MAJOR MAGIC - MerAmec Juggling ORganization MAGIC - on Thursday from 12:00 to 1:00 p.m.
in the Student Center or Student Center Quadrangle.
Juggling Club Web Page URL http://www.jug/wt/major.htm
Check with the math secretary if I am not in my office
when you are free. You may also use email thayer@jug.net
or my Web URL http://www.jug.net/wt
to contact me for help or information.
And for college information try StLCC @ Meramec Web
Pages URL
http://www.stlcc.cc.mo.us/mcdocs/
PREREQUISITE: MTH 007 with C or a satisfactory score on the placement test.
All students must provide appropriate documentation of satisfied prerequisite course enrollment to the instructor on or before Wednesday, Jan. 16, 2002, the second class meeting.
TEXTBOOK:
UNDERSTANDING INTERMEDIATE ALGEBRA - A COURSE FOR COLLEGE STUDENTS
by Hirsch and Goodman
TIME ON COURSE: The three class hours and project time you spend on this course will require about ten homework hours per week for high grades to around seven hours per week for passing grades. It is best to construct a time schedule for each week of the course and mark out the study time you plan. A plan gives you the needed eight to eleven hours indicated above. This commitment is a pledge you make for yourself to "BE ALL YOU CAN BE" each day for the personal obligation you have undertaken to learn this mathematics. Your instructor expects you to be prepared with homework done each day.
ADDITIONAL MATERIALS: graph paper and a scientific calculator with trig and
log, ln, and exp keys. A scientific calculator may be used on tests.
ADDITIONAL STUDY AIDS: Before the end of the first week take the
SKILLS TEST FOR BEGINNING INTERMEDIATE ALGEBRA found
in the MATHEMATICS DEPARTMENT'S SYLLABUS.
You should get 80% of the questions right. If you score less than 80% repeat Elementary
Algebra to master necessary skills for Intermediate Algebra.
The student answer key for our textbook has more than the answers.
Computer software may be used in SW 110 and I will help you
with this mathematics software. I would suggest
using graphing software for this course.
After the first week our mathematics department tutors located in room SW 211 can
help you and some library materials are available. Tutoring is also offered at the South County Education Center and the West County Education Center. To obtain individual peer tutoring through the College Success Program. Instructional videotapes (VL#--) are available for use in the Library Learning Lab and in SW 211.
Please consider all the
HAVING TROUBLE WITH MATHEMATICS, ideas and read
SUGGESTIONS ON HOW TO STUDY MATH, also in the Mathematics
Department's Syllabus handout.
Please see me as soon as possible for any personal accommodations you require.
COURSE REQUIREMENT:
All students are required to pass two gateway algebra properties tests. The first gateway algebra properties test includes those properties covered in elementary algebra and is given during the first week of class. Know and apply the twenty plus basic algebra properties listed below. The second gateway algebra properties test covers exponent rules and is first given around midterm. You may take these ten plus exponent rules from this link.
These gateway tests are given in class once. If you miss anything, you may take a make up in my office area and again if needed to get 100% correct results before the last class week of the semester, i.e. before May 3, 2002. If not passed by this date you will receive an F for this course.
CHAUTAUQUA
TYPICAL CLASS PERIOD: The first part, about twenty minutes, of class is
open for answering questions about the previous assignment including
exercises, reading material, or classroom notes. You are encouraged to
answer other students assignment exercise questions for extra credit points
by presenting chalk board work. For each exercises presented and noted as
one point on the attendance sheet, one point will be added to your
unit test. While presenting exercises is expected, this communication
beyond the one point is not graded. Use this time to experiment with your
ability to understand an exercise and convey your understanding to others.
Don't worry about any mistakes you may make, that's part of learning.
In fact, the first student that finds and reports a given textbook or
answer key mistake may also report a point on the attendance sheet
for that discovery.
The second part of class is used to introduce new material with examples
and an active discussion. It is generally assumed that prior to the date listed on
the Course Schedule, you took notes as you read from the new section(s).
You may wish to include the textbook examples in your class discussion of
new material and your instructor will cover these and other examples.
Some class time is spent with all students working at the chalk board.
Some class time is devoted to group problem solving.
TEAM ACTIVITIES: Some class time is devoted to team work aimed at a deeper
understanding of some course topics or their applications. Your instructor
will assign you to a team and assign team coordinators. Sometimes a grade
may result from this team work. When working on a team, students are to
think for themselves treating the instructor as a coach, guide, consultant, and
evaluator to the team. Always try to approach your team time with a
knowledgeable position based on your personal studies. During team activity,
you should display a willingness to generate discussion that leads to answers
or more refined questions that converge to solutions to your team assignment.
You may be in the dark on some points but being open to change and willing
to communicate your points even if mistaken at first helps the team move toward
the final goals while helping you understand with greater clarity. At times we need
team work to derive all the answers or computations in some assignments.
And other times teams provide a natural background for discussion of the
material and presentation of solutions. You are expected to help your team
reach reasonable objectives on time and demonstrate to me that you are
participating on your team in a meaningful way. Also, teams may wish to
work as a study group covering daily assignments. This can be implemented
via telephone or computer networking.
Individual communication is not permitted in class. Please note that
individual communication is not very productive while another person is
speaking in a group or class room situation.
Individual communication is not permitted in class when attention is
directed to one individual.
EXPECTATIONS: This syllabus including its Course Approximate Schedule (below), the
MATHEMATICS DEPARTMENT'S SYLLABUS including ASSIGNMENT SHEETS,
INTERMEDIATE ALGEBRA OBJECTIVES, and
MATHEMATICS DEPARTMENT POLICIES combined with the
St. Louis Community College SPRING 2002 Fact Finder student handbook gives
you the relevant course, student academic rights and responsibilities, and
study guide information. These items will give you a sense of the quality
that your instructor works to achieve in this course. Please see me as soon
as possible for any personal accommodations you require and please keep in
mind that: The quickest way to resolve any difficulty, no matter how small,
is to let your instructor know about it as soon as possible.
You are expected to read the textbook and take notes from the textbook
and from each class. Keep a pencil and learning journal, log or notebook and just plain
scratch paper next to you while you study math. Actively fill in the details of ideas that lack continuity.
You are expected to finish each assignment on time
except perhaps a few of the more difficult exercises that you should ask
about in class and then finish all homework that day. Definitely ask for individual help
when needed particularly if you can not work large portions of the
exercises. Review the processes you used to solve home work exercises
each day. Remember that you want to stay on top of your work and be
able to adequately prepare for the unit test coming in a few days.
This generally means you need to develop a dogged attitude with more
than several hours per day spent on solving exercises, keeping good
notes from the text and class, and doing plenty of daily reviewing likely
including some daily memorization. You are expected to contribute to your
group's positive progress at all times. Use the enclosed course schedule
sheet to keep a record of finished work. Your instructor is located in
the math department or you may call the office or home telephone number
for extra help. Please call before 9:00 p.m. if you can.
1. your ability to define and skill at defining terms, expressions, processes, operations, and strategies;
2. your ability to listen, read, speak and write with vocabulary skills essential for progress in mathematics;
3. your understanding of the general application of definitions and concepts and your energy in applying definitions and concepts to your basic areas of interest;
4. your skill in computing accurately and efficiently with and without calculators or computers;
5. your ability to recognize mathematics as a way of thinking and speaking about quantities, qualities, measures, and qualitative and quantitative relationships and to extend beyond to a level where you model your applications;
6. your ability to use mathematics to gather data, to present and interpret this data, to read and understand mathematics reports, charts, graphs, and accounts with and without modern technology;
7. your ability to use a general problem solving technique and incorporate computer or graphing calculator technology to facilitate problem solving;
8. your understanding of the logical structure of a mathematical proof: both formal and informal and both deductive and inductive. Also, your understanding of the logical structure of subject areas within mathematics, and the logical structure of mathematics as a useful part of an individual's philosophy. Make these types of your logical structures meaningful;
9. your ability to demonstrate mental traits such as visualization, curiosity, imagination, creativity, and play related to each concept and strategy to promote understanding and problem solving;
10. your ability to develop attitudes that lead to appreciation, confidence, respect, initiative, and independence for yourself and foster the same for other individuals;
11. your "preparation for" and "ability to" work with others in group activities and problem solving situations with an understanding of group dynamics for innovative decision making as well as conditions of "groupthink" that lead group problem solving astray.
12. your ability to have fun and be amused by your math work!
Consider the above list as you strive for excellence in understanding mathematical ideas and develop corresponding techniques. Add more activities or general goals by experimenting with new ones that may help you increase learning or make learning more meaningful and pleasant. Reorganize your methods and even style of learning for deeper understanding and interest. Pursue the lines of inquiry that you find your mind selects naturally while not diverging from the outline of course material too far. It is OK to spend large amounts of time studying just a few ideas, pages, or problems and as a matter of fact this is YOUR MAGIC for learning mathematics. Also give yourself personal permission for making lots of mistakes. Use the criterion of "when time seems to flow" as your gauge for individual development to realize a sense of accomplishment then personal complexity may change as well. Don't get stuck or stay stuck! Help yourself to be an expressive engaged learner, that is, "be all you can be".
ASSIGNMENTS and NOTES: Your journal, log or notebook and scratch paper
with your assignments and notes will be
checked for thoroughness at the end of each unit of material. Without
exception all exercises worked, some notes from each section, and notes
from lectures are strongly recommended. Seven extra credit points = 3 for
completely worked homework exercises + 2 points for textbook notes + 2
points for class notes are given via a quick review of the thoroughness and
spot checked for accuracy of your work. All material should be in
sequential textbook order in your notebook.
TESTS: A test is given after each unit of work as shown on the Course
Schedule and no make up tests may be taken. A missed test is a zero grade
for the test. The tests are composed of odd numbered exercises in
the textbook (80 to 90%) and
from material highlighted during class (20 to 10%). Unit tests are
graded and returned as soon as possible certainly less than a week.
Ask for help if you need to develop better test taking skills. The
final exam will count as two units but not returned for a semester.
GRADES AND THE GRADE SCALE: The final grade is based on the average of
test units. Any extra credit points are added to the regular test points
at the end of the course. The following scale used on each unit.
A for 90 points or above,
B for 80 to 89 points,
C for 70 to 79 points,
D for 50 to 69 points, and
F for under 50 points.
Test grades correspond to percentages of highest raw scores.
I recommend a TEST AVERAGE of 80 or better from this course before you
take MATH 160 College Algebra, or a TEST AVERAGE of 70 or better before
you take Math 155 Survey of College Mathematics the courses
for which intermediate algebra are a prerequisite.
ATTENDANCE IS REQUIRED and over three absences will result in a course
grade of F. Two times tardy will count as one absence. Call me before
hand if you have a problem with missing a class. Students missing no classes may have a small share in the determination of their grade.
Changes: Some additions, substitutions and/or corrections to this syllabus will be made during the course due to math department needs or time and activity adjustments.
WEEK // TEXTBOOK SECTIONS & UNIT TESTS // Schedule comments
Jan. 14 // Handouts, review, tests, 2.2, 2.3 //
Jan. 22 // 2.4, 3.1, 3.2 // No Class Monday
Jan. 28 // 3.3, 3.4, 3.5, TEST #1 // Math Talk @ Visitation, Feb. 2, 12 noon.
Feb. 4 // 4.1, 4.2, 4.3 // Math Tour Field Trip(s) Feb. 9
Feb. 11 // 4.4, 11.1, 11.6, TEST #2 //
Feb. 19 // 5.1, 5.2, 5.3 // No Class Monday
Feb. 25 // 5.4, 5.5, 5.6, 5.7 //
Mar.4 // TEST #3, 6.1, 6.2, 6.3 // Spring Break 3/11 to 3/17
Mar. 18 // 6.4, 6.5, 6.6, 6.7, TEST #4 //
Mar. 25 // 7.1, 7.2, 7.3, 7.4, //
Apr. 1 // 7.5, 7.6, 7.7 // Spring Holiday Friday, April 5
Apr. 8 // 7.8, TEST #5, 8.1, 8.2 //
Apr. 15 // 8.3, 8.4, 8.5 //
Apr. 25 // 8.5 // This class will not meet Mon., Tue. and Wed. (4/22 through 4/24)
Apr. 29 // 8.6, 8.7, 8.8 //
May 6 // TEST #6, Chapter 9 comments, Test review //
FINAL EXAM for 140.609 is on Mon., May 13, 1 - 2:50 p.m.
FINAL EXAM for 140.611 is on Fri., May 17, 1 - 2:50 p.m.
Copyright © 2002 with all rights reserved by William V. Thayer, PedLog