READ THIS SYLLABUS CAREFULLY! IT CONTAINS ANSWERS TO MANY OF YOUR QUESTIONS AND HAS IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THE EXPECTATIONS OF THIS COURSE.
College Algebra/Math 143
3 Credits Summer 2003
| Instructor: Jason Rose Office: SHLDS 207 B Phone: 208.732.6807 or 800.680.0274 ext.6807 E-mail: jrose@csi.edu |
Office Hours: 11-11:50 AM Tu & Th., 9-9:50 AM M & W or by appt. Find Math Syllabi at |
| Webpage: http://www.csi.edu/facultyAndStaff_/directories/Detail.CFM?Employees__EmployeeID=376 |
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Description: Fundamental concepts of Algebra; equations and inequalities; functions and graphs; polynomial and rational functions, exponential, logarithmic functions; systems of equations; matrices; and the Binomial Theorem.
Pre-requisites: C or better in Math 108 OR placement recommendation from COMPASS
Required Textbooks and Supplies: College Algebra Second Edition Robert Blitzer, Prentice Hall, 2001, ISBN 0-13-087828-6; CD Lecture Series Robert Blitzer College Algebra Second Edition ISBN 0-13-066082-5, a scientific calculator with log and exponential functions (You won’t have to pay more that $12 for this type of calculator.)
Hardware/Software Requirements: Pentium II 300 MHz processor or better, 64 MB RAM, Video Card capable of 800 x 600 resolution, 8X or faster CD drive, Windows 95 or later operating system. Internet Explorer 4.0 or better, Adobe Acrobat Reader 5.0 (3.0 or higher should work), Windows Media Player (see What to do First below)
Course Objectives: The student will demonstrate knowledge of:
linear, quadratic, and certain other equations; linear, quadratic, and rational inequalities; lines and slope; parallel and perpendicular lines and circles; functions and their graphs; transformations, compositions, combinations, and inverses of functions; quadratic and polynomial functions and their graphs; polynomial division; the remainder and factor theorems; finding zeros of polynomial functions; rational functions and their graphs; modeling using variation; exponential and logarithmic functions and their properties; exponential and logarithmic equations; using modeling with exponential and logarithmic functions; systems of linear equations in two or three variables; systems of nonlinear equations in two variables; systems of inequalities; linear programming; ellipses, hyperbolas, and parabolas; and the binomial theorem.
Policies and Procedures:
a. Consistent Effort is important for your success in this class and you will be required to complete assignments on-time in order to get credit. This class is not "Independent Study."
b. For each section that we cover, you should do the following:
· Read the section in the book
· Watch the lecture on the CD and/or watch any videos that I have produced for the section.
· Take the quiz. After you score the quiz, you can see detailed explanations of how to work each problem.
· If you didn't score well the first time through, take the 2nd Chance Quiz.
· Submit the written assignment
c. After every 6 to 10 sections (see tentative schedule below), you will take a paper/pencil exam. If you live near CSI or one of CSI's outreach centers, you can take the exam there. Otherwise, we'll need to arrange to have the exams proctored at some other location. Please contact me early on if you can't take the exam at CSI or an outreach center. I reserve the right to change testing accommodations if I feel it is necessary.
d. Please read the behavioral policy on Honesty starting on page 15 of the current CSI Catalog. (http://www.csi.edu/prospectiveStudents_/coursesAndPrograms/catalog/15.html ) Any violation of the policy will be dealt with severely, including but not limited to, being dismissed from the class and/or given a grade of "F" for the course.
e. I will make every effort to give appropriate accommodation to any documented disability.
f. I reserve the right to fix errors or omissions in this syllabus.
Library Use: The CSI Library is an excellent place to find further information about topics in mathematics. The computers in the library are available for your use in finding information from the card catalog and the internet as well as sending email. Student Email Account If you don't currently have an email address, every registered student has a web-based student email account. To access it, go to http://students.csi.edu Your UserName is your first middle and last initials followed by the last four digits of your social security number, as given on your application to CSI. If you didn't give CSI a middle initial on your application, use x. E.g., if my name was John Ronald Doe and my SSN was 123-45-6789, my login would be jrd6789 . Your password is your full SSN without dashes. You can access this account anywhere that you can find access to the web: at home, in a public library, in a computer lab, etc.
Outcomes Assessment: Quizzes taken after each section will be graded, and analyzed. Paper/pencil tests and a final will be administered and the results compared to course objectives.
Grading Practices: Each section has a "First Quiz" and an optional "2nd Chance Quiz." At the end of the semester, I will select your highest quiz score from each section and average them. For most sections there will be at least one written assignment as well. At the end of the semester, the written assignments will be averaged. The quiz average will be 1/6 of your grade. The written assignment average will be 1/6 of your grade. Each of the first three tests will be 1/6 of your grade The comprehensive final will make up the remaining 1/6 of your grade.
90 - 100 is an 'A', 80 - 89 is a 'B', 70 - 79 is a 'C', 60 - 69 is a 'D', and below 60 is an 'F'
The following schedule is TENTATIVE and subject to change.
| Week of |
Due Date for Quizzes and Other Assignments |
Sections to cover and/or test to take before due date |
| Jun 2-8 |
Sunday, Jun 8, Midnight |
Get things working, 1.1, 1.2, 1.3 |
| Jun 9-15 |
Sunday, Jun 15, Midnight |
1.4, 1.5, 1.6, 2.1, 2.2, 2.3 |
| Jun 16-22 |
Sunday, Jun 22, Midnight |
Take Test 1 (covers 1.1-1.6) 2.4, 2.5, 2.6, 3.1 |
| Jun 23-29 |
Sunday, Jun 29, Midnight |
Take Test 2 (covers 2.1 – 2.6) 3.2, 3.3, 3.4, 3.5 |
| Jun 30-Jul 6 |
Sunday, Jul 6, Midnight |
3.6, 3.7, 4.1, 4.2, 4.3, 4.4 |
| Jul 7-13 |
Sunday, Jul 13, Midnight |
Take Test 3 (covers 3.1-3.7) 4.5, 5.1, 5.2, 5.4, (5.3 intentionally skipped) |
| Jul 14-20 |
Sunday, Jul 20, Midnight |
5.5, 5.6, 7.1, 7.2, 7.3 |
| Jul 21-25 |
FRIDAY, Jul 25, Midnight |
8.5, Take Final (covers all sections in the course) |
What to do first:
1. Obtain the required materials (see above.) Without the access code, you can only take a few of the quizzes in the first few weeks, after that all of the quizzes will require an access code, so get it as soon as possible. If you come to the CSI bookstore, it is available from the cashier. To order it from the bookstore, call 1-800-680-0274 ext. 6550 (208-732-6550).
2. Install the necessary free software:
A. Install Adobe Acrobat 5.0 which can be downloaded for free from http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep.html If you have an older version (3.0 or higher), you technically shouldn’t have to upgrade, but if you have any trouble viewing PDF files, you should try upgrading first. The file is about 8.5 MB, and will take about 50 minutes with a 28.8 kbps modem.
System Requirements: Intel Pentium Processor, Microsoft Windows 95 OSR 2.0, Windows 98 SE, Millenium Edition, Windows NT 4.0 with service pack 5, Windows 2000, or Windows XP
64 MB of RAM
24 MB of available hard-disk space.
B. Windows Media Player 6.3 or higher
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsmedia/download/default.asp
(will take about 18 minutes with a 28.8 kbps modem)
Getting Started in the class:
1. Make sure you’ve installed the necessary free software (above.)
2. Open your web browser.
3. Go to the CSI homepage at http://www.csi.edu and click on the “Blackboard” link OR go directly to http://blackboard.csi.edu .
4. If you don’t already have a CSI Blackboard account, click “Create Account.” Fill in the required information. In the “Username” box, you should type your three initials (as given to CSI on your registration) and the last four digits of your Social Security Number. E.g., if your full name were John Ronald Doe and your Social Security Number was 123-45-6789, your username would be jrd6789. If you didn’t give a middle initial to CSI, use an “x.” If that username is already in use, then you already have a Blackboard account. If you already have an account (even if you don’t know or can’t remember the password), don’t create a new one. Skip to the next step.
5. Once you have an account, you need to “enroll” into the course. Login into your account. (If you have an account but don’t know the password, email me. I will reset your password to your full social security number without spaces or dashes as given to CSI and then email you.)
6. Once you’re logged in, click on “Courses”
7. In the “Course Catalog” column, click on “Mathematics”
8. Scroll down to the link to “Math 143 College Algebra Summer 2003” and click the “enroll” button to the right of it.
9. Click “Submit”
10. It should say “You have been successfully enrolled …” Click OK
11. Click on the “Assignments” button
12. Do the weekly assignments as they appear
How to see the results of your quizzes
As soon as you submit a quiz, the computer will grade the items that it can and then show you the corrected test. Occasionally, some of the items need to be graded by me, so your correct score won’t show until after I’ve had a chance to grade quizzes. You can see the results of quizzes you’ve taken before by clicking on “Tools” and then “View Grades.” When the list of quizzes and scores is displayed, click on the score to see the graded quiz.
How to get test results
When one of your paper/pencil tests is graded, I’ll send you an email. You’ll be able to view your graded exam through Blackboard by clicking on “Tools” and then “Digital Dropbox.”
Common Problems and Frequently Asked Questions
1. When I try to play the Instructor’s video I hear the sound, but I can’t see the image.
Double-check to make sure the TSCC codec is properly installed. In Windows 98, click “Start”, “Settings”, “Control Panel”. Double-click on “Multimedia” icon. Click the “Devices” tab. Click the [+] next to “Video Compression Codecs.” Make sure “TechSmith Screen Capture Codec” is somewhere on the list. If it isn’t, re-install it.
2. I can’t hear or I can barely hear the sound from the Instructor’s video, even though the volume slider on “Windows Media Player” is all the way to the right.
Your master volume or wave volume is probably turned down. Double click on the yellow bullhorn on the Start bar down by the time. Move the “Volume Control” slider and/or the “Wave” slider up (make sure “mute” isn’t checked on either.)
3. My computer locked up in the middle of a quiz.
Email me and let me know which section, which quiz (first or second), and which problem number.
4. The computer scored a quiz incorrectly. (From to time quizzes are not programmed correctly or the feedback has errors. I like to know about these so that I can fix them for future students.)
First, check to make sure that the item just wasn’t scored because it’s a “Short Answer/Essay” question that I need to grade. Next, check to make sure that you’re looking at your answer and not the feedback, then email me and let me know which section, which quiz (first or second), and which problem number.
5. I just submitted a quiz that had a question of type “short answer/essay” or a writing assignment. My answer is pretty similar to yours but I didn’t get any credit. Why not?
“Short Answer/Essay” questions have to be graded by hand. I sit down and grade these all together a couple of days after the deadline. Until then, your score will not be correct. After I grade the essay questions, you can see the results of the quiz by clicking on “Tools” and then “Check Grade.” When the list of quizzes and scores is displayed, click on the score to see the graded quiz.
6. I took the second quiz instead of the first. I’m happy with my score on the second quiz, do I have to go back and take the first quiz?
No. For each section, I take the highest of the two. For example, if your first quiz score is 0 or not taken and your second quiz is 93, your score for the section is 93.
7. I took the first quiz and I’m happy with my score. Do I have to take the second quiz?
No.
8. How can a download a video so that I can watch it later?
Right click on the link and choose “Save Target As.” Be sure save it somewhere where you can find it again.