INTRODUCTORY ALGEBRA 2ND TERM: MATH 65, CRNs 20161 and 20179----Spring 2022
CALENDAR and SYLLABUS (please print for yourself and place in a visible work location for your regular reference)
FRANK GOULARD, Instructor
Email fgoulard@pcc.edu, Webpage http://spot.pcc.edu/~fgoulard/main.html , Voicemail 971-722-4781 (best to email me).
Log
in to myPCC, then click on the Desire2Learn link on the lefthand side.
Once there, read the home page of the Math 65 web course (opens first day of term). Included on
that page is a syllabus, calendar, etc..
Course Calendar
General Assignment Dates:
There are a few exceptions to this schedule during exam weeks and they are noted in the appropriate Modules below.
Exam Dates (exams printed and completed, then uploaded to instructor by email)
| Module | Activities | Assignments |
|---|---|---|
Module 0: Monday, April 4 | ||
Module 1: Wednesday, April 6 | ||
Module 2: Wednesday, April 13 | ||
Module 3: Wednesday, April 20 | ||
Module 4: Wednesday, April 27 | ||
| Module 5: Wednesday, May 4 to Tuesday, May 10 | ||
Module 6: Wednesday, May 11 | ||
Module 7: Wednesday, May 18 | ||
| Module 8: Wednesday, May 25 to Tuesday, May 31 | ||
Module 9: Wednesday, June 1 | ||
| Module 10: Wednesday, June 8 to Sunday, June 12 | ||
Final Exam Review and Final Exam: Monday, June 13 |
If you still have questions, ask your instructor!
IMPORTANT NOTES
The instructor reserves the right to modify course content and/or substitute assignments and learning activities in response to institutional, weather or class situations.
The syllabus below will provide information needed for you to fulfill the class requirements. Other information including available resources will also be listed.
Course Syllabus
Please read this syllabus carefully and contact your instructor if you have any questions, as this syllabus is a written contract between the student and the instructor. If you decide to continue in this course, it means that you have thoroughly read the syllabus and accept all requirements as stated.
It is a good idea to regularly refer back to this syllabus.
Community Resources and Funding Assistance
The novel coronavirus COVID-19 is affecting so many lives in so many ways. I'll do my best to accommodate your learning needs this spring.
I want to be sure you have this resource list with information about childcare, work opportunities, unemployment benefits, food resources, health resources, and more that may help you navigate changes in your life this quarter. ASPCC student leadership compiled the list with your needs in mind.
Course Information:
Instructor Information:
Instructional Approach
Welcome! I'm glad you're here and am excited to work with you this term. While this online course is set up so that you should have everything you need, I still expect to interact with each you individually and will offer opportunities for you to interact with your classmates. I'm eager to provide any further explanation/examples when necessary, and feel that being able to do this on an individual level with students is one of the greatest strengths of online courses and instruction.
As for the nuts and bolts of how this course works, it's arranged chronologically and employs a modular design. It is not self-paced. If you have things come up in your schedule that interfere with the pre-set schedule though, be sure to let me know. I'm happy to try to work around your (likely very busy) schedule when I am able to do so. The weekly assignments are listed in that week's lesson module. These modules are available by clicking the Content link in the course navigation bar.
Modules will open on Wednesdays, as shown in the course calendar. There are multiple, staggered deadlines each week so that you have time to work through exercises, ask questions, and receive feedback prior to submitting your worksheets. The modules open and close midweek so that you have access to resources (and me!) when the higher-weighted assignments are due. This staggered Wednesday through Tuesday schedule might seem awkward at first, but students generally find it very familiar after a week or so. Note that the Module 0 introductory assignments are an exception, and are due early in the first week.
In each module, you will find links to the lecture outlines and videos for each section we will cover that week (usually three or four sections). Print out the lecture outlines and take notes on them/fill them in as you watch the videos. You will hand these in when you take each exam. Watch the videos and read through the appropriate textbook sections before you do the WeBWorK homework, discussion posting, and worksheet. Doing a little bit each day is ideal. You will have the opportunity to re-submit any discussion postings before the module closes and you can earn up to full credit with each submission. Note that the WeBWorK homework will take a decent amount of time, and it's best to start well before the weekly Tuesday due date.
Please use the open Open Q & A
discussion
boards to ask questions about any of the tasks or content for the
module. You may also email me with any questions you may have. Note
that I will often re-post email questions and my replies (without any
names attached) so that the entire class can benefit.
Assignments within the modules will direct students to use many of the tools contained in D2L Brightspace, as well as other external resources such as YouTube and WeBWorK. All required tools will be accessible both from within the weekly content modules, as well as from the course navigation bar. I will email and/or post any announcements/reminders on the course homepage once or twice per week.
Participation Expectations
Please engage with the course and content often, ideally at least three different days during the week (if not daily!). Math is easier to learn in small chunks, and frequent practice helps solidify your understanding. Each time you log into the course be sure to check for any new announcements and any email and discussion messages, as well as any assignment feedback.
Communication Guidelines
Best Way to Contact Me
The best way to contact me is by email. You can email me directly from your PCC email account or by using the D2L Brightspace email system which can be accessed from the Classlist. You can use the Classlist to send an email to me and/or your classmates.
Please include a relevant subject section of your email. D2L Brightspace will automatically include the course number and CRN for the course you are taking with me, and it's helpful for me if you keep this in the subject line.
Example email subject line: [MTH 65 - CRN 30010]: Confused by Fractional Exponents
Contacting Your Instructor by Email
Due to federal privacy laws and concerns about privacy, all email communication between instructor and student shall be done via PCC-assigned email addresses. Email sent from using the Classlist in D2L will be sent by your PCC-assigned email address, so this is an acceptable method for emailing your instructor.
All email responses from your instructor will be found in your PCC email account, which you can access via MyPCC or via http://google.pcc.edu.
Emails sent from personal, non-PCC email accounts will not receive a response.
Instructor Response and Feedback Time
I will be checking email in D2L Brightspace daily on weekdays. If you contact me by email and don't give me a proper subject, expect a delay or no response. Email sent on weekdays will be answered within 24 hours. Email sent after 2 PM on Friday will be answered no later than the following Monday.
Instructional Materials
Required Resources
Software/ Hardware/ Equipment/ Technical Skill Requirements
If you need technical help, you can email the Student Help Desk at shd@pcc.edu
Accessibility Resources for Required Course Activities
Resources for Students
In case you missed it, be sure to check out the Resources for Students page (contained in the Introduction to Online Learning module), which has links to various resources available online and on PCC campuses.
Tutoring Support
This spring term, in addition to eTutoring, PCC is delighted to announce that Academic Support Services for each campus will be offering Campus-based Virtual Tutoring! This will allow you to see familiar faces from the campus-based tutoring centers via both virtual appointments and drop-in virtual tutoring. Please visit the PCC Tutoring website to see what each campus is offering this term.
What a Typical Module Looks Like
There is a lot of information about the course below, and I encourage you to read it fully both now, and again when we're a couple weeks into the course. As a brief summary, here's what a typical module will entail:
Graded Elements of the Course
Videos and Lecture Notes
Just
like in a face-to-face lecture, taking notes helps students both
comprehend and retain the information they’re learning. I like to think
of this as muscle memory.
Each section of the textbook has lecture note outlines that accompany the YouTube video lectures contained in our course. Print these outlines, fill them out as you watch the videos, and then submit the completed lecture notes to each exam to be graded (they're simply checked for completeness).
WeBWorK (Online Homework)
For each module you will need to log in to WeBWorK and complete a few sets of exercises. WeBWorK will automatically grade your work and you will have the opportunity to rework any exercises that you have not completed correctly.
WeBWorK is a free online homework system that is an interactive version of the types of exercises you'll find at the end of a section in a textbook. These provide practice with the concepts and types of problems that require proficiency to be successful in the course.
For
these problems, you're expected to try each until you get it correct.
WeBWorK automatically grades them, and will tell you if your answer is
correct or not. Each module has WeBWorK problems assigned, and a few
modules have problems that can't easily be done in an online homework
system. In those cases, you might be expected to do a few problems from
the textbook and these are noted in the course calendar (these are typically graph this by hand
problems, and you'll simply check the answers yourself).
Email Your Instructor feature: You can click this from any page in WeBWorK, and include a message about a problem you want help with. This is the fastest way for me to assist you with your online homework, and I encourage you to use it if you've tried a problem a couple times but don't know where you're going wrong.
Show Me Another feature: The Show Me Another
button
can be clicked once you have attempted a specific problem at least
once. This provides a similar problem that you can practice, but that
won't count for credit. This is a great resource, as it also provides a
walk-through solution. If you read the walk-through solution though and
don't quite understand, don't hesitate to use the Email Your Instructor.
Discussion Postings
The goal of the discussions is for you to have the opportunity to get individualized feedback on one or more exercises before your full WeBWorK assignment and worksheet are due for the module. There is the added benefit of having an opportunity to see work from your classmates.
Your initial post is due Sunday at 11 PM, but you can resubmit and earn full credit until the module closes. While replying to classmates' posts is not a requirement, you are strongly encouraged to read your classmates' posts and to respond thoughtfully and respectfully.
Worksheets
The worksheets are a way that you receive feedback on your hand-written mathematical work and conceptual understanding. Each module has a worksheet that is due at the end of the module on Tuesday at 11 PM.
These will cover the most key concepts from the module that you've seen and practiced in both the lectures and WeBWorK. These most closely mimic what you'll see on exams, and are graded for accuracy (whereas the WeBWorK/practice homework is graded for completion).
Please print each worksheet and write your answers out by hand (or if you have a tablet with which you can write electronically, that works too). You are welcome to submit these earlier in the module, particularly if you do most of your work on the weekends.
Graded worksheets with my feedback included will be returned to the same Assignments folder where you upload each worksheet.
Module Reflections
The module reflections are an opportunity for you to self-assess your work and understanding for that module and to discuss this with your instructor. Each week has a very short survey that you fill out for this.
Proctored Exams
Note about Proctored Exams:
Given the current situation with the coronavirus/COVID-19, we will not be having in-person proctored exams.
We
will adjust our testing practices in light of the current health
situation for you to take the exams at your place of choice at a
specified date and time.
There are three required exams (Midterm Exam 1, Midterm Exam 2, and the Final Exam) during the term.
These exams will be paper and pencil exams, and you'll write out all your work (just like on your worksheets).
Note that our curriculum guidelines dictate that these exams must be no note and closed book. Additionally, these exams will have a "no calculator" portion and "calculator allowed" portion. Any hand held calculator will do, but you may not use a mobile or web accessible device such as a cell phone, tablet or laptop. You are on the honor system, attesting that you are following these guidelines as well as not receiving any outside assistance.
If you cannot take these exams at the listed dates & times, email me for an alternative. Also, if you wish, with my permission, you may make arrangements to take the exams at a proctored testing location such as a local college, though their cost and open (if at all) times will vary. You are responsible for making the alternate arrangements. Some locations may charge for their proctored testing service and any such fees will be the responsibility of the student.
Contact the instructor immediately if this applies to you, as this must be arranged well in advance of an exam.
Late Work & Make-up Policy
If extenuating circumstances arise for you at some point in the term, contact me to discuss your options regarding late work. My general late work policy for various assignments is the following:
Documentation Requirements
Because communication is an integral part of mathematics, the PCC Mathematics Departments have certain requirements for how work should be written. You should read and become familiar with the MTH 65 Notation Standards, as they will help you earn full credit on your assignments. Additionally, each Module's videos will demonstrate proper documentation related to that week's material.
If you ever have questions about appropriate documentation, please send me an email or make a discussion post in the Our Online Classroom discussion.
Grading Criteria
Graded Elements of the Course:
| Activity | Total Number During the Term | Points per Activity | Total Number of Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lecture Notes | 10 | 2 | 20 |
| Discussions | 10 | 3 | 30 |
| WeBWorK | 10 | 5 | 50 |
| Module Reflections | 10 | 2 | 20 |
| Worksheets | 9 | 20 | 180 |
| Midterm 1 | 1 | 100 | 100 |
| Midterm 2 | 1 | 150 | 150 |
| Final Exam | 1 | 250 | 250 |
| Total | 800 |
Course Grading Scale:
| Letter Grade | Grading Scale by Points | Grading Scale by Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| A* | 720 - 800 | 90 - 100% |
| B* | 640 - 719.99 | 80 - 89.99% |
| C* | 560 - 639.99 | 70 - 79.99% |
| D | 480 - 559.99 | 60 - 69.99% |
| F | < 480 | < 60% |
*In addition to the points and percentages stated above, to earn an A, B, C, or a P for the course, you must also have at least a 68% weighted average on your three exams.
Grading Options
Students are solely responsible for adding, dropping, or withdrawing from any class, as well as for selecting their desired grading option. Please review PCC Registration Policy for more information
The following are the different grading options that are available to you for this course. For more information, please go to the PCC Grading Guidelines.
Please note that all of these options have different deadlines. All specific deadlines can be found by clicking on the 'See your drop and withdraw deadlines' link under in the Term-to-Term Checklist section of the MyPCC Home tab.
Audit (AUD) Deadline:
If you would like to audit the course, you must discuss this with me, obtain my approval, and we must complete the process with the Registration office by 4:00 PM on the first Friday of the Term. Students can view course specific deadlines from the MyPCC Home tab, 'See your drop and withdraw deadlines' link.
Drop Deadline:
If you would like to drop the course, you must officially drop the course using MyPCC by Saturday of the first week of the term. Students can view course specific deadlines from the MyPCC Home tab, 'See your drop and withdraw deadlines' link.
Withdrawal (W) Deadline:
If you decide to withdraw from the class, you must officially withdraw using MyPCC within the first 80% of the course. Students can view course specific deadlines from the MyPCC Home tab, 'See your drop and withdraw deadlines' link.
Pass/No Pass (P/NP) Deadline:
If you would like your grade for the class to be assigned using the Pass/No Pass system, you must change your grading option through MyPCC within the first 80% of the course. Students can view course specific deadlines from the MyPCC Home tab, 'See your drop and withdraw deadlines' link.
PCC Policies and Deadlines
Internet Etiquette (or Netiquette)
Click here for more information about Netiquette.
ADA Statement/ Academic Accommodations
PCC is committed to ensuring that classes are accessible. Disability Services www.pcc.edu/disability/ works with students and faculty to minimize barriers. If students elect to use approved academic accommodations, they must provide in advance formal notification from Disability Services to the instructor.
Title IX/ Non-Discrimination
Portland Community College is committed to creating and fostering a learning and working environment based on open communication and mutual respect. If you believe you have encountered sexual harassment, sexual misconduct, sexual assault, or discrimination based on race, color, religion, age, national origin, veteran status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or disability please contact the Office of Equity and Inclusion at (971) 722-5840 or equity.inclusion@pcc.edu.
Sanctuary College
PCC is a sanctuary college. For more information and resources, please see PCC's Resources for Undocumented and DACA Students webpage.
Flexibility
The instructor reserves the right to modify course content and/or substitute assignments and learning activities in response to institutional, weather or class situations.
Payment Deadlines
Please review the PCC Payment Policy for information on payment and enrolling in courses. You can see your balance or access your bill online in the MyPCC Paying for College tab.
Student Rights and Responsibilities
The Student Rights and Responsibilities Handbook establishes students' freedoms and protections as well as expectations of appropriate behavior and ethical academic work. The Handbook includes items such as the Policy on Student Rights, the Policy on Student Conduct, and the Academic Integrity Policy.
Academic Integrity
Students are required to complete this course in accordance with the Student Rights and Responsibilities Handbook. Cheating includes any attempt to defraud, deceive, or mislead the instructor in arriving at an honest grade assessment, and may include copying answers from other students or using unauthorized notes during tests. Plagiarism is a particular form of cheating that involves presenting as one's own the ideas or work of another, and may include using other people's ideas without proper attribution and submitting another person's work as one's own. Dishonest activities such as cheating on exams and submitting or copying work done by others will result in disciplinary actions including but not limited to receiving a failing grade. For further information, review the institution's Academic Integrity Policy.
Academic Honesty
Students assume full responsibility for the content and integrity of the coursework they submit. Work submitted by a student must be original work completed by the student. You may get help when working through problems and exercises, but then you must rework the problems on your own before submitting the work to me. The worksheet must be entirely your own work. No one other than you may write your assignments (unless granted by an approved PCC Disability Services accommodation).
Two or more people may not submit identical or nearly identical documents. If this occurs, the minimum consequence will be that the grades will be one-half the score for each person for the 1st offense. At a minimum, a grade of 0 will be earned for any further offenses. More than one offense may result in disciplinary actions including but not limited to receiving a failing grade for the course.
Discussions about exams are not permitted until the grades for the respective exam are posted. Please be aware that there is always the possibility that a student has not taken the exam yet, and you are responsible for withholding any information about the exam.
Email Notice
Due to federal privacy laws and concerns about privacy, all email communication between instructor and student shall be done via PCC-assigned email addresses. Email sent from using the Classlist in D2L will be sent by your PCC-assigned email address, so this is an acceptable method for emailing your instructor.
All email responses from your instructor will be found in your PCC email account, which you can access via MyPCC or via http://google.pcc.edu.
Emails sent from personal, non-PCC email accounts will not receive a response.
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