fallsyllabus

Prealgebra (054)

Course Info

I.Course Information: Math A054 Pre-Algebra

II.Semester and Year:

Fall 2018

III.Instructor Contact Information: Gary Leiter

Email: gleiter@alaska.edu

Text: 805.801.8055

Website: http://prealgebraleiter.homestead.com/semesterhomepage.html

IV. Office Hours: email or text me with questions

V. Location of KPC Class Cancellation Postings: 262-0302

http://www.kpc.alaska.edu

VI.Course Description: Basic concepts of pre-algebra mathematics. Includes arithmetic operations and applications; whole numbers, integers, fractions, decimals, ratio and proportion, percent, geometry and measures, exponents, algebraic expressions, polynomials, solution of simple equations, and introduction to graphing and statistics.

VII.Prerequisites: None

VIII.Instructional Goals: The instructor will:

Explain how to manipulate whole numbers, integers, fractions and decimals

Define exponents and radicals

Introduce tables, pictographs, bar graphs and line graphs, means, medians and modes

Demonstrate how to compute ratio, proportion and percents, and solve simple interest problems

Demonstrate elementary geometry concepts (area, perimeter and volume calculations), the Pythagorean Theorem, similar and congruent triangles

Introduce algebraic expressions and polynomials

IX.Student Outcomes: Students will be able to:

Manipulate whole numbers, integers, fractions and decimals

Simplify and use exponents and radicals

Extract and interpret data from tables, pictographs, bar graphs, and line graphs

Use ratios, proportions and percentages, and set up and solve application problems using ratios, proportions and percentages

Calculate perimeters, areas and volumes of basic geometric shapes

Add, subtract, multiply and divide monomials and polynomials

The student will have gained the necessary skills and knowledge to be successful in Elementary Algebra.

X.Class Participation: Students are expected to ask relevant questions and access online lectures according to chronological outline as well as complete homework and take tests. Furthermore, students are expected to view online lecture videos to review known concepts and introduce themselves to new ones.

XI.Students Attendance: Online class attendance is expected by regularly viewing lectures and examples. It is your responsibility to withdraw from the class if it is not working out for you. If you do not withdraw and fail to complete work in a timely manner, a grade of “F” will be assigned.

XII.Required Written Work:

Test weeks can be found on the chronological outline found below. The first test (chapters R-2) can be taken at home. The rest of the tests (3 of them) will be taken at a UAA learning center found throughout the state of Alaska. For a list of proctor sites, go to:

http://distanceeducation.uaa.alaska.edu/handbook/proctoring_sites_proctoring_sites.html

IMPORTANT: Prior to taking exam #2, you MUST fill out the "Student Proctor Form" and submit online. The link to the form is in the folder titled "Unit #8" on the course homepage.

ALSO IMPORTANT: Making appointments for tests and turning in homework on time is your responsibility. Also, you cannot blame technology for late or trouble with your work. It is, again, your responsibility to make sure that things are turned in correctly and on time.

A NOTE about the final exam: Everyone takes finals during the last week of school. If you wait too long YOU WILL NOT get an appointment (it happens every semester). Please make your appointment early so this does not happen.

If there is no learning center within one hour driving distance, it will be possible to assign a proctor in your area to give the test. Also, contact me prior to making any other arrangements with UAA to find a proctor at another locaton…this will save you lots of time. Proctors not associated with the college must be approved following the requirements of the University of Alaska. To find out more about proctors, go to the following website: http://distanceeducation.uaa.alaska.edu/handbook/selecting_a_proctor_how_to_select_a_proctor.html

Proctors must be approved and given instruction prior to proctoring any test. When a test week occurs on the outline below, it can be taken anytime Monday-Friday of that test week. Tests must be taken during the week assigned on the syllabus.

Turning in Homework and Notes

Written coursework assignments can be found on the chronological outline below.

You will be responsible to do all homework assignments and take notes over each lesson. Notes and homework will then be turned in by due dates listed in this syllabus and on the website for this course.

Follow the procedures below to see how to put your notes and homework together for submission.

All homework and notes must be sent via an email attachment. Most students either scan, take pictures, or use a free app called “Tiny Scan” or “Turbo Scan” to send me their work. This means I get jpg or pdf attachments…which is good.

*Please note: Keep your homework and notes separate from each other. Don’t mix your homework and notes together in one huge pile. Your grade will be affected when instructions are not followed.

Follow these procedures for your homework/notes:

NEVER do your work in the textbook and submit the pages from the textbook…the glare off of the textbook pages makes it impossible to see your work

*Make it easy for me to follow your work

*Lesson number at the top of each page (3.1, 3.2, etc.)…this means you can’t start a new lesson “mid-page”

*Keep all homework together and notes together…don’t mix them together

*subject line of email must include the lesson number(s) being submitted

*Work must be shown or no credit will be given. I realize that some assignments do not have work to be shown, but don’t expect to get credit when you copy down the answers from the back of the book and submit them as your work. Not cool.

You will be submitting your notes and homework by email 4 times during the course according to the due dates below and on the website

*Make sure all homework and notes are right side up and in order

*Do not send as “zip files” or any other method other than as attachments (when they are sent other ways, it takes forever to download, etc. when you are sending 10,000 pages or more (OK, I exaggerate).

*If it takes several emails to attach everything, please title the “subject line” with the lesson numbers attached. For example, if you are sending homework for chapter 4, lessons 1-8, “HW 4.1-4.8” should be in the subject line

Homework and notes that are late are reduced one letter grade per day...after one week late NO CREDIT WILL BE GIVEN.)

I would suggest you print a copy of the calendar and put it somewhere where you can easily refer to it. It will be a close friend of yours as you use it to stay current with homework, etc.

*Extra Important: Do not turn in work due in the future with presently due work...this means, don't turn in an assignment that is due in 3 weeks along with assignments currently due. For example, if lessons 3.1-3.9 are due, don't send 4.1 along with it. I won't keep track of managing future lessons that are thrown in with current lessons.

And finally...homework and notes are pretty important in my class. In fact, they are so important that if you choose not to turn them in, for every packet of homework and notes (there will be 4 packets) not turned in, your semester grade will be reduced 1/2 grade. This means that if you get straight "A's" on your tests and don't turn in your homework, the best you can get in the class is a "C". Please don't short-change yourself and settle for a lower grade...work hard and get the "A".

XIII.Audit Policy: There are no requirements for auditing this class.

XIV.Plagiarism: Cheating and or plagiarism will result in a grade of “F” for the test and/or assignment.

As described in KPC’s Student Code of Conduct, cheating, plagiarism, and other forms of academic dishonesty are prohibited and subject to University disciplinary actions. Violations include, but are not limited to: presenting ideas or works of another person as the student’s own without proper acknowledgement of sources, using unauthorized materials or devices during an assignment or exam, receiving or providing unauthorized assistance during an assignment or exam, or offering remuneration for a grade. The full UAA student code of conduct can be found at the following link: https://www.uaa.alaska.edu/students/dean-of-students/student-conduct/code.cshtml

XV.Grading Scale:

90-100%

80-89

70-79

60-69

0-59

XVI. Evaluation Tools:

Tests

70%

Quizzes

15%

Homework/Notes

15%

XVII.Text: The textbook for the course is in either hardcopy or an online version. The hardcopy is $68 and the online access copy is $40. If you buy the hardcopy for $68, you also have access to all the online “stuff” such as: the online book, math videos, etc.

To order either the eBook or the actual Textbook, click on the link, or go to this website:

http://www.xyztextbooks.com/catalog/product/prealgebra

WARNING!! Textbooks for online courses are NOT guaranteed to be available at any University of Alaska Bookstore. They must be ordered online.

XVIII. How To Check Your Grade:

To check your grades for assignments and find comments from your instructor, click on the “My Grades” link in Blackboard’s sidebar menu. All the assignments and their due dates are listed. If your instructor has left comments, there will be a “Comments” link. Click on this link to view comments.

If the score is for a test or quiz, click on the check mark or your score to see results and feedback. If the score is for an assignment, the title of the assignment links to your submission, grade and comments. A green exclamation point indicates your assignment has not been graded yet.

**In order to fully learn from this course, I have made lectures available online. These lectures can linked through the following website: http://prealgebraleiter.homestead.com/semesterhomepage.html

The site above has the lectures on the left and examples from the homework lessons of each lecture on the right. Please use these lectures to help you see what is happening in the problems and take advantage of the “pause” button to see how the problems are worked out.

XX.Chronological/Topical Outline:

Aug 27-Sep 2 Lessons R.1-R.5

Sep 3-9 Lessons R.6-1.2

Quiz over Review Chapter (Sep 6-9)

Sep 10-16 Lessons 1.3-2.1

Quiz over Chapter 1 (Sep 13-16)

Sep 17-23 Lessons 2.2-2.5

Sep 24-30 Lessons 2.6-2.9

Oct 1-7 Lessons 3.1-3.5

Quiz over Chapter 2 (Oct 4-7)

Test #1, Chapters R, 1, & 2 to be taken sometime between Oct 1-5

Homework and Notes for chapters R, 1, & 2 due next week by Oct 12

Oct 8-14 Lessons 3.6-4.3

Homework and Notes for chapters R, 1, & 2 due Oct 12

Quiz over Chapter 3 (Oct 11-14)

Oct 15-21 Lessons 4.4-4.7

Oct 22-28 Lessons 5.1-5.5

Quiz over Chapter 4 (Oct 25-28)

Oct 29-Nov 4 Lessons 6.1-6.4

Quiz over Chapter 5 (Nov 1-4)

Test #2, Chapters 3, 4, & 5 to be taken sometime between

Oct 29-Nov 2

Homework and Notes for chapters 3, 4, & 5 due next week by Nov 9

Nov 5-11 Lessons 6.5-7.3

Quiz over Chapter 6 (Nov 8-11)

Homework and Notes for chapters 3, 4, & 5 due Nov 9

Nov 12-18 Lessons 7.4-8.3

Quiz over Chapter 7 (Nov 15-18)

Nov 19-25 Thanksgiving Break

Nov 26-Dec 2 Lessons 8.4-9.4

Quiz over Chapter 8 (Nov 29-Dec 2)

Test #3, Chapters 6, 7, & 8 to be taken sometime between

Nov 26-Nov 30

Homework and Notes for chapters 6, 7, & 8 due Dec 7

Dec 3-9 Lessons 10.1-10.5

Quiz over Chapter 9 (Dec 6-9)

Homework and Notes for chapters 6, 7, & 8 due Dec 7

Dec 10-15 Test #4 Final Exam Chapter 1-10 to be taken sometime

between Dec 10-15

Homework for Ch 9-10 due December 15

**In order to fully learn from this course, I have made lectures available online. These lectures can be found at the following website: www.prealgebraleiter.homestead.com/semesterhomepage.html

FYI: This is not the "official" course syllabus. The official course syllabus can be found on the Blackboard website as an attachment. This site only has the basic info for quick access.