Syllabus

 

Math 1065:  College Algebra

 

Prerequisite:  A score of 14 or better on the Math Placement Exam OR a score of 540 or better on the math section of the SAT OR a score of 20 or better on the math section of the ACT

 

Course Design Overview

  • Class meets once a week for fifty minutes.
  • Lab participation in the CAVE (College Algebra Virtual Environment)      for a minimum of three flexible hours per week is required.
  • All homework, quizzes, tests, and the final exam will be completed online using a web-based learning and assessment system called MyMathLab.  If you have difficulty accessing MyMathLab through www.pearsonmylabandmastering.com, try accessing your assignments through www.mathxl.com/login_mml.htm
  • A minimum score of 60% is required on all practice tests (will be explained further on page 4).
  • If you need technical assistance, contact MML student technical support at 1.800.677.6337 or http://www.mymathlab.com/contactus.html .
  • For additional information, refer to http://blog.ecu.edu/sites/math1065/.

Required Materials

  MAKE SURE YOU BUY THE GREEN PACKAGE! A College Algebra/TestCal package, ISBN 9781256631507,   is required.  This code will give you   access to the eText, which you   should read regularly.  Please note you   may get temporary access   for 17 days at no charge. If you are repeating Math 1065 and already have a   MyMathLab account (using the Trigsted package), you do notneed to   purchase it again.  Also, if you   already have a Pearson account, you do not need to create a new one.
  • Your ECU email address is required.  This email address must be entered in the email address field during the registration process in MyMathLab even if it is not the email address you use most often.  *Email communication with your instructor from anywhere other than your ECU official account will not be given any consideration and will be discarded.
  • A Math 1065 College Algebra Course Pack is required and should be brought to every class.  It may be purchased from the Dowdy Student Store for $13.  There will be 3 course pack checks  during the semester (one for each testing period) to ensure that you have purchased and are utilizing the Math 1065 College Algebra Course Pack.  These 3 checks will count as one quiz grade.
  • You will need the course ID# ___________________.   Please note there is a different course ID for each section of MATH  1065.
  • A non-graphing  calculator with logarithmic and exponential capabilities is required; we recommend the TI-30XS MultiView calculator.   A  cell phone may not be   used as a calculator.
  • Headphones to listen to the video lectures in the CAVE are  required.

Class Meetings

  • Attendance  is mandatory on the first day of class.  If you  do not attend, you will automatically be dropped from the course.   The student who needs to be added back into  the course must report to Mrs. Gwen Hardin in Austin 124 within 48  hours.  He/she will have to watch a  video of the material covered during the first class meeting and complete      a set of questions about course policies.   Once these requirements have been satisfied, Mrs. Hardin will add  the student back into a class.
  • Class meets once a week for fifty minutes at the  scheduled time.  In class, your teacher will present an overview of the work for the week.  Your week starts on the day your class  meets and ends on the day before the class meets the next time.
  • You will receive a participation grade for each  class meeting.  You must attend for  50 minutes, take notes, pay attention, stay awake, and follow rules to  earn a grade of 100%.  If you fail   to meet this requirement throughout the 50-minute class meeting, you will  receive a grade of 0% for that class meeting.  Attendance will be taken each class meeting.
  • If you must miss class and have a documented  university excuse (death in the immediate family, severe personal illness,    required military service, court-ordered appearance, etc.), contact your   teacher immediately, preferably before the absence occurs or immediately   thereafter.
  • Video lectures for all sections are  available.  They can be accessed   through MyMathLab or the Math  1065 website.  It is recommended   that you watch the videos for each section prior to attending class.
  • All cell phones, computers   and any other electronic devices must be turned off during class.

Lab Hours in the CAVE

  • The Pirate CAVE is located in the basement of  Joyner Library.
  • When you enter and leave the CAVE, you will  present your OneCard to the desk assistant and he/she will swipe your card   so that your time in the CAVE may be recorded for each visit.  It is your responsibility to make sure   that you are signed in when you enter and signed out when you leave.  (If you need to use the restroom, you  will have to sign out.)
  • Lab participation for a minimum of 3 flexible hours  per week is required, but you should plan to spend at least 5-6 hours per week   either in the lab or elsewhere in order to master the material.  Teachers and tutors will be in the lab  ready to provide you with personalized help.  You are strongly encouraged to interact  with teachers, tutors and other students in the lab in order to get  individualized, immediate answers to your questions.  Your lab week starts on the day your   class meets and ends on the day before the class meets the next time.  For example, if your class meets on  Wednesday, then your week starts on Wednesday morning at 9 AM and ends the  following Tuesday at 9 PM.  Some exceptions may be made to accommodate holidays, test weeks and school  breaks.  See your daily schedule for specific details.
  • You will receive a lab participation grade for  each week.   You must work in the lab  a minimum of 3 hours each week following all lab rules to earn a grade of  100%.  If you fail to meet this requirement for a specific lab week, you will receive a grade of 0% for that  week.   Check your daily schedule  for exceptions.

            Note 2.99 hours does not equal 3 hours and will result in a grade of 0% for that week.

  • After the completion of Test 1, if you have an overall 95 average and score 100 on the weekly homework and quiz, you may have your CAVE hours waived for that week.  It will be your responsibility to notify your instructor that you are eligible.   If your overall average drops below the 95, you will then need to meet the weekly requirement.
  • It is strongly recommended that you bring your math notebook with you to the lab.  Do all of your work in it in an orderly manner and refer back to this work whenever necessary.
  • The CAVE is closed on test days, holidays and school breaks.  Please refer to your daily schedule for your weekly lab requirement.
  •  You may check the computer availability in the CAVE by clicking on this link:  http://www.ecu.edu/campusmaps/itcs/computerlab.html.  (During the fall semester, we were the busiest in the afternoons.)
  • You are  allowed to do only your Math 1065 work or your math-related activities (such as reading the eText or watching a math video) while you are in the  lab.  The penalty for violating this rule will  be you are asked to leave the lab and will receive a zero in lab  participation for that week even if all required hours have been  completed.
  • No  texting or cell phone calls in   the CAVE.
  • No food, drinks, water, gum, candy, tobacco   products, or weapons are allowed in the lab.
  • You must keep track of your lab participation.  The tutor at the time clock can only  tell you your time for that particular visit as you leave the lab, not the  total hours for your specific lab week.

Syllabus Quiz

  • There is a 25-question quiz in MyMathLab that covers the contents of the syllabus.  Read the syllabus carefully before attempting this quiz.
  • You must complete the syllabus quiz with a score of 100% before you will be able to open any graded assignments in MyMathLab.

Homework

  • You should watch the videos, review your class notes and read the eText before attempting the homework.
  • If you rely on the MyMathLab learning aids or other help to get an exercise correct, then use the Similar Exercise feature and rework the exercise repeatedly until you can get it correct without any help.  Many students who become overly dependent on the learning aids or other assistance to get a score of 100% on the homework assignment find out that they score much lower on the tests.
  • Your homework answers are saved after each exercise is completed, so you can exit your homework and return to it any time prior to the due date.
  • There are two types of homework exercises.

Type

 Exercise Descriptions Sample of Numbering Features

1

 StandardStep-by-StepBrief 2.1.154.1.SbS-135.3.BE-47 ~learning aids available in MML~in general three attempts allowed for each   iteration with feedback after each~Similar Exercise (new iteration for same exercise   number) allowed an unlimited number of times~tutors in the CAVE    and the PTC can assist with these exercises

2

 Reading Assessment 2.1.RA-3 ~learning aids NOT available in MML~can be attempted only two times with feedback after   each~Similar Exercise NOT allowed~multiple choice, usually found at the end of each   homework assignment~tutors in lab can NOT assist with these exercises
  • Homework assignments for the week are due at 11:00 PM two nights before the day of your class meeting.
  • Graded homework for each section has a due date and will close, but the same homework assignment (labeled Practice Homework) is open throughout the semester to be used for studying.

Quizzes

  • You should master your homework before attempting  the quizzes, and you should try to do the quizzes without any help.  If you rely on help to get a score of  100% on the quizzes, you will score much lower on the tests.
  • You will not get feedback after each exercise is  entered.  You must work through the entire  quiz and submit it before seeing your score.  You can review your quiz in your MyMathLab grade book under  “Results”, and the MyMathLab      learning aids will appear for the review.
  • The online quizzes can be attempted up to ten  times prior to the due date.
  • Quizzes are cumulative.
  • Quizzes should be used as preparation for  tests.  Re-take the quizzes until  you can do the work correctly without any assistance from  notes, the eText, or the MyMathLab learning  aids.
  • You may not receive help while you are taking a quiz; tutors will be glad to review it with you once you have completed      it.
  • It is recommended that you take a quiz at least  four times even though you earn a score of 100% before that.  This will ensure that you see a  cross-section of the exercises drawn from the exercise pools from which  the questions are drawn.
  • Only your best quiz score for each quiz will be counted in your semester average.
  • Quizzes can be taken anywhere using MyMathLab but the preferred  location is the CAVE.
  • In general, quizzes are due at 11:00 PM on the night before your class meets again.

Tests and the Final Exam

  • A practice test will be assigned prior to each of our three tests.  You may take the practice test as many times as you would like, however, you must score at least 60% before you will be allowed to take the actual test.
  • The proctored, password protected tests and final  exam are taken using MyMathLab   in the Pirate CAVE.  It will be your   responsibility to register for them on MyMathLab.
  • There will be an announced time period for which   each test will open and close for scheduling.  You will schedule your test by clicking  on the “Schedule a Test” menu button in MyMathLab.  Once the  scheduling time period has ended, there will not be any changes or   additions to the test schedules.    Please make sure that you have scheduled your test prior to the   schedule closing date as you will receive a grade of 0% if you do not   schedule your test.  Please  note:  upon completion of a test  scheduling process, a confirmation message containing the test date and  time will appear on the screen, and a confirmation email will be sent to  the email account you have indicated.    You should confirm that the    reservation is complete by clicking on the “Check Reservation/Need   Support?” link in the system.  You     have not scheduled a test until you see this confirmation message!
  • Please arrive at the CAVE at least 15 minutes  before your scheduled testing appointment.   Items required for entry in the Pirate CAVE for testing are a test   reservation appointment, your ECU OneCard, and an 8.5” x 11”   bluebook.  You may also bring a  writing instrument and a non-graphing calculator.  Please do not bring backpacks or other  personal items into the testing lab.   You will be assigned to a particular workstation.
  • If a student is caught with any unauthorized  materials in the testing lab (information written on oneself, the desktop,      calculator, notes) or if the student accesses a cell phone or other  electronic device, that student will receive a grade of 0% on the test and  possible disciplinary actions.
  • Once a student is seated for a test/exam, he or   she is not permitted to move from that location for the duration of the      exam.  The exam must be submitted  prior to leaving the CAVE.
  • In extreme situations (power failure, server failure, forced evacuation of building) should a testing session be      interrupted, student test work will automatically be saved, so that when power or reconnection is re-established the student may again log into their  test and resume work for the remainder of their time.  If a testing session is interrupted for  some other reason, it is likely that the student will be advised by a test  proctor to X out of their test (by clicking on the upper right corner X of  their browser); the student in this case should not click the  Submit button for their test because then the student will not be  permitted to re-start and finish their test.  For whatever reason the testing session      is interrupted, the test may resume soon thereafter or at a later  time.  Students will be advised by   the test proctor whether they should wait in their seats until the test  can be re-started, or whether they should submit their names and then  leave the CAVE to return at a later time.
  • The three tests and the final exam are  comprehensive.
  • Only 1 attempt is allowed for each test and the final exam.
  • After completing all homework and quizzes, you should prepare for tests and the final exam by repeatedly practicing until   you can get all exercises correct without any assistance from MyMathLab learning aids, notes, the  eText, or tutors.  Practice Tests  and a Practice Final Exam are available in MyMathLab for each test and will be open throughout the      semester.
  • You are not allowed any assistance on tests or  the final exam.  This includes  notes, formula sheets, or any other type of outside help.  While testing, you are not allowed   access to other online materials, including your homework, quizzes, and   online learning aids in MyMathLab.    Remember, academic dishonesty is a  violation of the university code of student conduct.
  • If you miss a test, no makeup will be allowed and a grade of “0” will be  recorded in the grade book – unless the absence is university excused.
  • There is a practice exam on MyMathLab.  You should  work it numerous times.
  • Throughout the semester there will be scores for  three tests and a final exam.  Your  final exam score will be entered in the grade book as your final exam score   and also as a Test #4 score.  Then,  the lowest of the scores on Tests #1-4 will not be used in the final grade  calculation.  This has the effect of   replacing your lowest of three test scores with the final exam score if it  is higher.
  • The final exam will be given during exam week.  (If absent from this exam, a student is allowed to make up this exam only   if he/she has a note from the Dean of Student’s  office.)

Final Grade Calculation      

Weight             Item                             Details

10%                 Participation               5% for class participation and 5% for lab participation

10%                 Homework                  30 homework assignments (2 lowest grades dropped)

10%                 Quizzes                       15 quizzes (2 lowest grades dropped)

45%                 Tests                            3 tests (lowest will be replaced with exam score if higher)

25%                 Final Exam                  cumulative

Grading Scale

A    93 and above                                C   73-76

A-   90-92                                            C-  70-72

B+  87-89                                            D+  67-69

B    83-86                                            D   63-66

B-   80-82                                            D-  60-62

C+  77-79                                            F   59 and below

 

Announcements

Throughout the semester announcements will be made in class, through the MyMathLab announcement page, and by ECU email. Check these daily.

Technical Difficulties: 

East Carolina University and its faculty are not responsible for outcomes due to individual technical issues, nor scheduled MML downtime. You are responsible for resolving any personal technical issues that arise in the completion of your assignments. Please be aware of scheduled MML maintenance windows, and adjust your schedule accordingly.  If you need technical assistance, call MML student technical support at 1-800-677-6337.

Special Note:  East Carolina University seeks to fully comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).  Students requesting accommodations based on a disability must be registered with the Department for Disability Support Services (located in Slay 138).  The telephone number is 252.737.1016.

Academic Integrity

Academic integrity is a fundamental value of higher education and East Carolina University; therefore, I will not tolerate acts of cheating, plagiarism, falsification or attempts to cheat, plagiarize or falsify.  Should I determine that an academic integrity violation has taken place, I reserve the right either to assign a grade penalty or to refer the case to the Office of Student Rights and Responsibilities for an Academic Integrity Board hearing. I will assign a grade penalty up to an F for the assignment or course. Should it come to my attention that you have had a prior academic integrity violation, or if there are other aggravating circumstances, I will refer the case directly to the Office of Student Rights and Responsibilities. Should the Academic Integrity Board determine that you committed an academic integrity violation, you may be assigned a grade penalty and/or any other sanction allowed in the student Code of Conduct, up to and including suspension from the University. The Student Handbook is online at http://www.ecu.edu/cs-studentlife/policyhub/academic_integrity.cfm.

Retention Requirements 

GPA Hours at ECU (identified in Transcript in    Banner Self Service) plus transferred credit   hours

 Retention   Requirements Effective with Fall 2011  grades

GPA for all courses taken at ECU

1-29 semester hours

1.8

30-59 semester hours

1.9

60-74 semester hours

2.0

75 or more semester hours

2.0

 

University Closings:

In the event of a weather or other emergency, information about the status of classes at ECU is available on the ECU emergency information hotline (252.328.0062) and on the emergency alert website (http://www.ecu.edu/alert).