NORTH CENTRAL TEXAS COLLEGE

COURSE SYLLABUS

COURSE AND INSTRUCTOR INFORMATION

Course title: Contemporary Mathematics

Course prefix, number, and section number: MATH 1332 0501

Semester/Year of course: Fall 2023

Semester start and end dates: 8/28/2023 – 12/16/2023

Modality: Face to face

Class meeting location, days, and times: Mondays and Wednesdays 11am – 12:20pm

Support course (if needed): Some of you will need to be signed for NCBM 0132 0501

Semester credit hours: 3 (Lecture hours: 48)

Course description: Intended for Non-STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) majors. Topics include introductory treatments of sets and logic, financial mathematics, probability and statistics with appropriate applications. Number sense, proportional reasoning, estimation, technology, and communication should be embedded throughout the course. Additional topics may be covered.

Course prerequisites: Meet TSI college-readiness standard for Contemporary Mathematics; or equivalent.

Required course materials:

1. MyLab Math Access (e-text included in MyLab Math) REQUIRED
   • Registration in the course gives you the access code to the online learning platform and e-book needed for MATH 1332 (MyLab Math access – e-text is included in MyLab Math).  You do not need to purchase a separate access code.  Instructions can be found in a separate document on the Course Homepage. (see * Follett ACCESS for more information)
2. Scientific calculator, TI-30X IIS is recommended (NOTE: Graphing calculators and any device with internet capabilities will not be allowed on exams.) REQUIRED
3. Physical Textbook: Thinking Mathematically, Robert F. Blitzer, 7^th edition, Pearson, 2019 OPTIONAL

Name of instructor: Jason Rutledge

Office location: Flower Mound Room: 107

Telephone number: NA

E-mail address: jrutledge@nctc.edu (or send messages via Canvas)

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.

Email is the best way to contact the instructor. From there you can request a face to face meeting, online via WebEx or set up a time for a phone conversation. (WebEx is a real time video conference application adopted by NCTC.) Any issues related to content, grading, technical issues or any other aspect of the class can be dealt with through email if meets the need of both the student and instructor.

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: 

MML (MyMathLab) Quizzes                 12 Quizzes                     the average of the quizzes is 20% of the final grade

Tests                                                           4 Tests                            the average of the tests is 64% of the final grade

Final Exam                                                 1 Final Exam                  the final exam is 16% of the final grade

MML Quizzes: (20% of overall grade)

All quizzes are completed online and outside of the regular class time. You will be allowed up to 5 attempts for each quiz. Canvas records your highest of those 5 attempts and the lowest quiz (of the 12 scores) will be dropped from the calculations of your final overall average. All of the due dates and times for the quizzes are given in Canvas and MyMathLab. 

Tests and Final Exam: (80% of overall grade)

All tests and the Final Exam will be completed in class. There will be 4 tests and a comprehensive Final Exam. Each of these 5 assessments account for 16% of your final overall average. (5 x 16% = 80%) Make-up tests will be administered according to the guidelines spelled out in the “Information about Assignments (Math 1332)” document posted in Canvas.

The Final Exam will be required for all students enrolled in the class, except for any student that has an overall average of 90% or better calculated using the MML Quizzes (at 20%) and the 4 tests (at 20% each). Each test will be administered on the following dates:

Test #1 (Chapters 1 and 2)                                 Monday, September 25^th

Test #2 (Chapter 3)                                               Monday, October 16^th

Test #3 (Chapter 8)                                               Monday, October 30^th

Test #4 (Chapters 11 and 12)                      Wednesday, November 29^th

Final Exam (Chapters 1, 2, 3, 8, 11 and 12)     Monday, December 11^th (11am – 12:50pm)

For any student that does take the Final Exam, the Final Exam does account for 16% of your overall average. As a bonus, it can be used to replace the lowest of the 4 intra-semester tests.

MML Homework: (0% of overall grade)

The MML Homework is NOT a graded component of this course. Its purpose is to supplement the course lectures and other provided materials used to be successful in this class. Your goal should be to work as much of the homework as you need to master the material. If this means earning 100’s on every homework assignment…so be it. If this means never opening any homework assignment whatsoever…so be it. Or if there is some middle ground that is best for you, do that.

The only way to access the homework is to:

1. Log into our Canvas course.
2. Click on the “MyLab and Mastering” tab on the left side of the screen.
3. Click on the big yellow button to open a new window to the Pearson website. (Make sure your pop-up blockers are turned off.)
4. In the new tab/window, click on the “Assignments” tab and scroll down. There you will find all of the

homework assignments for this course.

Late work policy: No late work is accepted.

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

Final grade scale:  90 – 100% = A; 80 – 89% = B; 70 – 79% = C; 60 – 69% = D; Below 60% = F

COURSE POLICIES

Electronic Devices

No electronic devices are allowed to interfere with the learning environment while class is in session. This does mean all cell phones, laptops, tablets, earbuds/headphones and any other electronic devices need to be put away during our class sessions.

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 2022-2023 NCTC Catalog.  (https://www.nctc.edu/catalog; Click on 2022-2023 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, November 6, 2023

Student Learning Outcomes:  At the successful completion of this course the student will be able to:

1. Apply the language and notation of sets.
2. Determine the validity of an argument or statement and provide mathematical evidence.
3. Solve problems in mathematics of finance.
4. Demonstrate fundamental probability/counting techniques and apply those techniques to solve problems.
5. Interpret and analyze various representations of data.
6. Demonstrate the ability to choose and analyze mathematical models to solve problems from real-world settings, including, but not limited to, personal finance, health literacy, and civic engagement.

Core Objectives:

ü          Critical Thinking                                                     û           Teamwork

ü          Communication                                                     û           Personal Responsibility

ü          Empirical and Quantitative                                 û           Social Responsibility

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.

* Follett ACCESS

Follett ACCESS is a partnership between the NCTC Bookstore and Pearson Education to provide the best learning resources on the first day of class. 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 order 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 to 1263mgr@follett.com.

QUESTIONS, CONCERNS, or COMPLAINTS