Page 1 of 4 South Plains College Math 0320 – Intermediate Algebra – Fall 2011 Instructor Information: Jacqueline Fowler RC 268 E (Reese Campus Building 2) 806-716-4640 [email protected] Office hours are posted in Blackboard and MML Course Description: This course is designed to prepare students for MATH 1314 or 1324. This course will not satisfy graduation requirements. Pre-requisite: 63 or higher on Accuplacer, MATH 0315, or one year of high school algebra. Course Topics: To successfully complete this course, you must master 70% of the following topics.  Write equations of lines.  Graph linear equations and systems of linear inequalities.  Solve systems of equations by graphing, addition, and substitution.  Translate and solve word problems using systems.  Factor polynomials.  Solve quadratic equations by factoring.  Simplify rational and radical expressions.  Add, subtract, multiply, and divide rational and radical expressions.  Add, subtract, multiply, and divide complex numbers.  Solve rational and radical equations. Materials/Supplies  Required: Scientific/Graphing Calculator.  Required: MyMathLab (MML) Student Access Kit. Instructor’s Course ID (fowler75903).  Required: Computer software: Windows Media Player, Adobe Acrobat Reader, and a few other computer requirements that your computer will check for when you log into MML.  Optional: Elementary and Intermediate Algebra by Sullivan, Struve, and Mazarella. The textbook is available in MML. Pre-requisite Skills: To successfully participate in this course, you must know these basic skills.  Typing  Time management  Basic functionality of a computer and basic troubleshooting  Connect to the internet  Compose and reply to email messages  Attach and open documents in email messages  Print pdf documents  Open and play media files Technical Support (Login issues and technical problems)  WebCT/Blackboard: Jessica Tucker: 806-716-2180 or email to: [email protected]  Course Compass/MyMathLab: www.mymathlab.com Class Policies Blackboard: Blackboard is the online course management system that will be used for this course. In Blackboard, you will find the course syllabus, announcements, email, and other important information.Page 2 of 4 To find Blackboard, go to the SPC homepage, and in the upper right hand corner of the screen, click on Blackboard or you can use this direct link: http://southplainscollege.blackboard.com. Logging into your course: Under no circumstances are you allowed to give your User ID and/or passwords to anyone (for either Blackboard or MML). If someone other than you logs into this course, you will be dropped from this course immediately regardless of the reason and you will receive an X or F. Attendance Policy: Attendance and effort are the most important activities for success in this course. Your attendance is monitored through completion of assignments in MML. It is imperative that you stay current with assignments in order to remain compliant. Just logging into the course does not keep you compliant. You must be turning in work. If you miss 8 cumulative assignments, you will be dropped from this class and receive an X or F. Withdrawal from the course: If you wish to drop this class, you must complete the required steps with the Admissions office as soon as possible. Until the drop is officially processed, you will continue to be on my class roll and will be at risk of being dropped by me if you miss the maximum number of assignments. Academic Integrity: It is the aim of the faculty of South Plains College to foster a spirit of complete honesty and a high standard of integrity. Please refer to the SPC General Catalog policy under “Academic Integrity” and “Student Conduct” regarding consequences for cheating and plagiarism. The tests in this class are not proctored. You are expected to work alone on all tests. You may use your notes and book for assistance, but you are not allowed to get help from another person. Getting help from another person is considered cheating, so if you get help from another person on any test, you will be dropped from this course immediately and receive an X or F. Netiquette: NO PROFANITY under any circumstances. Respect and courtesy is required at all times. Even though there is no face to face meeting between us, I still expect formal/polite classroom decorum, as do your classmates. Students who decide to take issue and hurl insults, embarrass, intimidate, or coerce other students or me will be dropped from this course and receive an X or F. Confrontational behavior will not be tolerated. Communication: Since email will be the primary communication between us, I will do my best to respond to all emails within 24 hours. Any emails sent after 11:30 am on Friday will receive a reply from me after 9 am Monday morning. If you email me through Blackboard or MML, you will find my reply in your “outside” email account, such as yahoo, gmail, etc. Computer Issues: If your personal computer becomes “disabled”, there are computer labs on all SPC campuses which you may use to access this course. You may also find a public computer to do your work. Do not wait until the last day to work any assignment. Computer problems, difficulties, mechanical failures, internet service provider issues, etc. do not constitute excuses for late submission of work. Deadlines will NOT be altered even if you have any of these computer issues, so do not ask if an assignment can be completed after the deadline. You should work assignments several days in advance so that if you have computer issues, it can be resolved before the deadline. If the SPC server goes down, you may access MML directly at www.mymathlab.com. Assignments and Grades MyMathLab: All math assignments are completed with a math software program called MyMathLab (MML). You can find a link in Blackboard or you can use this direct link: www.mymathlab.com. Your name MUST match the name on the class roll. Before starting any assignment, you should go through the “How to Enter Answers” tutorial in order to understand how to enter your answers. Grades will not be manually changed by me due to the fact the answer was entered incorrectly. It is your responsibility to know how to enter the answers