Math 811 AA

Arithmetic Review

CRN 82683

9:10-10:00 MWF

Room 18-301

Description:

Three lectures hours plus one hour by arrangement per week. Basic arithmetic facts and operations of whole numbers, signed numbers, fractions, decimals, and percents; estimation, number sense, calculator skills, area and volume, and applications. (Units do not apply toward AA/AS degree).

Student Learning Outcomes:

1. Perform operations with whole numbers

2. Perform operations with fractions

3. Perform operations with decimals

4. Perform operations with percentages

5. Calculate perimeters/areas of geometric figures

6. Find greatest common factors and least common multiples

7. Other topics as chosen.

Computer contact: You are responsible for having access to the internet (free on campus/libraries) to monitor any postings online. Quiz and test scores may be posted there by assigned number, as time permits. Contact with me outside of class will be conducted by email (no phone) at callahanp@smccd.edu so you must maintain your username@my.smccd.edu email found at your WebSMART student account. Do not call school staff to leave phone messages for me! Office 12-173 by appointment.

Text: Basic Mathematics, 10th edition, Bittinger. Copies of this or older versions on reserve at library (ask at the main desk first floor bldg. 9), and the tutoring lab 18-202. Other audio/visual materials also available.

Attendance: You should be in class for each entire session. If you sign up for this course, I assume that you need the instruction and will follow the attendance policy. If you do not need the instruction, you should place into a higher class to make room for students that do need the instruction. Students who habitually come late, leave early, or drift in and out during class time are disruptive to the class and will be documented/dismissed/dropped. You should strive to not miss any of the class meetings, but to stay in the class you must miss less than 20% of the non-test instructional days. For instance, if you miss the equivalent of 2 (or more) sessions thru 09/11 or 4 (or more) non-test days thru 10/09 or 6 (or more) non-test days by 11/04, you may be dropped/withdrawn by me. Late arrivals, in/outs during class, early exits, and forced dismissals from class count towards absence totals (from one-half to one whole session as determined by me). In all cases, it is your responsibility to keep up with your status and file appropriate forms to avoid unwanted grades. Email and ask me if you are concerned about your status.

Tutoring in 18-202: There is an “hour by arrangement” requirement mentioned in the catalog for tutoring and homework help. It is a mandatory requirement of this course that you make yourself available for the amount of tutoring time in 18-202 that I assign to you based on your performance (see below). You should not attempt to perform all of the time at once or right before the lab closes, or you may not be able to complete the assignment or benefit from it. You are not allowed to substitute this time obligation somewhere other than 18-202. To receive credit for time spent in the lab, you must log into the computer with your student number for the time you spend in the lab, whether you are receiving tutoring or just working on your own. Students found to be cheating by logging in but not staying in the room to do their work will have to perform new hours as a penalty, and may be subject to disciplinary action under college cheating policies. Use of up to 17 hours in the lab is free. If you require more hours, you must be prepared to pay for another unit (see 18-202 Math Resource Center for policies). Students who perform satisfactorily on quiz/hmk/tests will not be assigned mandatory work in 18-202, although it is encouraged!

Homework: Do at least 1 hour of independent study for every hour spent in class. Read current sections and examples in the book, review class notes, attempt odd problems, check answers in the back of the book, form a study group with other students, ask questions in class, and go to tutoring as needed or required (Bldg. 18 room 202). Homework is collected at the beginning of class on the day that it is due. Late students must present homework to me as they enter class or it will not be accepted. No later submissions accepted. Students missing more than 75% of homework assignments in preparation for a particular unit test may be given additional measures such as extra tutoring time in 18-202 to make it up.

Quizzes: Will be given daily in the first 5-10 mins. of class, based on previous homework. No makeups. Late students are not allowed to take the quiz. Those with poor or missing quizzes (generally less than 75% of the available points) will be assigned mandatory tutoring in 18-202 as determined by me on a case by case basis (up to a maximum of 4 hours for each attempt of a unit test). No books, notes or calculators allowed.

Tests: Tests will be given as per the schedule to those who qualify (see below):

The three unit tests are approximately as follows:

Unit 1(ch1/ch2), Unit 2 (ch3/ch4), Unit 3 (ch5/ch6/ch10).

Each unit test will consist of 10 questions, one point for each absolutely correct answer (no partial credit). You must receive 7 out of 10 points or better to pass a unit test. No books, notes, or calculators allowed. If you pass all three unit tests, you will receive Credit for the course. (No letter grades in this course).

To qualify for taking the first attempt at a scheduled unit test, you must have completed the following:

1. Turned in at least 75% of the homeworks assigned in preparation for that unit test or met any additional tutoring requirements as assigned by me.

2. Completed any assigned mandatory tutoring due to poor quiz performance (up to maximum of 4 hrs. for each unit test attempt in 18-202).

If you do not complete this work by the last class session before the day of the first attempt for a unit test, you will not be allowed to take the test and will have only two more chances to make it up. You should not waste opportunities to take the test or wait until the last minute to perform mandatory tutoring!

For each scheduled unit test, if you

1 do not qualify to take it,

2 fail to show up to take it as scheduled, or

3 fail to pass it,

you may earn a maximum of two more chances to take it. You must spend up to 4 new hours as assigned by me in the tutoring lab to qualify for each new attempt. Two attempts for each unit test will be provided during class time. Students in need of a third attempt outside of class, who cannot work out an alternate time with me, must be available to take the test outside of class from

7am to 8am or 10am to 11am on 10/19 for Unit 1 and from

7am to 8am or 10am to 11am on 11/30 for Unit 2 and

9am to 10am on 12/16 (during the scheduled finals week meeting) for Unit 3.

If you do not pass the third attempt of a Unit test by the above deadlines, you will not be allowed to take the next scheduled unit test and you will be dropped from the course. If you do not pass Unit 3 by 12/16, you will receive no credit for the course. You must show evidence of making progress with the material to continue in the class. If you are dropped, you will receive “No Credit” for the class and cannot continue coming to class (or you may initiate a withdrawal by 11/18). You should then continue to study the material in the book (with the help of the tutoring lab) and attempt the placement test again at the testing center to try to qualify for Algebra.

Please make special note to avoid future conflict or misunderstandings:

1. Do not ask me if it is OK to be absent or leave early, or give me notes from doctors, counselors, etc. Absence from class will still be counted and you must decide for yourself whether it is a necessary absence. There is no need to notify me of one-day absence or tell me of the personal reasons behind absence. Informing me of these reasons will not change my class policies. Extended absence of a week or more should be discussed with me to assess your status and risk of being dropped. Plan time properly to arrive at school on time to avoid lateness, accidents and parking issues. Take responsibility for your decisions and actions!

2. There will be no makeups of (or early) homework or daily quizzes. No more than three attempts at each unit test will be given no matter how much time there is left in the semester, so make your attempts count! No incompletes will be granted.

3. I should not have to tell you the following! No visitors are allowed in class (including children, friends, relatives, pets, etc.). No cell phones, music players, computers, or any other distracting devices are to be used during class. No noisy/smelly/messy foods (such as pizza) are allowed in the classroom as no one wishes to smell your food, watch you eat it, or clean up after you. No sleeping during class time--if you need sleep more than instruction I will ask you to go find a more comfortable and appropriate place. No private tutorials, conversations, or passing of notes is allowed while I am lecturing. No profanity, abuse/harassment of me or other students, or in general any disruptions that inhibit student learning will be tolerated. Students deemed by me to be in violation of the above rules, whom I ask to desist or be dismissed (leave the classroom) for the session, must comply without argument or be removed by security and referred to the Dean for possible disciplinary action.

4. Students with special needs must make them known to me during the first week of instruction. After that, I cannot guarantee that those needs can be adequately met. Appropriate forms must be filed before services can be received and must be given to me at least a week before a test, or no accommodations will be allowed for that test. Accommodations conflicting with provisions in this syllabus must be approved in writing by the Dean of Math/Science and the Chair of the Math Department.

5. Students who feel that they have serious needs that conflict with the policies stated in this syllabus must send me an email stating their concerns during the first week of instruction and I will determine if the conflict can be resolved. After this time, if you have not brought up any issues with me, I will assume that you have read, understand, and accept this syllabus and its terms, and I will not form any new contract with you, regardless of the reason. I strictly adhere to my policies out of fairness to all of the students.