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Math
181A-E, section 1 Syllabus
Fall 2001 Having
received this document, the student is expected to know its contents, whether
explained verbally or not. Read it! Required
Text: Basic College Mathematics, fourth
edition: John Tobey and Jeffrey Slater; Prentice-Hall; 2002.
ISBN# 0-13-090954-8 This book is on reserve at the LTCC library. Students may wish to use this resource as a temporary
solution if they cannot purchase the book immediately.
But this will not be a satisfactory long term resolution of this
difficulty. Nor will sharing.
You will need to own your own copy. Syllabus
Internet Address:
http://www.ltcc.edu/programs/math/,
then click to syllabi, Mat181
(Drake). Instructor:
George Drake: (530)541-4660x256
Office:
F-103 Office
Hours: M
3:30-4:30, T 5:00-6:00, W 12:00-1:00 , Th 2:30-3:30, F 12:30-1:30
These hours are for drop-in student counseling (i.e., I am there waiting
for someone, anyone, to show up). If
I appear to be busy, be sure to make your presence known, as I rotate
questioning amongst all students who are in attendance.
In addition, individual appointments may be made, but please observe the
courtesy of attempting to meet your needs through the drop-in service as much as
is practical. Thanks Class
Meets:
T Th 10:00am-12:25pm in room A211
Math 181a-e is a sequence of 5 one unit classes, referred to as
"modules." Each
module must be registered for separately, and each is graded separately.
The only criteria for a grade are the scores obtained on module tests.
Mat 181a-e is taught as a combination of self-paced and group-led
instruction, and constitutes the basic math sequence of classes that are
prerequisite for all other math classes at LTCC.
Math 191P is a new course offering at LTCC designed to give the student
an alternative method of meeting the basic math requirement.
Mat 191P is equivalent to Mat 181a-c, the first three of the required
modules. In conjunction with successful completion of the appropriate Mat 191
class in a subsequent quarter, the student will have completed the basic math
requirement. In order to make a
good decision as to which method will serve a student’s needs best, it is
important to understand the differences between the two offerings.
It is possible, in Mat 181a-e, to complete all five modules in one
quarter. It is, however, somewhat
unusual. Most students find the
five unit pace at which Mat 181a-e proceeds to be too swift.
Because it is a combination of lecture and self-paced, these students
soon find the lectures to be irrelevant to the work they are actually doing, and
then it becomes difficult to sustain much of a pace at all.
Many wind up sort of losing steam and end their first quarter with only
one, two, or three units.
Mat 191P is paced more slowly, with three units being all that a student
can earn in one quarter. That way,
the lectures remain in sync with the work the student is actually performing.
To assure that students do not fall off this slower pace, the class is
not offered as a self-paced experience. Mat
191P is, basically, taught in the traditional lecture format.
Homework is an expected nightly activity, and the entire class will be
tested at the end of each module simultaneously.
Mat 191P is a three unit class and receives only one grade, which may
involve criteria other than test scores (e.g., homework and extra credit), but,
because of the modular nature of Mat 181a-e, students who cannot complete all
three modules (each module is worth one unit) in the context of Mat 191P may
transfer to the appropriate Mat 181a and/or Mat 181a-b modules prior to the last
date to drop Mat 191P (11/16/01) without having to duplicate the work already
completed in Mat191P.
After completing the Mat 191P class, the student will still
have to complete the two unit Mat 191 which will be offered in the winter in
order to satisfy the basic math requirement.
Students who have a good deal of confidence in their ability to
complete all five units in one quarter probably should attempt Mat 181a-e (there
should be opportunities to change back into 191P at a later date).
So should students who anticipate taking at least a year to satisfy the
Mat 181a-e requirement and therefore need the self-paced option.
Students who are carrying almost full loads outside of mathematics, or
who are only somewhat confident of their basic math abilities, or who need the
additional structure of an instructor-paced class, probably should take Mat
191P.
If you have questions, please see me for more of an explanation.
As mentioned above, Mat 181a-e is a sequence of 5 one unit classes,
called"modules," each module registered for and graded separately.
Because the course is taught as a combination of self-paced and group-led
instruction, I recommend the student register for each class either as it
commences as group-led or when s/he actually begins to work on the material of
that module, rather than sign up early for a course s/he may not be prepared to
finish when the quarter nears its end (for one thing, you will not be able to
get a refund, even a few minutes after signing up later in the quarter).
The usual add and drop policies of the College are subject to special
rules for modular classes such as these. The
last day to add a module this quarter is Monday, November 19, 2001. The last day to drop a module is Monday, November 26, 2001. HOMEWORK:
Completion of Mat 181a-e (i.e., all five units) in one quarter's time requires
that students do homework.
When working homework, be aware:
1) Handouts supersede the text and may be introduced into the
curriculum without advanced notice. Be
sure that you know whether you have missed any handouts when returning from an
absence.
2) Students should always read the appropriate sections or handouts prior
to attempting to do homework. In
reading the text, the student must also realize that mathematics is a
participation sport. You must work
your way through a math text. Simply
reading it does not suffice. When
you encounter practice problems in the middle of a section, stop and work the
problem, then check the answer which is fully worked out at the back of the book
(pages SP1 ff).
3) Homework assignments will be given at each class meeting. The pace is indicated in the schedule below.
Students wishing to complete all five units this quarter should complete
the homework in each section by the meeting following the lecture on that
section.
4) Students must show their homework to the instructor or the aide
before taking the exams on each module
5) Students should take the module exams as soon as possible after
having completed the homework in that Module.
Do not wait for a class-wide administration of the exam, as exams are
given on an “individual need” basis.
6) Tests are not to be taken home by students, even after being graded
and recorded. Tests which leave
the campus may inadvertently result in a student getting an F in the pertinent
module.
7) After a test has been graded, the student should go over it with the
instructor or the aide. If the
student wishes to take the exam again, or if s/he must take the exam again due
to having received a grade of less than 70%, the exam may be retaken after an
overnight period has elapsed following going over it with the instructor/aide. Retakes which improve the score will replace the original
score, but retakes which do not improve on the original score will not effect
the original score. All modules
must be tested at 70% or greater for the student to receive a passing grade in
the module.
8) Frequent review of
these instructions, will save you considerable confusion.
During the course orientation, you will be requested to fill out an
estimate of your overall workload. The
most common cause of lack of success in Mat 181a-e, without compare, is students
having unrealistic self-expectations on how much work they can handle.
The time to correct an overload is in the first few weeks of a quarter,
not the last! The College’s late
drop date for regular classes can seriously exacerbate the negative effects of
poor planning on the student’s part. Do
not wait until the deadline to drop classes if you are predictably overextended!
Students do have the option of reducing the time spent outside of
class with the understanding that the usual consequence is that Mat 181a-e
may require more than one quarter to complete.
Mat 191 is specifically intended to service most students who find
themselves needing to utilize this option, and you are advised to consider
switching rather than cutting back on your own.
Talk to the instructor! GENERAL
INFORMATION:
Attendance, although not considered in assessing final grades, per se,
may impact a student’s grade indirectly.
If, in the last two weeks of class, a student who has not been attending
regularly wishes to take an exam, he/she will be allowed to do so (assuming the
homework has been completed) but only under a restriction not applicable to
students who have attended regularly. The
restriction is this: if the student has attended fewer than four class
meetings (for the duration of the class period), then the student will be given
only one chance to attain a passing grade on each test; if the student has
attended fewer than eight class meetings (for the duration of the period), but
more than four, then the student will be given two chances to pass each exam;
and if the student has attended fewer than twelve class meetings (for the
duration of the period), but more than eight, then the student will be given
three chances to pass each exam. Students
who utilize the DRC during class time are required to obtain verification from
DRC staff attesting to their attendance in order to avoid these restrictions.
Hand held calculators are not to be used for Mat 181a-c, but should be
used in Mat 181d. They should also
not be used during the portion of Mat 181e which involves manipulation of signed
numbers (i.e., Chapter 9).
Mat 181a-c involve extensive work with the basic operations, the
mechanics of which will be taught. However,
the basic facts, such as 7 x 4, 14-6, etc., must be memorized by the
student, and virtually no class time will be devoted to this task.
It is the student's responsibility to assess, and eliminate, his/her
weaknesses in this area!
Students will be tested on the first day of class to determine proper
placement. If placed in Mat 181b, the student may elect to forego
credit for Mat 181a and skip Chapter 1 in the text, but is then still
required to attend lectures on Chapter 1, and to read and work the material in
any handouts which may be distributed during the lectures, as these
constitute the basis upon which much of Chapter 2's work is to be done.
If placed in a module higher than Mat 181b, the student may elect
to sign up only for the modules needed and is then only required to attend
during those classes in which those modules are being covered.
Because so many students forget to return to the class at the proper
time, however, this option is not recommended.
The following is an outline of sections and the dates when the lectures
related to them will take place. Students
will be expected to be aware of, and to obtain and read any handouts distributed
in class. Students wishing to
complete 5 units of credit this quarter should have the homework assigned in
class completed by the next class meeting.
Occasionally circumstances arise during the quarter which necessitate
minor changes, hence this schedule is somewhat tentative.
If you need to know the exact date that a module begins and are not
attending class regularly, consult the instructor again nearer the proposed
date. It is the student’s
responsibility to obtain the handouts, and this is especially pertinent if the
student misses the class at which the material is lectured.
Module
a:
Chapter 1 & §7.5 9/18...............................................................................
Orientation, General Policy, Vita Sheets and §1.1 9/20....................................................................................................................................................
§§1.2-1.3 9/25.............................................................................................................................................................
§1.4
9/27....................................................................................................................................................
§§1.5-1.6
10/2...............................................................................................................................................
§§1.7 + §7.5
10/4.............................................................................................................................................................
§1.8 Module
b:
Chapter 2
10/9....................................................................................................................................................
§§2.1-2.3
10/11..................................................................................................................................................
§§2.4-2.5
10/16..................................................................................................................................................
§§2.6-2.7
10/18...........................................................................................................................................................
§2.8
10/23...........................................................................................................................................................
§2.9 Module
c:
Chapter 3
10/25..................................................................................................................................................
§§3.1-3.3
10/30..................................................................................................................................................
§§3.4-3.5
11/1....................................................................................................................................................
§§3.6-3.7 Module
d:
Sections 4.2 & 4.3, Chapter 5, and section 8.1
11/6.........................................................................................................................................
§§4.2-4.3 + §5.1
11/8.................................................................................................................................................
§§5.2-5.3A
11/13................................................................................................................................................
§§5.3B-5.4
11/15..................................................................................................................................................
§5.5 + 8.1 Module
e:
Sections 9.1-9.4 & 10.1-10.5
11/20..................................................................................................................................................
§§9.1-9.2
11/27........................................................................................................................................
§§9.3-9.4 +10.1
11/29..............................................................................................................................................
§§10.2-10.5
The last class meeting will be during finals week on Tuesday, December 4,
2001, from 11:00am to 1:00pm. There
will be no lecture during this meeting. All
homework for any module which a student is intending to finish must be completed
by 1:00 this date in order to be tested for that module.
The instructor also teaches two sections of Mat 191P this quarter.
These classes cover the same material as Mat 181a-c (see the discussion
above). Students from this class
may attend the scheduled meeting of either of these classes whenever a review of
the material in Mat 181a-c seems needed. Inquire
of the instructor if you think you may want to exercise this option, as the
lectures in Mat 191P, although essentially the same, will lag behind those in
Mat 181 a-e, and you will need to know when the material you are interested in
is being addressed in the Mat 191P class. The Scheduled times for Mat 191P are MW 6:00-7:15 in HSPC 7, and TTh 3:30-4:45 in A211. General
Policy Statement Mat
181 I)
General comments:
At LTCC there are currently two methods of obtaining the content of Mat
181a-181e. These are the basic
mathematics courses which are prerequisite for all other math courses at the
college. One method has been
available to students for many years and this class is that method. The other
method is new and appears this quarter in the schedule as Mat 191P. That course covers only the material in Mat 181a-c.
The primary differences in the classes are pace and flexibility.
Completion of Mat 191P will serve all the same functions as completing
Mat 181a-c.
Mat 191P presents the
material from Mat 181a-c in a non-modular format.
It will be taught mainly in a lecture format, with reliance on homework
being a central component of weekly work and exams will be scheduled and
administered at the designated times. It
is, essentially, taught in a traditional math class format.
This course, Mat 181a-e, is taught as a modular course, and will be
described in detail later in this handout.
Many students who sign up for Mat 181a-e (modular format) are attempting
to finish all five modules in one quarter.
This is, arguably, the best strategy for students who need only a good
review of the topics because of having been away from the subject for a
long time, or stoned or absent through much of their earlier school experience.
But many such students find that their math deficiencies are greater than
they thought, or that their schedule is tighter than they realized, and midway
through the quarter they realize they cannot keep the pace demanded by that five
unit goal. A big part of the
thinking behind offering differing formats for the Mat 181a-e modules is that
these students may transfer into the Mat 191 modules, which run on a slower
schedule, mid quarter. Efforts will
be made to facilitate such a transfer should a student decide to do so after the
deadline for adding Mat 191P.
On the other hand, there are many students who need Mat 181a-e but who
cannot, for a variety of reasons, complete more than one or two units per
quarter. Because Mat 181a-e
(modular format) allows for students to proceed at their own pace, this is
probably the best course for such students. II)
Time Commitment:
Possibly as much as two hours out of class for each 50 minutes of class
time.
The general rule of thumb is that, over the course of the entire quarter,
you should anticipate spending a total of 30 hours for each unit of credit you
expect to earn. Therefore, if you
only need one unit, you could accomplish this task entirely during class, since
we meet a total of 55 hours this quarter, and you could get two units with very
little “homework.” However, if
you intend to earn three or more units, you should immediately begin doing a
considerable amount of homework outside of class.
Students wishing to complete five units should be prepared (and schedule
their lives accordingly) to devote ten hours per week outside of class on
mathematics.
If you choose not to spend this kind of time outside of class, please do
so with the understanding that you will probably require more than one
quarter to complete the Mat 181a-e sequence.
Students are urged to talk with me before taking this course of action. III)
Instructional Format:
This class is taught in a combination of lecture and individualized
instruction formats. Each day
slightly more than one half of the period will be spent in lecture.
The remaining portion will be spent working through the text and/or
taking tests to demonstrate mastery of the material.
Each day an assignment will be given with the expectation that it will be
completed by the beginning of the next class period.
The assignment will include reading as well as written exercises.
Students are cautioned to understand that the material cannot be learned
through class attendance alone. The
reading and written work are essential parts of the course. IV)
Attendance:
Because of the combination of lecture and individualized instruction,
student's attendance is essential. It
is your responsibility to attend all of the class meetings!
Failure to do so may result in your being dropped from the class and/or
receiving a non-passing grade.
All students must attend the first ten to twenty minutes of the lecture
portion of each meeting, when roll call is taken, tests are returned, and
miscellaneous business is conducted.
Students will be tested on the first day of class and individually
informed at the next meeting as to what material they most need to review and/or
learn anew. In addition to the general attendance requirements above,
each student is expected to attend the lectures covering the material he or she
needs to be studying. In other
words, students should not ordinarily anticipate being able to do the entire
course as an individualized program.
If you wish to drop the class by a certain date in order to avoid various
kinds of penalties, you must attend to the task yourself by going directly to
the Admissions and Records office. Mat
181 has different add and “drop with only a W” deadlines from most of the
courses at the college. Check the
syllabus and/or the college schedule for the exact dates. V)
Note Taking:
You are expected to keep comprehensive notes on lectures.
If you miss a class, arrange with another student to copy their notes.
If you have difficulty with note taking, please either talk with me or
arrange with a counselor in Student Services to discuss your study skills and
the most appropriate means of addressing your needs in this area.
Please do this within the first two weeks of the quarter. VI)
Study Skills, Learning Disabilities, and Language Barriers:
Many Students in Mat 181 suffer from a lack of study skills.
Such traits as good time management, note taking ability, good review
techniques, etc., are learned, not inherited or otherwise magically endowed upon
the learner. In addition, many
Mat181 students suffer from one or more of numerous identifiable learning
disabilities, often without having the benefit of having had them identified.
And, although many do not appreciate the importance of language in
connection with mathematics, the fact is quite clear that difficulties with
English will constitute a significant barrier to acquisition of mathematical
skills.
LTCC has numerous opportunities for students to acquire study skills, to
identify and address learning disabilities, and to improve English proficiency
for both the native and non-native speaker.
For example, Cou 102, College Success, is a credit course addressing
study skills. Eng 141, College
Study Skill, may be very valuable. Also
consider Eng 183A, Developmental Skills-Study, Eng 185, Reading for Students
with Special Needs, Eng 151R, Reading Improvement, and Eng 151W, Writing
Improvement. We also have extensive
offerings under English as a Second Language (ESL) listings which I highly
recommend. VII)
Grading:
Each Module consists of one or more chapters from the text (see
syllabus). Each module has a test
which is to be taken after working the homework associated with it.
Tests will not be given without evidence of completion of the
homework! These tests will be
graded as follows: Less than 70%
Retake 70% - 79.9%
C 80% - 89.9%
B 90%
- 100%
A
There are numerous forms of these tests, so there are numerous
opportunities to pass each exam, and exams may be taken with the object of
increasing the grade earned on an earlier exam without endangering the earlier
score.
If you fail to retake a "retake," you will receive an
"F" in the module. VIII)
Miscellaneous:
Many students in Mat 181 suffer from having never memorized their basic
arithmetic facts. Unfortunately,
this class will not devote much time to this problem per se.
It is the student's responsibility to memorize the addition, subtraction,
multiplication, and division facts. Mat 181 will speak almost exclusively to how to perform
various algorithms, and what the meaning of certain basic mathematics facts,
terminologies, etc., are. The
publisher’s web site,
the Learning Assistance Center (LAC),
located in G6 and the Gateway Math Center (GMC), located in G4--portables
located north of the D-wing--have various learning aids designed to help you
with drill and practice in your math facts as well as supplemental materials
related to the text. Tests of
arithmetic facts will be given for the sole purpose of helping you identify
which ones give you problems so that you can concentrate your study on them.
Constructing and using flash cards is a particularly effective way of
memorizing this kind of material. If
you are weak in your math facts you will be expected to take whatever course of
action is required to address these deficiencies.
That being said, students may, and indeed should, use a hand held
calculator in most sections of the modules Mat 181d and Mat 181e, but calculators
will not be allowed in Mat 181a, b, or c or in that portion of Mat 181e which
addresses negative numbers (Chapter 9).
The instructor of this class holds regular office hours (see syllabus).
In addition to my usual duties of tutoring students in mathematics, I am
also personally available to assist/advise on issues of study skills, time
management, career counseling (as much as I can), etc.
Just ask, or drop by my office to chat!
Math tutors are also
available in the LAC (G6) and/or
the GMC (G4), to help you with any
math problems you may be having. However,
as a general rule, a student should always attempt to see the instructor of the
class if at all possible, and should rarely, if ever, see a tutor to the
exclusion of being able to see the instructor.
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