MONTGOMERY COLLEGE - Department of Mathematics & Statistics

MATH 050 – Foundations of Algebra &
 MATH 045 – Foundations of Algebra Support
DISTANCE LEARNING SYLLABUS

Course Orientation Videos: Before the first day of class, watch the course orientation videos available at www.wittemath.com/NEW.htm . These videos will help you gain an understanding of how the course is structured.

MATH045 & MATH050:  You are technically enrolled for two courses although they will be treated as one except for the grading policy. Both must be taken at the same time. If you were to drop one of the courses, you would be automatically dropped from the other course.

The goal of this course is to make sure that you are able to master the material needed to be successful in your future math classes that have this material as a prerequisite. The amount of time it takes to master this course will vary for each student. For each hour in class, you should spend at least two hours outside of class. As your faculty member, I am here to support your learning.

 

Please note that some students may need to put in more time if their personal learning pace is slower and may have to take an extra semester to finish all the course material. Please be aware in this case that you will need to re-adjust your schedule for future classes. Consider reaching out to an academic counselor to plan a do-able academic schedule and to map out a realistic timeline to completion of your degree or program.

 

MATH045 Course Description: A corequisite course intended to equip students with the skills needed to be successful in MATH 050 by providing support in fundamental mathematics. Topics include operations on real numbers, evaluation of algebraic expressions, solving equations, and operations on polynomials. PREREQUISITE(S): Appropriate score on the mathematics assessment test or consent of the department. Two hours each week. TWO EQUIVALENT CREDIT HOURS. NOT APPLICABLE TO A DEGREE OR CERTIFICATE. MAY NOT BE USED TO SATISFY DEGREE REQUIREMENTS. NOT INCLUDED IN GPA CALCULATION. COREQUISITE(S): MATH 050 Foundations of Algebra Assessment Level(s): AELW 940/ELAI 990, READ 120, or AELR 930/ELAR 980. Two semester hours.

MATH045 Course Outcomes: Upon course completion, a student will be able to:

·       Perform operations with real numbers.

·       Evaluate expression using the orders of operations.

·       Perform operations with polynomials.

·       Solve linear equations and graph linear functions.

MATH050 Course Description: An examination of algebraic skills and concepts intended to prepare students for MATH 130, MATH 150, and MATH 165. Numerical, graphical, and algebraic approaches are represented throughout as well as application. Topics include operations on polynomial and rational expressions, analysis of quadratic and rational functions and graphs, solving quadratic, rational, and radical equations, and graphing and evaluating polynomial and exponential functions. PREREQUISITE(S): Appropriate score on the mathematics assessment test; or concurrent enrollment in MATH 045; or consent of the department. Assessment Level(s): AELW 940/ELAI 990, READ 120, or AELR 930/ELAR 980. 4 hours each week. 4 semester hours. FOUR EQUIVALENT CREDIT HOURS. NOT APPLICABLE TO A DEGREE OR CERTIFICATE. MAY NOT BE USED TO SATISFY DEGREE REQUIREMENTS. NOT INCLUDED IN GPA CALCULATION.

 

MATH050 Course Outcomes: Upon course completion, a student will be able to:

·       Use properties of exponents to simplify expressions and combine terms.

·       Demonstrate the ability to perform operations on polynomials.

·       Factor polynomials using the greatest common factor, grouping, and formulas.

·       Evaluate functions as well as identify their domains and ranges.

·       Find inverse of linear, exponential, and logarithmic functions.

·       Construct graphs of linear, quadratic, exponential, and logarithmic functions.

·       Solve quadratic, rational, radical equations as well as systems of equations using graphical and algebraic approaches.

·       Simplify and perform operations on radical and rational expressions.

·       Use technology to graph linear, quadratic, radical, exponential, and logarithmic functions, and systems of equations and interpret and analyze the graph.

Course Format: During the first week of classes, you will take an Initial Knowledge Check to determine what material you already know and what material you are ready to learn. You will earn credit for any topics mastered in this initial assessment. Each week, a few homework assignments will be due and every student is required to complete a certain new number of topics. These requirements help you to stay on track to be able to finish the course in one semester. Tests will use adaptive technology and must be proctored by the online proctoring service or over Zoom with your instructor. You can accelerate the pace of this course by working ahead and finishing the course early.

Required Supplies: Please be prepared for every class by bringing your notebook, pencils, and erasers. Please do NOT expect your instructor or fellow students to provide these for you.

·       ALEKS Access Code. Can be purchased online at www.aleks.com or at a MC bookstore. Comes with ebook. You must purchase an 18 week access code or you will have to purchase another code mid-semester. The bookstore sells an 18 week code but you can purchase the 18 week code online through ALEKS that will give you access for our entire course.

·       ALEKS guarantee: Students who are repeating Math 050 within one year and have spent at least 60 hours on Aleks in their previous attempt don’t have to purchase Aleks code again when they register for the course.

·       Notebook You must keep an organized notebook that shows all notes and homework problems. When requesting help from your instructor, you will show your attempted work to help them understand your thought process. In this class, your note taking is one of the most important parts of your learning process so please take it seriously.


NOTE: A handheld calculator is NOT ALLOWED for this course unless approved under a DSS Accommodation. The ALEKS program does provide calculators within the system when appropriate.

MATH050 Course Grading Policy:                                        
Assignments by Due Date:           10%
Weekly New Topic Goals:            5%
Tests:                                               65%
Final Exam:                                     20%

Text Box: NOTICE THAT YOU MUST EARN 80% TO PASS THIS COURSE.

 

 

 

 

 


A grade of A, B, C or U is awarded when the Final Exam is completed and the final course average is:                 

 

93% – 100%:  A       86% – 92.99%: B         80% – 85.99%: C               0% - 79.99%: U

 

MATH045 Grade: If the MATH050 grade is A, B, or C, the student earns a grade of S for MATH045. If the MATH050 grade is U and the student's Final Exam grade is greater or equal to 60%, the student earns a grade of S for MATH045. Otherwise, student earns a U in both courses.

Note:  If a student does not take the Final Exam, they receive a grade of U regardless of the overall course average. The lowest test grade with least weight will be replaced with the Final Exam grade, AS LONG AS THE STUDENT HAS COMPLETED A MINIMUM OF 20 NEW TOPICS EACH WEEK IN ALEKS, assuming it benefits the student. Any grade of 0 due to academic dishonesty is not eligible to be replaced.

Attendance Policy for DL sections: Learning is an experience that depends on active participation; therefore, you are expected to login and work regularly in their ALEKS course. Regular participation in course work is an important contributor to student success. In the event of missed due date, please consult with your instructor immediately to discuss any missed topic goals, tests or assignments. Together, we can work to prevent such absences from affecting your performance in the course and keep you on track to success.

In cases involving excessive absences from class, that is, not logging into their ALEKS course for more than 3 consecutive days in any given week, you may be dropped from the class, resulting in a grade determined in accordance with Academic Regulation 9.645. Many distance learning students manage jobs, family, and school. Make sure you have enough time to stay on track in this course. You have the course schedule so you should start planning how you will get everything done. We cannot accept work as an excuse for missing due dates so please plan ahead!

Initial Knowledge Check Day 1: During the first week of class, you will login into Aleks and start the Initial Knowledge Check which is a diagnostic test needed to set up a personalized course path in ALEKS for you.

If you have not purchased the Aleks access code yet, you may use the Financial Aid Access Code (see first page of syllabus) for 2 weeks. However, once you get through the setup and tutorial, you will be asked to start working on the Initial Knowledge Check. You are REQUIRED TO complete the Initial Knowledge Check during the first week of classes. This is NOT A GRADED TEST but rather a way for the system to determine how much of the course you already know. If you do not take the Initial Knowledge Check, you may be dropped from the course for non-attendance because your personalized course path cannot be set up for you. 

You must download and install the lockdown browser before taking the Initial Knowledge Check. A link will be there once you access the Initial Knowledge Check and you can follow the instructions to download and install the lockdown browser.

Typically, it takes anywhere from 45 minutes to 2 hours to complete this assessment. Although it is not graded, you should take it seriously as it can affect the number of topics you need to learn to complete this course. The assessment uses adaptive technology to determine which topics you already know and which topics you are ready to learn. You are given "credit" for any topic you already know. This reduces the number of topics that you need to complete in each of the assignments. Again, no handheld calculators or cellphones are allowed.

ALEKS Pie: At any given moment, you can see the percentage of the course that you have learned by viewing the ALEKS Pie.  Any topic not mastered on a test is placed back into the learning path when it is needed. This means that you may see your pie percentage decrease after tests. This is not part of the course grade but rather an indicator of your progress. You should always continue working forward as lost topics will come automatically back in future assignments. Use the CONTINUE MY PATH or MOVE AHEAD buttons.

Reports & Gradebook: Take some time reviewing your ALEKS Gradebook and Reports. These can be found using the drop down main menu in ALEKS. The Gradebook reflects your current overall average in the course. Also, focus on your Progress Report, Time and Topic Report, and Needs More Practice Report (these are the topics lost on the most recent test.) See your instructor for more information.

Assignments: Assignments are due several times a week (see course schedule for due dates.) An assignment consists of several topics.  Each topic requires you to master several variations of the problem.

Your grade for each assignment is determined by the percentage of topics completed by the due date at 11:59pm. If you miss topics in an assignment, you will move to the next assignment. Any missed prerequisite topics will automatically be added to future assignments when they are needed so you don’t go back to old assignments. A "review" assignment is due before each test and consists of possibly a few new topics and all topics since the last test. This will be an opportunity to complete missed topics from past due assignments. If you are behind, you will still lose points for not completing the original assignment on time. If you have completed assignments on time, then you will not have to repeat these previous topics.

Assignments based on MATH050 topics are weighted five times the weight of prerequisite topics.

Depending on how you scored on the Initial Knowledge Check, it is possible for you to already have mastered all topics in a given assignment and automatically earn 100% for that assignment. You can then continue working on the next assignment or any topic that the system identifies as "ready to learn".   

It is recommended that you follow the system using the WORK AHEAD button within ALEKS and not go back to previously due assignments. If you have no topics in the carousel, you should go to FILTER, SHOW ALL ASSIGNMENTS.

Weekly Topic Goals: No matter how well you do on the Initial Knowledge Check, you are required to learn a certain number of new topics per week (see course schedule.) For example, you may already have credit for all topics in Assignment 1 after the Initial Knowledge Check and will immediately earn 100% for Assignment 1. However, you are still required to complete a certain number of topics by Sunday night at 11:59pm or else there will be an automatic grade penalty assigned by the system. This is intended to help you stay on course to finish by the end of the semester. Most students will meet the topic goals just by completing the assignments on time.

Tests: Tests are scheduled as Comprehensive Knowledge Checks in the course.  They are scheduled often as stated in the course schedule and are based on the percentage of material a student is expected to know by that date in the course.  For example, Test 1 occurs during Week 2 and a student is expected to know 20% of the course by that date. If the student only masters 15% of the course, they earn a grade of 15/20= 75% for that test. The highest score a student can earn on any test is 100%. Every test is personal and adaptive to that student – no one will be taking the same test.  Any topic not mastered in a test will be placed back into the student's pie.

A student may find questions on tests that they have not learned yet but the system determined that the student is ready to learn. If the student answers the question(s) correctly, they will earn credit for that topic in future assignments. If they answer it incorrectly, it has no effect on the test grade.

Every test is comprehensive in this course. Each test will have at most 30 questions and will take between 45 minutes to two hours. Students and instructors are unable to see exact questions missed on a test, so you are encouraged to write down test questions and show all work. Then your instructor can give you individualized help by going over your test with you. You can also find out which topics you lost by going to Reports, Needs More Practice.

All students must take the Final Exam to earn a passing grade in the course. If a student does not take the Final Exam, a grade of U is entered regardless of what the ALEKS gradebook states. If a student does not finish the Final Exam in the allotted time, the student must click "I don't know" until the test is submitted. If a test is not submitted, the student may earn a 0 on the Final Exam.

All tests are comprehensive… meaning they focus on ALL material you have learned in the course so you need to retain previous information permanently.

Below is the expected percentage of mastery for each test as well as the percentage of the final grade that each test represents. For example, to earn 100% on Test 2, you must show mastery of ANY 35% of the topics in the course.

 

Test

Expected Percentage

of Course Mastery

Percentage

of Grade

Test 1

20%

5%

Test 2

35%

5%

Test 3

50%

5%

Test 4 (Midterm)*

65%

10%

Test 5

75%

10%

Test 6

85%

10%

Test 7

95%

20%

Final Exam

100%

20%

*For reporting purposes the teacher uses the Midterm Test Score as the Midterm Grade in Banner.

 

Makeup Policy: There are no retakes of tests and there are no makeups. You have a full week to take the test and you have the course schedule provided at the start of the semester. Make plans NOW. Although students have jobs and family, these are not appropriate excuses for missing tests. You can take it anytime during that given week. If a student does not take a test by the due date, they will earn a 0 on it. However, students will be required to take a knowledge check the following week, that will not count towards the overall course grade but may alter the number of topics in the ALEKS pie. Communicate with your instructor–you may be locked out of your account until you reply to any communication requests. Keep in mind that the lowest test score will be replaced with the Final Exam score AS LONG AS THE STUDENT HAS SUBMITTED A MINIMUM OF 20 NEW TOPICS EACH WEEK. This allows students to miss one test (not the Final) without penalty due to illness or other emergencies BUT STILL MOTIVATES CONSISTENT CLASS PERFORMANCE.

Accelerated Pace: You may accelerate the pace of this course and finish early. You can learn as many topics as you wish each week. However, you will continue to test in class on schedule. If you complete 100% of your pie then you may request to take the Final Exam early. To pass the course, a student who takes the Final Exam early must earn 95% on it. Otherwise, the student will continue in the course as usual. A student who takes the Final Exam early can request to retake it when 100% of the pie is rebuilt as long as it is on or before the Final Exam week. A student who earns 95% or higher on the Final Exam will earn that percentage for any remaining tests and 100% for any remaining weekly topic goals.

There is no minimum score on any test for a student to pass the course. The overall average in the course determines the course grade. The 95% minimum only applies to students who attempt the final exam early.

If the student fails to finish the course (that is, fails to get the required percentage to earn a C (80%) by the last day of classes), then the student will need to re-register for this course.

If you finish the course early, ask your instructor for information on continuation courses to help prepare you for your next math class. These courses DO NOT count towards placement. They are just for review/prep.

 

Community & Student Rights: Each student in this class is vital to the success of our class community, which is why it is important that we all respect each other, carefully consider one another's ideas, and value each other's contributions. All students are equally welcome and valued in this class, regardless of background, identity, or beliefs. There is no place for racism, sexism, and other forms of discrimination (implicit or explicit) in this community. As your instructor, I will do my best to foster a culture of equity and justice in this class and in the school as a whole. By joining this classroom community, you are committing to bringing a growth mindset to this work, which means we will work together to learn from each other and become more compassionate.


Use the Discussion Boards, Chat Group, come to Office Hours, email me. REACH OUT and you’ll be surprised how much we can connect. Keep in mind that as a student in this class, you have the right: 

1. to be confused and to ask questions, 

2. to make a mistake and revise your thinking, 

3. to speak, listen, and be heard, and 

4. to enjoy doing mathematics. 

 

Academic Honesty: Having academic integrity is important for everyone in the college community for several reasons. Academic integrity reflects a strong belief in your own ability to solve problems, be resourceful, and assign proper attribution to borrowed ideas. At Montgomery College, we believe that every student is capable of meaningfully contributing to the college community by being trustworthy with their work. See the Student Code of Conduct - “Academic Dishonesty and Misconduct.”

Here are some examples of academic dishonesty that will result in sanctions: Cheating, obtaining any unauthorized cooperation on any graded assignments, using notes during testing, getting help from others during testing, having a phone or unauthorized calculator during testing, leaving your seat during testing, and having conversations with others during testing. The penalty may range from no credit for the assignment up to and including exclusion and/or “U” grade for the course. In addition, I may refer you to case to the campus Dean of Student Affairs or designated Instructional Dean of Workforce Development and Continuing Education with a specific request that the Dean consider imposing additional sanctions.

Montgomery College faculty and staff are here to help you succeed, and we believe that you can succeed in all your courses. As your professor for this course, you can count on me to help you succeed in the course with integrity. Please reach out to me if you need help understanding the material or completing assignments in a way that demonstrates your adherence to academic integrity guidelines. You can also consult the Student Code of Conduct for further definitions and details.

Instructional Lab Coordinators:

For Takoma Park: Lori Christy Lori.Christy@montgomerycollege.edu
For Germantown: Nafeesa Azizi
Nafeesa.Azizi@montgomerycollege.edu
For Rockville: see your Professor

Take some time at the beginning of the semester to get to know your instructional lab coordinator – they are an additional resource. They are there to assist and also to give support not only for your ALEKS math work but also with topics like time management, note taking, study skills, test anxiety management, test strategies and preparation, and general success strategies while you are in an academic program. If you are taking a section that is REMOTE or DISTANCE LEARNING, you should ask your instructor for the lab coordinator’s contact information to be able to schedule remote live help via zoom. We are all here to help you succeed so please take advantage of all everything we can offer.

Academic Learning Centers: The Learning Centers at Montgomery College are here to ensure your success as you pursue your academic goals. Montgomery College offers a variety of services and supports through our discipline-specific Learning Centers to help students meet the rigors of academic coursework. Services provided by the learning centers include tutoring, virtual tutoring, workshops, graphic calculator loan program, study group areas, textbook loans, MC-provided computers and software, and more. Data shows students who use the Learning Centers early and often are more successful than those who do not. 

All students have access to the STEM Learning Centers, the Academic Success Center, and the Writing, Reading, and Language Centers. Information about specific learning centers and tutoring schedules can be found at https://www.montgomerycollege.edu/academics/support/learning-centers/virtual-tutoring.html

Achieving the Promise Program (ATPA): ATPA offers embedded classroom support and one-on-one academic coaching to students enrolled at any campus or taking classes remotely.  ATPA coaches can help you build on your strengths and target areas for improvement so that you can excel academically. ATPA services have also been shown to help students pass their classes, improve their grades, save money, and stay on track to graduate on time.

ATPA services are free and open to any registered Montgomery College students taking one or more courses. No matter where you are on your academic journey, the Achieving the Promise Academy (ATPA) supports your success while you are at MC. Visit the ATPA webpage to receive more information or to request a One on One Academic Coach.

You can get a personal Academic Coach until you graduate or transfer, regular coaching sessions about your academic goals and personalized success plan, and additional benefits like a laptop loaner program and tuition assistance (if you meet qualifications).

There is also Drop-In Coaching with virtual coaching sessions when you need them, help with time managements, study skills, goal setting and connection with other MC and community resources to help you succeed.

              Website: montgomerycollege.edu/atpa

              Email: atpa@montgoemrycollege.edu

Phone: 240-567-2782

TRIO Programs: The Federal TRIO Programs (TRIO) are Federal outreach and student services programs designed to identify and provide services for individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds. Program support services provide free academic, career, financial, personal, social, and technological assistance and support to eligible college students. The purpose of these programs is to increase retention, graduation, and transfer rates by providing and coordinating various educational support services, visit the Trio Program website for program specific information. 

Accommodations for Students with Disabilities: Your success in this class is important to me. If there are aspects of this course that prevent you from learning or exclude you, please let me know as soon as possible. If you have a disability that may impact your access and learning in this course, please contact me as soon as possible to discuss your specific needs. An accommodation letter from Disability Support Services (DSS) authorizing your accommodations will be needed as soon as possible. Since accommodations are not retroactive, it is strongly recommended that you notify me as early as possible in the term. Please note that the DSS has strict confidentiality policies and that I am required (and happy) to make accommodations determined by DSS.  

Any student who may need assistance in the event of an emergency evacuation must identify to the Disability Support Services Office; information on DSS services and guidelines for emergency evacuations for individuals with disabilities are found at: http://www.montgomerycollege.edu/counseling-and-advising/disability-support-services.html

Veteran’s Services: If you are a veteran or on active or reserve status and you are interested in infor­mation regarding opportunities, programs and/or services, please visit the Combat2Col­lege Web site at  www.montgomerycollege.edu/combat2college

Delayed opening or Closing of the College: Because of inclement weather or utility failure or for other reasons, it may be necessary to cancel classes for the College or an individual campus.   If such conditions force the College to close, you can AND SHOULD continue with all work as usual and check your email for information from your instructor. In such a case, public service announcements will be provided to local radio and television stations as early as possible.  The information is also available through the college web site or by calling the MC Information Line at 240-567-5000.  You are encouraged to sign up for Montgomery College ALERT, a system which will automatically send a text or email message to you in the event of closures or emergencies. 
Montgomery College will always operate on its regular schedule unless otherwise announced. Depending on the nature of the incident, notifications of emergencies and changes to the College’s operational status will be communicated through one or more of the following means:

 

Television

Radio

Channel 4 WRC
Channel 5 WTTG
Channel 7 WJLA
Channel 9 WUSA
News Channel 8

WTOP (103.5 FM)
WFRE (99.5 FM) - Frederick
WAMU (88.5 FM)
WFMD (930 AM) - Frederick
WMAL (630 AM)

 

Communication:  In addition to a productive academic environment, active and consistent communication between instructors and students can positively influence learner success. To protect your privacy and the integrity of your academic records when sending email, please use your official MC email address. Since you are responsible for information and announcements sent via MC email, you are expected to check your student email regularly.  Since this class uses online software, you are also expected to check your ALEKS email account regularly. When emailing an instructor, it is expected that you use your MC student email account and use appropriate and professional writing. When emailing instructors, please include your name, course, and class meeting times.

Pregnancy: If you might be, are, or have been pregnant, please remember that you have the same access to school programs and educational opportunities as other students. You can consult the College’s Title IX webpage to learn about academic adjustments, accommodations, and support.

 

To get more information or assistance with arranging academic or other related adjustments and support, be sure to notify your instructor and also contact the Title IX Coordinator, Kristen J Roe at 240-567-4279, or kristen.roe@montgomerycollege.edu.

Sexual Misconduct:  Any student who is impacted by sexual harassment, sexual assault, dating and domestic violence, stalking, gender discrimination, pregnancy discrimination, gender-based harassment or retaliation should contact the College’s Title IX Coordinator to make a report and or/access supportive measures and resources. For more detailed information about the College’s response to sexual misconduct or to make a formal complaint visit the College's Title IX webpage.

Important Student Information Link
In addition to course requirements and objectives that are in this syllabus, Montgomery College has information on its web site (see link below) to assist you in having a successful experience both inside and outside of the classroom. It is important that you read and understand this information. The link below provides information and other resources to areas that pertain to the following: student behavior (student code of conduct), student email, the tobacco free policy, withdraw and refund dates, disability support services, veteran services, how to access information on delayed openings and closings, how to register for the Montgomery College alert System, and finally, how closings and delays can impact your classes. If you have any questions please bring them to your professor. As rules and regulations change they will be updated and you will be able to access them through the link. If any student would like a written copy of these policies and procedures, the professor would be happy to provide them. By registering for this class and staying in this class, you are indicating that you acknowledge and accept these policies.

https://www.montgomerycollege.edu/admissions-registration/student-resources/syllabus-resource-list.html

Course Changes: The instructor reserves the right to alter the schedule of the course if necessary but will notify the students of any changes via the ALEKS email system before the changes are implemented.

Diversity Is Our Strength 
It is my intent that every student is well served by this course, that the learning needs of every student is addressed both in and out of class, and that the diversity that students bring to this class be viewed as a resource, strength, and benefit within our classroom as well as in the broader community.

It is my intent to present materials and activities in a safe space that are respectful of diversity: religion, gender, sexuality, psychological experience, ability/disability, age, socioeconomic status, ethnicity, race, language, immigration status, ideological perspectives, and culture. Your suggestions are encouraged and appreciated. Please share with me ways to improve the effectiveness of this course for you personally or for other students or student groups. In addition, if any of the assignment due dates conflict with your religious observances, please let me know so that we can make arrangements.

I also acknowledge that here in Maryland, we are on stolen land belonging to the Pocomoke, Choptank, Accohannock, Assateague, Nanticoke, Susquehanna, Powhatan, and Piscataway Native American peoples.