Math 120 Online
Intermediate Algebra
Syllabus

Fall 2009

Instructor: Gary Church
Office: 18-206 (CSM)
Office Hours: 8:00-9:00 and 11:00-12:00 daily
Phone: (650) 574-6621
Email: churchg@smccd.edu
Webpage: http://www.smccd.net/accounts/churchg/
Aleks Course Code: 4NRDR-X6JUM (needed to register with the ALEKS server)

Textbooks: You don't necessarily need a textbook for this course. You do need a semester length ALEKS student license code. If you would like to use a book as a supplement for additional examples and explanations, you can purchase "Intermediate Algebra, 8th edition" by Lial/Hornsby/McGinnis (ISBN 978-0321279200). ALEKS will provide references to sections in this book for the problems you'll be working on from within ALEKS so that you can consult this text book for further explanation of the problem.

To purchase the licence code:

• Go to http://www.aleks.com/highered
• Under "RESOURCES" click "Sign up now."
• Enter the code 4NRDR-X6JUM
• When you get to the "Enter Your Access Code" page, click the link "purchase an access code online."
• On the bottom left-hand side of the page select "ALEKS Math (One Semester) $63"
• On the following page select the state (CA) and school (College of San Mateo)
• Read and accept the license agreement
• Fill in your credit card information

On-campus Saturday meetings:

• August 22, 10:00--12:00, in 19-124 (mandatory! Class Orientation)
• October 17, 10:00--12:30, in 19-124 (on-campus mid-term ALEKS assessment and exam.)
• December 12, 10:00--12:30, in 19-124 (on-campus final ALEKS assessment and exam.)

Prerequisites: To be eligible for this class you must have taken and passed (hopefully within the last year and with a grade of "C" or better) elementary algebra OR passed the appropriate placement exam as administered at one of the SMCCCD colleges. If it has been over a year since you passed beginning algebra, I strongly suggest you take the placement exam so that you are placed in the appropriate level course; without a sufficient foundation in elementary algebra, you will find it very difficult to succeed in this class.

System Requirements: Additionally, in order to run the ALEKS java-based application the system you use to connect to the ALEKS website (http://www.highed.aleks.com) should satisfy the minimal requirements found at ALEKS Technical Information

Schedule: You will spend most of your time for this course interacting with ALEKS. This means that you will typically log into your ALEKS account on the internet and either work in "learning mode" to add topics to your pie-chart or in "assessment mode" to determine exactly what part of the syllabus that you've mastered.

Ten intermediate objectives have been defined within ALEKS throughout the semester (approximately one every 10 days). You can see these objectives on the ALEKS calendar from within ALEKS. Within a few days after each intermediate objective is due, you'll be asked by ALEKS to do a quiz based on that objective. These quizzes form part of your semester grade.

It is very important to put in enough hours into ALEKS to keep to the scheduled intermediate objectives. If you don't do this, you'll do poorly on the intermediate objective quizzes and will begin falling behind. If you get too far behind, you'll find it difficult to catch up and complete the course.

Calculator: You should have a scientific calculator. At a minimum it should have an exponent (power) key, log and ln keys. It will also probably have the trigonometric function keys (sin, cos, tan) and many other mysterious keys.

Grading: Your grade will be based on ALEKS quizzes, midterm and final on-campus ALEKS based assessments and exams. Your semester grade will be based on the percentage of total points earned as follows:

• Quizzes: There will be ten quizzes based on the ten intermediate objectives that have been defined within the ALEKS syllabus. Each quiz will be worth 10 points, will be available within a day or two after the due date of the intermediate objective and you'll have a span of several days to do it. Once you begin the quiz you'll have to finish it within a set period of time (between half and hour and an hour depending on the quiz.) Make sure you have an hour of uninterrupted time before beginning the quiz.
  
• Midterm: The midterm is composed of a written exam and an online ALEKS assessment. The written exam is based on material from the intermediate objectives due before (or on) the date of the midterm. The ALEKS assessment is a typical assessment like all of the automatic assessments taken throughout the semester. Both the written exam and ALEKS assessment are worth 50 points.
  
• Final: The final is composed of a written exam and an online ALEKS assessment. The written exam is baset on material from the intermediate objectives following the midterm. It is worth 50 points. The ALEKS assessment is comprehensive, covering all topics in the ALEKS syllabus. It is worth 200 points.
  
• Finishing Early: It is possible that you will finish the syllabus before the end of the semester; that is fine. In this event you must contact me to make arrangements for taking the final exam and assessment.
  
• Math Lab: If you need extra help, the math lab (18-202) is available for your use. Here is a link so you can get more information: Math Resource Center.