
GREAT BASIN COLLEGE SPRING SEMESTER 2016
MATH 91PrealgebraSection 10023 credits
MCML Room 220 11am – 12:15pm
ALEKSCourse ID: 494WX-RXJLY
CATALOG DESCRIPTION
This course covers the fundamental operations of whole numbers, fractions and mixed numbers, decimals, percentages, measurement and integers. This course is intended to provide a review of basic concepts needed in later math courses and on the job.
COURSE DESCRIPTION
We will cover part of chapters 1- 8 and chapter 10 in the Prealgebra, 4th edition text by Baratto and Berhman. We will be using the homework management system ALEKS 360 for homework and exams. This is a 3-credit course, so students can expect to spend 9 hours or more a week on this course.
LEARNING OUTCOMES & MEASURES
Upon completion of the course, you should be able to do the following.
Learning Outcome / MeasurePerform addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division with whole numbers, fractions, mixed numbers, signed numbers, decimals, and percentages. / Chapters 1 & 2 Exam, Ch 3 & 4 Exam, Ch 5 & 6 Exam, Ch 7 & 8 Exam
Write, evaluate, and simplify algebraic expressions and formulas. / Ch 1 & 2 Exam, Ch 3 & 4 Exam, Ch 5 & 6 Exam,
Ch 10 Exam
Solve proportions for an unknown, including proportions involving decimals and fractions. / Ch 5 & 6 Exam
Use the Laws of Exponents to simplify monomials and polynomials. / Ch 10 Exam
Convert between units in the English and metric systems of measurement and between units within each system. / Ch 7 & 8 Exam
Find the perimeter, area, and volume of a variety of basic geometric figures as well as classify lines, angles, and triangles. / Ch 1 & 2, Ch 3 & 4, Ch 7 & 8 Exams
Perform operations onbinomials and polynomials / Ch 10 Exam
Mastery of topics will vary from student to student, but for most students, doing the homework,attending class, and reading the textbook are all critical for mastery. Do not expect to gain mastery through telepathy or osmosis. If you do nothing, expect nothing. If you do the work, expect some gain in mastery.
INSTRUCTOR INFORMATION
Instructor: Lynne OwensAddress:Great Basin College
Office:MCML 1361500 College Parkway
Phone:775-753-2152Elko, NV 89801
Fax:775-738-8771
E-mail: WebCampus email is my much preferred method of contact.
Office Hours:MW 9:30 am – 11 am, 4:00 pm – 5:00 pm, or by appointment
I will respond to emails/calls M – F, 8am – 5pm. I am unavailable evenings, weekends, and holidays.
REQUIRED MATERIALS
ALEKS 360 access ISBN 978007784325 (This code also allows access to the e-text Prealgebra, 4th ed by Barrato and Bergman)
Regular and dependable computer and internet access
COMPUTER REQUIREMENTS
This courseutilizes a homework management system ALEKS 360 and therefore requires that you have access to a computer and the internet. ALEKS 360 requires a computer with Windows 7 or higher, or for a Mac OS X 10.7 or higher. For browsers use Chrome 30 or higher, Safari 6 or higher, or Firefox 25 or higher.
METHOD OF INSTRUCTION
This course will be primarily lecture-based with time for questions and discussion of topics.
COMMUNICATION
Outside of class, the overwhelming majority of our communication will be through WebCampus email. Here are some tips for effective communication.
- Be civil and respectful in your conversations with fellow students and me.
- Check WebCampus for announcements and emails regularly.
- If you need assistance with a topic, please be as specific as you can by providing me with the particular problem you are trying to solve. It is much more effective and efficient to tell me “I am having trouble adding ½ + ¼” rather than the more general statement of “I am having trouble with fractions.”
- If you’re having trouble with a due date it is always best to contact me BEFORE an assignment is due rather than after.
- I will respond to emails within 24 – 48 hours.
CALCULATOR USE
You may not use calculators on your exam. One exception: there are some problems in ALEKS where you will be prompted to use the calculator in ALEKS (not your personal calculator). This is fine. We may use calculators in class, so bring your calculator to class.
GRADING
Your grade is based on completion of 9 modules, a syllabus quiz, and 5 exams. The quiz is weighted 2%, the homework modules35% and the exams 63%. To find your grade at any given time, you will take 2% of the average of the quiz grade, 35% of the average of the homework module score, and 63% of the average of your exam scores.
Grade = 0.02(average of quiz score) + 0.35 (average of homework scores) + 0.63(average of exam scores)Recall that the average is found by adding the scores and dividing by the number of scores. Your grades will appear in ALEKS not WebCampus. If you have a question about any grade, you have 48 hours after the due date of the particular assignment/test to contact me in writing about your grade issue.
Grade Distribution
90% - 100%A
80% - 89%B
70% - 79%C
60% - 69%D
Below 60%F
HOMEWORK
All homework is done on the website ALEKS 360. You will need to purchase access to this site. Make sure you purchase the 18-week card so you can complete the entire semester. You may purchase this code at the Great Basin College bookstore, any online bookstore, or you may go directly to purchase the code online. To register for the course, go to the above website and input494WX-RXJLY.You will see the course, my name, and the name of our college.Click “continue.” You will be given two options. If you have already purchased the code, you will enter the code at this point. If you have not purchased the code, you will have the opportunity to do so now. If you are unable to purchase the text while you are awaiting financial aid, please contact me so you can still participate in the class until you can purchase the access code.
A word about ALEKS
ALEKS is a personalized homework management system. After an initial assessment, ALEKS designs an individual program for each student so students focus on areas of weakness, instead of using valuable time working problems they already know how to do. The course is divided into 9 modules. Each module has specific objectives that students must accomplish by a given due date. If students fail to complete the objectives in a particular module, those objectives may be added on to the work of another module if they are necessary for understanding the current objectives. The bottom line: Complete the objectives in each modules. Failure to do so may cause you to fall behind, and as work gets added to each module, it can become very difficult to get back on track.
The module homework is due every Friday by 11:59pm. Late homework is not accepted.
QUIZZES and EXAMS
The only quiz in this course is the syllabus quiz. You will take that quiz in WebCampus. It is the only work done in WebCampus.
You will take your exams in ALEKS. You must take your exams at the Academic Success Center. ALEKS offers the option of a quick retake (QR) on your tests. This enables you to redo problems you missed the first time around. I strongly urge you take advantage of this. Your exam, including the quick retake, must be completed by the due date. All exams have 20 questions and a 2-hour time limit. You may not use books or notes on your exams.
Withdrawing from Class
The last date you can withdraw from this class is Monday, April 4, 2016. If you fail to turn in your withdrawal paperwork by that time, you will receive whatever grade you have earned by the end of the semester.
Please consult the Great Basin College catalogue for information regarding incomplete or “I” grades.
ALEKS vs. WEBCAMPUS
We use two management systems in this course, ALEKS and WebCampus. This is not meant to cause confusion. Here’s the difference between the two systems. Your homework and grades all live in ALEKS. Use WebCampus to communicate with me and/or other students via the GBC Coffeehouse or through email or to submit written work to me. I will primarily communicate with you in WebCampus, so please check WebCampus regularly. If the college website is down, will give you direct access to WebCampus independent of the college website.
COMPUTER HOMEWORK/EXAM DUE DATES
Dates / Sections/TopicsMonday, January 25, 2016 / 1.1 Whole Numbers and Place Value; 1.2 Addition
Wednesday,Jan. 27 / 1.3 Subtraction; 1.4 Estimation
Mon. February 1 / 1.5 Multiplication; 1.6 Division
Wed. Feb. 3 / 1.7 Exponents and Order of Ops; 2.1 Integers
Friday, February 5 / Chapter 1 Module due in ALEKS
Mon. Feb. 8 / 2.2 Adding Integers; 2.3 Subtracting Integers
Wed. Feb. 10 / 2.4 Mult/Div Integers; 2.5 Intro to Algebra
Mon. Feb. 15 / President’s Day Holiday
Wed. Feb. 17 / No Class
Mon. Feb. 22 / 2.6 Evaluating Algebraic Expressions; 2.7 Simplifying
Wed. Feb. 24 / 2.8 Solving Equations; 3.1 Prime Numbers
Fri. Feb. 26 / Chapter 2 Module due in ALEKS
Mon. Feb. 29 / 3.2 Factoring Numbers; 3.3 Fraction Basics
Tues. March 1 / Chapters 1 & 2 Exam due
Wed. Mar. 2 / 3.4 Simplifying Fractions; 3.5 Multiplying Fractions
Mon. Mar. 7 / 3.6 Dividing Fractions; 3.7 Solving Equations
Wed. Mar. 9 / 4.1 Add/Sub Like Fractions; 4.2 Common Multiples
Fri. Mar. 11 / Chapter 3 Module due in ALEKS
Mon. Mar. 14 / 4.3 Add/Sub Unlike Fractions; 4.4 Add/Sub Mixed Numbers
Wed. Mar. 16 / 4.5 Order of Ops and Complex Fractions; 4.6 Solving Equations
Fri. Mar. 18 / Chapter 4 Module due in ALEKS
Mar. 21 - 25 / Spring Recess
Mon. Mar. 28 / 5.1 Introduction to Decimals; 5.2 Add/Sub Decimals
Tues. Mar. 29 / Chapters 3 & 4 Exam due
Wed. Mar. 30 / 5.3 Multiplying Decimals; 5.4 Dividing Decimals
Mon. April 4 / 5.5 Fractions and Decimals; 5.6 Solving Equations
Wed. Apr. 6 / 5.7 Square Roots and the Pythagorean Theorem; 6.1 Ratios
Fri. April 8 / Chapter 5 Module due in ALEKS
Mon. Apr. 11 / 6.2 Rates and Unit Pricing; 6.3 Proportions
Wed. Apr. 13 / 6.4 Solving Proportions; 7.1 Writing Percents as Frac. and Dec.
Fri. Apr. 15 / Chapter 6 Module due in ALEKS
Mon. Apr. 18 / 7.2 Writing Frac. And Dec. as Percents; 7.3 Solving % Problems
Tues. Apr. 19 / Chapters 5 & 6 Exam due
Wed. Apr. 20 / 7.4 Percent Applications; 8.1 U.S. Measurements
Fri. Apr. 22 / Chapter 7 Module due in ALEKS
Mon. Apr. 25 / 8.2 Metric Conversions; 8.3 Lines, Angles, and Triangles
Wed. Apr. 27 / 8.4 Perimeter and Area; 8.5 Circles and Composite Figures
Mon. May 2 / 8.6 Solid Geometry; 10.1 Properties of Exponents
Wed. May 4 / 10.2 Integer Exponents/Sci. Not.; 10.3 Polynomials
Fri. May 6 / Chapter 8 Module due in ALEKS
Mon. May 9 / 10.4 Add/Sub Polynomials; 10.5 Multiplying Polynomials
Tues. May 10 / Chapters 7 & 8 Exam due
Wed. May 11 / 10.6 Introduction to Factoring
Fri. May 13 / Chapter 9 Module due in ALEKS
Tues. May 17 / Chapter 10 Exam Due
All homework and exams are due by 11:59pm of the given due date; however, please check with your testing center/proctor for hours of operation. The homework is due on Fridays and the exams on Tuesdays .
While all effort will be maintained to adhere to the syllabus, dates may be subject to change due to unforeseeable events (acts of nature, for example). You will be notified of any changes, so please stay in touch. Check WebCampus regularly for announcements or emails.
EXPECTATIONS
To learn math, you have to do math. My expectation is that you are attending class, reading the textbook,working through the modules, and seeking assistance when necessary.
ATTENDANCE POLICY
After the first few class meetings, I will not take roll. It is expected that you will attend class, and typically students who attend class regularly have a better outcome in the course. You are an adult. It is your choice; however, do not expect extensions on deadlines should you miss class. I will not withdraw you from this course; that is your responsibility. Therefore, if you miss a substantial amount of work and do not withdraw yourself from the course, it is highly likely that you will earn a low grade. The last day you can withdraw from this class is Monday, April 4, 2016.
ACCESSIBILITY STATEMENT
Great Basin College is committed to providing equal educational opportunities to qualified students with disabilities in accordance with state and federal laws and regulations, including the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. A qualified student must furnish current verification of disability. This course is designed to be compatible with most universalscreen readers. If you are a student needing video and/or audio captioning, GBC's Disabilities Office will provide captioning for you in this course. The Disability Service Office, located in the Leonard Student Life Center, will assist qualified students with disabilities in securing the appropriate and reasonable accommodations, auxiliary aids, and services. For more information or further assistance, please call775-753-2271.
CAMPUS SECURITY
GBC is committed to the safety of our students and has a duty to promote awareness and prevention programs for violence on campus under the Jeanne Clery Act as well as the Campus SaVE (Sexual Violence Elimination Act) and VAWA (Violence Against Women Act), which are amendments to Clery. Acts of violence include, but are not limited to, sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking. Acts of violence can occur on the physical campus or centers of GBC in addition to field placement sites, clinical practice settings, and other places where college or class activities occur.As well, the online environment at GBC is considered a GBC site.If you experience any incidence where your safety has been threatened or violated, or if you feel threatened or harassed, immediately report this to me, any center director, faculty, or staff member, or directly to the Director of Environmental Health, Safety & Security(775.753.2115) or the Vice President for Student Services(775.753.2282).
ACADEMIC DISHONESTY
The University and Community College System of Nevada expressly forbids all forms of academic dishonesty, including (but not limited to) all forms of cheating, copying, and plagiarism. Plagiarism is presenting someone else’s word, ideas or data as one’s own. When a student submits work that includes the words, ideas, or data of others, the source of that information must be acknowledged through complete, accurate, and specific references; and if verbatim statements are included, through quotation marks as well. In academically honest writing or speaking, the students will acknowledge the source whenever:
- Another person’s actual words are quoted
- Another person’s idea, opinion or theory is used, even if it is completely paraphrased in the student’s own words
- Facts, statistics, or other illustrative materials are borrowed, unless the information is common knowledge.
Students who are discovered cheating will be subject to discipline as outlined in the Great Basin College catalog.
In an online setting, academic dishonesty also includes the use of websites to find or check solutions to your exam questions while you are taking the exam or changing your work after the exam has been submitted.
STUDENT CONDUCT STATEMENT
Students are required to adhere to the behavior standards listed in GBC Student Conduct and Netiquette Policies. 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 under NSHE Code, Title 2, Chapter 6. Section 6.2.2.
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 Inbox and Discussion tools may be limited or removed if an instructor feels that students are sending inappropriate or disparaging remarks about the course in electronic messages to other students in the course.
RESOURCES
ALEKS is a great homework management system. It uses regular assessments to target areas where you need more practice. There is no wasting time working on problems you already know how to do. It offers plenty of practice. If you find you need more information about a topic, I am happy to assist you. In addition there are some great free websites for math as well. Try khanacademy.org, purplemath.com, or Google your particular topic.
Cranium Café
Cranium Café is a chatroom located in WebCampus. In your WebCampus course, just click on the Cranium Café tab on the left. In Cranium Café we can use an interactive whiteboard to do math problems.
Academic Success Center (ASC) EIT Building Room 114, 753-2149
The ASC provides free onsite tutoring. They also have computers that you can use for your homework. ASC hours: 9am-8pm Monday-Thursday and 9-4 on Friday. The ASC also offers free online tutoring or those of you not near a GBC campus. Send an email to for assistance.
GBC’s Library on the Elko Campus provides electronic and digital resources to help students in their research and learning.
Contact the library at 775-753-2222.
TROUBLESHOOTING
In this course you will spend the majority of your time in ALEKS, but you will use WebCampus to upload communicate with me.. Here are the tech support sites for both products. If you encounter trouble with ALEKS, please contact their tech support directlythen send me an email to let me know.
Product / SupportWebCampus / or 775-753-2167
ALEKS / (714) 619-7090
TIPS FOR SUCCESS
While the material in this course can be a difficult subject to master, the burden of learning is on you; therefore, you must be your own advocate. Here are some steps you can take that may increase the probability of your success.
- If you don’t understand a concept, get some help and get it fast. Do not sit like a bump on a log suffering in silence. Go to the Academic Success Center for free tutoring. Make an appointment with me. Form a study group.
- Be cognizant of class policies and due dates. For example, what are the policies regarding late work?
- Do your homework. Math is not a subject that can be skimmed. You learn by doing.
- Do some math every day and try not to cram. Cramming is effective for the short term, but for long-term retention, try to spread the work out, and make time to review old material.
- Memory is enhanced by retrieval, so creating practice exams to review past work can be great tool for building longer term retention.
- Do not procrastinate with the computer homework. Technology is our friend and enemy. Allow yourself enough time to complete the homework in case you run into technological difficulties.
- Finally a quote: “The one who does the work does the learning.” Terry Doyle, author of Helping Students Learn in a Learner Centered Environment: A Guide to Teaching in Higher Education. In other words, if you plan on being successful in this course, you need to commit the time and effort to make it happen.
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