NORTH CENTRAL TEXAS COLLEGE

COURSE SYLLABUS

COURSE AND INSTRUCTOR INFORMATION

Course title:  Beginning Algebra

Course prefix, number, and section number:  MATH 0305 0501

Semester/Year of course:  Spring 2024

Semester start and end dates: 01/17/2024 – 05/11/2024

Modality:  Face to face

Class meeting location, days, and times: Tuesday & Thursday 11:00 am - 12:30 pm, Flower Mound Campus, Room 205

Semester credit hours:  3 (Lecture hours: 48)

Course description:  A study of relations and functions, inequalities, algebraic expressions and equations (absolute value, polynomial, radical, rational), with a special emphasis on linear and quadratic expressions and equations. This course does not count toward graduation at NCTC.

Course prerequisites:  Appropriate placement score on TSI or other approved assessment test.

Required course materials:

Registration in the course automatically adds a textbook fee to your NCTC tuition and fees which gives you access to the online learning platform and e-book needed for MATH 0305 (MyLab Math).  You do not need to purchase a separate access code.  Instructions on how to get your access code can be found in a document on the Course Homepage or in the course Modules. (see * Inclusive Access below for more information)

Current email address (default email address is Lion Pride)

Non-graphing scientific calculators are permitted. 

*** NO GRAPHING CALCULATORS NOR CELL PHONE CALCULATORS ALLOWED – ONLY SCIENTIFIC CALCULATORS ALLOWED. *** TI-30X IIS is highly recommended.

Free scanner app

Notebook

Optional:

Squires/Wyrick, Developmental Mathematics: Basic Math, Introductory Algebra, & Intermediate Algebra Notebook, 2^nd Edition (paper workbook)

Name of instructor: Andrew Ledbetter

Office location: Flower Mound Campus, TBA

E-mail address: aledbetter@nctc.edu; Message through Canvas

Office hours for students: In Person Flower Mound TBA Tue & Thu 10:00-11:00am or

Online/Virtual using Canvas Webex –  by appointment

STUDENT HOURS (OFFICE HOURS)

Each week instructors have time set aside to meet with students outside of class. (Traditionally these times have been called “office hours”.) This is a time when a student may ask questions regarding the class, or discuss a particular problem/topic with an instructor one-on-one.  Student hours may be held in-person or online.  See below for instructions on where/when/how instructors will offer student hours in this class.

Please see me before or after class if you would like to meet in person. Otherwise, contact me to make an appointment and we can meet virtually.

MATH TUTORING LAB

Students who need help with any math class can visit the NCTC Mathematics Lab to receive assistance.  There are math tutors available on every campus and online.  This service is free for all students enrolled in an NCTC math class. Sign up for an appointment or see the most current tutoring hours for all campuses at https://www.nctc.edu/math-lab. 

SYLLABUS CHANGE DISCLAIMER

The faculty member reserves the right to make changes to this published syllabus if it is in the best interest of the educational development of this class. Any such changes will be announced as soon as possible in person and/or writing.

SUMMARY OF COURSE ASSIGNMENTS

List of graded assignments: 

# of Graded Elements                                  Title of Graded Element      Percentage

Approximately 60                                                  Homework                 10%

                         13                                                  Quizzes                      15%

                         4                                                    Tests                           60%

                         1                                                    Final Exam                15%

MATH 0305:  89.5– 100% = A;   79.5 – 89.4% = B; 69.5 – 79.4% = C;     Below 69.4% = F

Homework:  All homework assignments are to be completed on the computer using MyMathLab (MML). Homework is an important component in student success for this course. Homework reinforces the topics from each section. Homework assignments will have unlimited number of attempts and the highest score will be recorded in the gradebook.

Quizzes: Online quizzes are assigned using MyMathLab. Students will have three attempts for each online quiz. Some quizzes may have time limits. The highest score will be recorded. Always check due dates.

Late work policy: Homework and quizzes may be worked past the original due date with a 20% penalty up until the test for that section. There is no need to ask the instructor to modify due dates because of this policy.

The final exam may also be used to replace the lowest unit test grade only by students who meet the qualifications. The qualifications for the final exam to replace one low test grade is as follows:

·        all MML Homework and Quiz assignments must be complete (with a score of at least 60%) and

·        no more than four absences throughout the duration of the semester.

SEE CANVAS FOR THE COMPLETE COURSE CALENDAR, OUTLINE, DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF GRADED WORK, AND OTHER RELATED MATERIAL.

COURSE POLICIES

Academic Integrity Policy:

Scholastic dishonesty shall include, but is not limited to cheating, plagiarism, academic falsification, intellectual property dishonesty, academic dishonesty facilitation, and collusion.  The use of online math solvers with submitted work is considered academic dishonesty.  Faculty members may document and bring charges against a student who is engaged in or is suspected to be engaged in academic dishonesty.  See Student Handbook, “Student Rights & Responsibilities: Student Code of Conduct ([FLB(LOCAL)]”.  

Consequences for academic dishonesty may include:

1. Zero on the assignment
2. Failing grade for the course

Attendance Policy:

Regular attendance is expected and necessary for student success in this course. For more information on attendance regulations please see the 2023-2024 NCTC Catalog.  (https://www.nctc.edu/catalog; Click on 2023-2024 CATALOG and go to page 138 to see Attendance Regulations)

Withdrawal Policy

A student may withdraw from a course on or after the official date of record. It is the student’s responsibility to initiate and complete a Withdrawal Request Form.

Last day to withdraw from the course with a “W” is: Monday, April 1^st, 2024

Student Learning Outcomes: At the successful completion of this course the student will be
able to:
1. Use appropriate symbolic notation and vocabulary to communicate, interpret, and
explain mathematical concepts.
2. Define, represent, and perform operations on real numbers, applying numeric reasoning
to investigate and describe quantitative relationships and solve real world problems in a
variety of contexts.
3. Use algebraic reasoning to solve problems that require ratios, rates, percentages, and
proportions in a variety of contexts using multiple representations.
4. Apply algebraic reasoning to manipulate expressions and equations to solve real world
problems.
5. Use graphs, tables, and technology to analyze, interpret, and compare data sets.
6. Construct and use mathematical models in verbal, algebraic, graphical, and tabular form
to solve problems from a variety of contexts and to make predictions and decisions.

COLLEGE POLICIES

STUDENT HANDBOOK

Students are expected to follow all rules and regulations found in the Student Handbook. To access Student Handbook go to NCTC homepage (www.nctc.edu), scroll to bottom and click “Student Handbook”.

ADA STATEMENT

NCTC will adhere to all applicable federal, state and local laws, regulations and guidelines with respect to providing reasonable accommodations to afford equal educational opportunity. It is the student’s responsibility to contact the Office for Students with Disabilities to arrange appropriate accommodations.  See the OSD Syllabus Addendum.

 
STUDENT SERVICES

NCTC provides a multitude of services and resources to support students.  See the Student Services Syllabus Addendum for a listing of those departments and links to their sites.

* Inclusive Access

The NCTC Bookstore and Pearson Education have partnered to provide the best learning resources on the first day of class so that students can gain access to Pearson’s adaptive online platform with the latest version of the eBook at a discount. If students would like to purchase a physical copy of the textbook, they can purchase it through the bookstore.

Students who drop before the add/drop date will have their book fees credited back to their student account, and students who remain in the course will be charged a materials fee by the school to have continued access of the online platforms.  If you remain enrolled in the course but wish to opt-out of access to the book please email the NCTC Bookstore within the first two weeks of class with your name and student number.

QUESTIONS, CONCERNS, or COMPLAINTS