Beginning Algebra

Office Hours – Room L-211:
Mondays: 9:00 – 9:30 a.m., 11:00 – 12:00 p.m.
Wednesdays: 9:00 – 9:30 a.m., 11:00 - 12:00 p.m., 2:00 – 3:00 p.m.; 6:00 – 7:00 p.m.
Note: If you cannot meet with me during my posted office hours, send me an e-mail
message to set up an appointment for a time convenient for both of us.

Required Course Activities
• Orientation and Diagnostic Quiz – complete and submit by due date.
• Weekly online video Assignments – view by due date.
• Weekly Online Practice Problems – complete by due date.
• Proctored Unit Exams in the Testing Center – complete and submit by due date.
• Com prehensive Final Exam in the Testing Center – complete and submit by due date.

Supplemental Activities (not required)
• Workbook – notes and additional practice problems – use as needed.
• Sample Problems with solutions – available for additional resource, as needed.
• Communication with instructor – as needed.
• Practice Exams – as needed before taking each corresponding exam.

Proctored Exams: All tests are administered at the RCTC (MCCC Testing Center) – Picture ID card is required.
Regional Computer Techno logy Center (RCTC) is located in Room 157, West Technology Building
Ph one Number : 734.384.4144
RCTC Hours: Monday - Thursday: 8:15 am - 10:00 pm
Friday: 8:00 am - 4:30 pm
Saturday: 8:30 am - 2:00 pm

Course number: MATH 150-L1 Credit hours: 4
Prerequisite: MATH 090 or qualifying score on ACT or COMPASS test

COURSE DESCRIPTION
This course covers fundamental concepts of algebra such as symbols , signed numbers, rational numbers, factoring
and solutions to linear equations. It also includes solutions of rational equations, quadratic equations, and systems
of equations. This course is intended for students who have had no high school algebra or feel a need to review
elementary algebra.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Be sure that you are in the right course BEFORE you open and use the student code to
register with Thinkwell. Once you open the package it cannot be returned. Complete the Diagnostic Quiz and
take Orientation right away to de termine whether you have the prerequisite needed for Beginning Algebra and
whether an online mathematics course is appropriate for you.

Graphing Calculator : The TI-89 Titanium calculator is required for science and math courses at MCCC.

Computer: To participate in this course, you are required to have a valid and current e-mail account, access to
a computer with Internet connection and a Java-enabled browser. You will also need access to Adobe Acrobat
Reader. All students should send their e-mail address to the instructor as soon as they register for the course.

Major Units Covered in Course:
• Real Numbers
• Polynomials
• Rational Expressions
• Quadratic Equations
• Systems of Linear Equations

Educational/Course Outcomes
Student learning will be assessed by a variety of methods , including, but not limited to, quizzes and tests, journals,
essays, papers, projects, laboratory/clinical exercises and examinations, presentations, simulations, portfolios,
homework assignments, and instructor observations.

Cognitive Each student will be expected to Identify/Recognize . . .
scientific notation; rational exponents ; quadratic formula.

Performance Each student will be expected to Demonstrate/Practice . . .
basic operations with real numbers; solve linear and rational equations; solve quadratic equations.

Things You Need To Do To Be Successful In Online MATH 150

Welcome to Beginning Algebra Online. I hope you are as excited about taking this course as I am about teaching
it. Taking an online course can be very challenging. Both you and I will need to be very organized and dedicated.
This course has several deadlines, which are NOT flexible. You should become familiar with the course
requirements, homework and test deadlines, and obtain all course materials as early as you can. Set up homework
and study schedule for yourself, and regular times when you can be online to participate in the on-going
discussions, if needed.

Computer requirements:
• An active e-mail account. If you do not have an email account, please get one soon. Free e-mail accounts
are available from many sources.
• Easy access to a computer with Internet connection and a java enabled browser
You should use the latest version of Internet Explorer or similar browser.
(Download at the Thinkwell Plugin Download Center.)
• Acrobat Reader - You can download Acrobat Reader from the Thinkwell Plugin Download Center.
• Plugins - When you run the Thinkwell installer, your computer will receive recent versions of Quicktime,
Flash, and the Thinkwell application. You will need these to use the features on the website. Instructions
on running the installer are included in your package.
• Access to latest version of MS Word, or another word processing software.
• You may need access to a Fax machine or a scanner.

System and Software Requirements

PC Minimum Requirements: Intel® Pentium® II 450MHz CPU or faster ( or equivalent );
Microsoft® Windows® 98, ME, 2000, XP, Vista, or later; 256MB RAM.
Mac Minimum Requirements: PowerPC ® G3 500MHz or faster, or Intel® Core™ Duo 1.83GHz
or faster; Mac OS® X v10.4 or later; 256MB RAM.

Time commitment

You should expect to spend approximately ten to fifteen hours each week studying for this course,
including time on the Internet, working from the workbook, doing homework assignments and reviewing.
If you have not had a math course for over one year, you may require more time. To prepare for an exam,
allow additional time for study and review. Success in this course requires your regular participation.
Students are encouraged to contact me by e-mail each week, or as needed. This communication is to let me
know how you are doing in the course and ask course related questions. We can also have discussions using
Blackboard Chat during my office hours or at an arranged time.

Required Diagnostic Quiz and Orientation

After logging into Blackboard, explore the course site and answer the questions on the Orientation.
Then, take the Diagnostic Algebra Readiness Quiz right away to determine whether you have the
prerequisite needed for Beginning Algebra and to help you decide whether an online mathematics
course is appropriate for you. Be sure that you are in the right course BEFORE you open and use the
access code. Once you open the package it cannot be returned.

Submit the Orientation and the Diagnostic Quiz by the due date.

Workbook Examples, Online Practice Exercises and Practice Exams

Taking an online course is like taking an independent study course. You are expected to read all the
assigned chapters and work on all practice problems assigned. Do not take this assignment lightly. Before
doing the homework, you should view the video corresponding to that section. You may need to watch the
video clip a few times – you can rewind it, as needed. Pay special attention to the special ideas highlighted
by the author: definitions, theorems, and study tips. Read the explanation given for each problem to help
you understand and review the concepts. Finally, before taking the chapter test, work on the Practice Exam.
You may work on the exercises and the Practice Exam as many times as you need. The Online Practice
Exercises must be completed on or before the due dates. One point will be deducted for each day the
Exercise set is late.

On-campus Required Proctored Tests

After completing all required work for a particular test, you should work on the practice test. Make sure to
go back and learn anything you had difficulty with. Don’t hesitate to ask questions.

You will need to come to the campus of Monroe County Community College to take the tests for this
course. To receive partial credit on a problem show relevant work. You may use a graphing calculator, but
notes, books or other reference materials are NOT allowed during testing. You will be allowed two hours to
complete each unit exam.

Each test must be taken on or before the test due dates as listed on the calendar. If you wish to take the
tests early, send me an e-mail message one week before the date you wish to take the test, indicate time and
date. If a test is taken late, 5 points will be deducted for each day the test is late past the test due date.

Course Assessment: Some problems will be imbedded in homework assignments and test questions to
compare student performance for certain learning outcomes.

Final Exam: A comprehensive Final exam is required and is scheduled on the last week of classes.
You will be allowed one hour to complete the Final exam. You must take the Final Exam in order to
receive a passing grade.

Testing Center (RCTC): All testing is administered in RCTC - room W-157. You are required to be at the
testing center at least two hours before the closing time. Notice that the RCTC closes early on Fridays and
Saturdays. You must have a picture ID.

Grading Policy

Your course grade will be based on 600 compiled points from the following required work: