math course

Misericordia University

ARCH Accelerated Program – Mathematics Department

Course Syllabus

Course: Math Reasoning Course Number: MTH 120-75 Term: Summer 2019 Online Session 2

Instructor: Tony White Email: [email protected] Phone: 570-971-9509

Contact Policy: Expect a reply to emails or calls within 24 hours. My preferred communication is email, but you may call if necessary (e.g. if it’s right before something is due, if you can’t get on the internet, if I haven’t replied to your email from over 24 hours ago), in which case I won’t mind, even if it’s the middle of the night (though you’ll probably have to leave a message).

Course Description: Development of quantitative problem solving. Methods of problem solving. Reading, determining, and solving problems using basic arithmetic, algebra and geometry. Common mathematical models of everyday phenomena.

Course Objectives & Goals:

· Use of mathematics, particularly symbolic logic and algebra, as a means of communicating ideas and relationships.

· Use data in the construction of an argument.

· Evaluate arguments.

· Develop and enhance critical thinking and problem solving skills.

· Develop an understanding of the central concepts and ideas of the arts, humanities and the social, behavioral, mathematics and natural sciences.

Textbook: Mathematical Ideas (13th ed.) by C. Miller, V. Heeren, J. Hornsby, & C. Heeren.

Boston: Pearson, 2016. ISBN: 978-0-321-97707-6

Topical Outline:

Weekly Schedule:

Sun-Wed Lectures & Homework

Wed before midnight Journal Response

Thurs 7:00-9:00pm Web-Conference

Sat by 11:59pm Quiz *Last week: Final due Friday instead of Quiz Saturday

Lectures: Each week, there will be several voice-over lecture videos on Blackboard covering the material for the current unit. Students are expected to carefully watch them early in the week.

Homework: Consult Blackboard for assigned problems following each lecture. Homework is not graded or checked, but is highly recommended as the best way to practice for exams.

Web-Conferences: Each week, the instructor will host a web-conference through Blackboard Collaborate. Students are expected to have already attempted the homework, and posted in the Response Journal problems they would like to see gone over. Students who most actively participate and ask questions in web-conferences may receive extra class participation points. Students who want extra help may request an appointment for a one-on-one web-conference with the instructor.

Journal: Each student will have a Response Journal on Blackboard. In order to get credit for equivalency hours for lectures, students must write a response. Post each week the night before the web-conference. Use lecture responses to inform the instructor what you are struggling with, ask questions, and request homework problems to be covered in the web-conferences.

In addition, students who cannot attend a web-conference must watch its recording and write a response, prior to taking the quiz. Post what you learned and what you found unclear. A student who does not post a lecture response, or who neither attends a web-conference nor posts a response, will lose class participation points.

Exams: At the end of each week, students will take a Blackboard quiz on the material covered. Any calculator may be used on exams, although a basic one should suffice. Exams are open-book and open-notes, but you may not work with other people. The penalty for submitting a quiz late or after the time limit (within reason) is -5 points. Students must complete a cumulative exam by 11:59pm on the last day of the term, which is a firm deadline for all coursework.

Evaluation Methods: Quizzes 55%

Final Exam 40%

Participation 5%

Disability Statement: Students who require academic accommodations due to a disability, please contact the Student Success Center at [email protected] or 570-674-6205.

Tutorial Assistance: Smarthinking is an online tutoring service available to all students. Students can drop in on a live tutoring session, submit papers, or schedule private sessions in many subject areas. Smarthinking registration and log in information can be found on the Student Success Center channel found under Student Services.

Equipment Requirements & Support: Students should

· Have at least Intel or AMD 2.0 GHz processor, but Intel Dual Core 2 Duo would be best.

· Have at least 2 Gb of memory (RAM), but 4 Gb would be best.

· Have a broadband internet connection (DSL, cable, or T1). A 56K dial up connection should work but is not recommended.

· Have the recommended, supported browser, Internet Explorer 8 or FireFox 3.6. For Macintosh computers, FireFox is recommended.

· Have the recommended software, Microsoft Office and Adobe Acrobat Reader.

· Scan your PC for viruses each week and keep up-to-date with the latest virus definitions and Windows updates.

· Have a headset and webcam for online audio and video conferencing. (Many newer computers include a webcam.)

If you have questions about your computer or the technology at Misericordia, call (570)674-8087 for the Student Help Desk, located in Mercy Hall 023 with the following hours:

Monday-Thursday 9 a.m. – 8:30 p.m.

Friday 9 a.m. – 6:30 p.m.

Saturday 11 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Sunday noon – 4 p.m.

Alternative Instructional Equivalencies: The highly accelerated pace of this course requires students to take responsibility for their own learning outcomes. A 3-credit course requires a minimum of 42 hours of classroom instruction or equivalent activities as set forth by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, of which we will utilize the following:

Researching, PowerPoint/video reviews, web quest activities, reading articles, etc. are considered “homework” assignments. The Rate of Equivalency denoted pertains to posting, reviewing, sharing, and providing student-to-student and/or instructor-to-student feedback.

Disclaimer: The instructor reserves the right to modify this syllabus with notification to students. Items marked with * are especially tentative.