NORTH CENTRAL TEXAS COLLEGE

COURSE SYLLABUS

 

 

COURSE AND INSTRUCTOR INFORMATION

 

 

Course title:    Beginning Algebra

Course prefix, number, and section number: MATH 0305 0402

Semester/Year of course:  Fall 2024

Semester start and end dates: 8/26/2024 – 12/14/2024

Modality (Face to face): This class will meet Tuesday / Thursday, in room 326 from 9:30 – 10:20 am

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 (ALEKS)  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)

The NCTC Bookstore and McGraw - Hill 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.

 

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:

 Miller / O’ Neil / Hyde, Beginning Algebra 6^th Ed, McGraw – Hill, 2022

 

Name of instructor:  Marla Owens

Office location:  COR 206

Telephone number:  940 – 498 -6226

Email address:  mowens@nctc.edu

When emailing, please give your name and class (course and section, or course and time)

Monday / Wednesday: 7:30 - 8:30 am; 11:00 am - Noon

Tuesday | Thursday 8:30 -9:30 am; 12:30 - 2:00 pm 

  Online: WebEx (click the Cisco Webex tab for an appointment)

 

STUDENT HOURS (OFFICE HOURS)

Each week instructors have time set aside to meet with students outside of class. (Traditionally these times are 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.

 

All student hours are listed above on the Corinth Campus, or virtually according by appointment.  Students are welcome to come by my office during those times listed above. Students are encouraged to send an email to verify the time and date, or to remind me that they are coming to my office. A brief explanation about the topic that the student is needing help with will help the instructor prepare for the meeting All virtual student hours will be in Canvas on the Cisco Webex platform.

 

 

 

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 most campuses 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

 

CLASSROOM POLICIES

 

1. COMMUNICATION: All pertinent course information will be contained in the course Canvas site including general materials, course updates, and grades. Students are expected to check Canvas and email accounts regularly to keep up with course information. Further, when sending messages to multiple students in the course, message will be sent through Canvas. Students are welcome to reply to these messages with questions or send a direct email to mowens@nctc.edu. Please make sure to include the course and section in all emails. I will regularly answer my emails during the week and I will do my best to reply within 24 hours. Please allow me up to 48 hours to reply on the weekends.
2. HOMEWORK: Homework will consist of weekly modules completed online in ALEKS. Assignments will be due at 11:59 PM on Monday of each week however testing weeks will have two separate modules: one with new material due on Thursday and a review module due on Sunday. Students should expect to spend several hours each week working on their math in ALEKS. The time necessary will vary weekly depending on the content and the prerequisite skills students are bringing to the class.
3. ALEKS: ALEKS is an adaptive, online learning system. On the first day of class students will take the Initial Knowledge Check. ALEKS will then create a personalized learning path based on the performance on that assessment. This learning path gives students credit for what they already know and shows what students are ready to learn. Throughout the semester students will work through ALEKS, mastering knowledge of the topics necessary for success in Beginning Alegbra. ALEKS will periodically check students’ knowledge retention. Faculty will be guiding you through this new learning experience.

 

4. QUIZZES: Quizzes will be given frequently, mostly in class however some may be online. The work should be neat and organized and must justify the answers in order to receive credit. Make-up quizzes are not allowed however the lowest quiz will be dropped at the end of the semester.

 

5. TESTS: There will be four one-hour examinations and a comprehensive final exam for this course. Exams will be made up only if the student has contacted this instructor before exam time. Not all excuses will be accepted. The final exam period (as scheduled by the university) for this course is Wednesday,  December 11 from 9:30 am to 11:20 am.
6. ATTENDANCE & PARTICIPATION: All students are expected to attend every class meeting if they are healthy and safe to attend. Communication is critical, so if a student expects to miss class, please communicate with the instructor. Participation and attendance points will be awarded based on a number of things, which could include the time students spend in class, time learning in ALEKS, as well as additional participation activities. Participation points will be made available to students who are unable to attend class as needed; however, it is the responsibility of the student to notify the instructor of the absence. Please note that due dates will not be altered for absences except at the discretion of the instructor.

 

7. BINDERS: Each student should maintain a well-organized binder or notebook containing notes from class and/or during online lectures, work from online homework assignments, and all returned quizzes and tests. This binder should be brought to class and/or used when working on math assignments.

 

 

 

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

 

 

GRADE DISTRIBUTION: The point assignments are:

TEST 1	12%
TEST 2	12%
TEST 3	12%
TEST 4	12%
QUIZZES	12%
ALEKS HW	20%
ATTENDANCE	5%

                             FINAL                             15%     

       Includes all material listed above. TOTAL 100%

 

Final grade scale:  Grade Scale:   90 – 100% = A;   80 – 89% = B; 70 – 79% = C;     Below 70% = F

 

Late work policy:  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.

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

 

Artificial Intelligence Policy:  While there are many great resources available to you, keep in mind that for this class ChatGPT, Desmos, Wolfram-Alpha, Chegg, Symbolab, and similar programs should only be used to help you understand the material we are covering in the class. Any student suspected of submitting work that is not their own (whether it is copied from another student or from technology) will be required to meet with me. If a student is found to have presented work that is not their own, they will be subject to the academic integrity policy. If you would not be able to explain to me how to work a similar problem, you should not submit the solution as your own.

 

Attendance Policy:  Regular attendance is expected and necessary for student success in this course. For more information on attendance regulations please see the 2024-2025 NCTC Catalog.  (https://www.nctc.edu/catalog)

 

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, November 4

 

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.

 

Core Objectives:

 

COLLEGE POLICIES