Getting Started > Meet Your Instructore9dd1e5e-5251-41e2-a2c3... · Getting Started > Meet Your...

Getting Started > Meet Your Instructor

Welcome to MATH 1316!

My name is Dr. Theresa Jones, and I'll be your instructor for this course. I received a Ph.D. in Mathematics Education from The University of Texas at Austin and an M.A. in Developmental Education from Texas State University (back when it was Southwest Texas State University). I have been a lecturer in the Department of Mathematics at Texas State University since the fall of 2010. Prior to coming to Texas State University, I taught developmental mathematics at Austin Community College.

Teaching is my second career. My first career was as a mechanical engineer after earning a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Alabama and an M.S. in Mechanical Engineering from The University of Texas at Austin. My interests in education began when I was teaching CAD tools to engineers and designers as well as developing corporate educational materials.

Outside of the classroom, I like to spend my time with my hands in the dirt—gardening or working in clay. I also write fiction.

You might can tell from my outside interests that I am a visual-spatial person, and that applies to how I see mathematics. I like graphs and pictures, and as an engineer, I also like application problems.

I encourage you to contact me if you have questions at any point. You my email me via the Mail link in the left-hand menu bar.

As a correspondence studies student, it is your responsibility to be familiar with correspondence-related policies and services.

To this end, I encourage you to review the Correspondence Course Information page as well as the Correspondence Studies website.

Getting Started > Technical Requirements and Assistance

Technical Requirements

Before you begin this course, you'll need to take a number of steps to optimize your computer to ensure that you can view the interactive lessons and demonstrations and also submit your online homework. It is recommended that you review the minimum hardware and software requirements and other important information available on the ITS Course Information page.

Here's what you'll need in terms of programs (all of which are available for free download):

• A web browser. If you're viewing this page, you already have a web browser, but you'll

need to check to make sure it's recent enough to support viewing of the TRACS

material. You will also need to use tools within Connect Math to ensure you have the

appropriate browser.

• Additionally, many of the links in this course are set to open in new windows. If you

have a pop-up blocker enabled, I'd encourage you to set it to allow pop-ups from

TRACS. (If you aren't sure how to do this, just Google "allow pop-ups [insert your

browser here]".)

If you haven't already done so, follow these instructions to purchase your Connect Math access

code. You will need to correspond with the Connect Math technical support with any problems

setting up your Connect Math access.

TRACS Support

Texas State's Information Technology Assistance Center (ITAC) provides phone and LiveChat technical support for TRACS 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year.

To take advantage of these services, visit ITAC online or call 512.245.ITAC (4822). Note also that a number of online TRACS tutorials are available from TRACS Facts.

Note: Videos in the course may not play in Safari or Firefox. If you are having trouble viewing videos in the course content section, try switching browsers to Chrome.

Getting Started > How to Register for Connect Math

Student Registration Instructions for Connect Math .docx

Student Registration Instructions for Connect Math -‐ MATH 1315 T. Jones Course ConnectMath Course Code

MATH 1316 Distance AFPWK-‐QLGPN Step One: Go to www.connectmath.com and click “Sign up now” under NEW USER?

Step Two: Enter the course code provided by your instructor and select Continue.

Step Three: Confirm your enrollment information and select continue.

Step Four: Enter the Access Code that you purchased from the bookstore or purchase access online now.

Step Five: Enter your personal information to create an account. Please write down the password you select.

Select Continue to proceed.

Step Six: Please write down your login name. Select Continue.

Connect Math Support Hours (CST): Sunday, 3:00 PM to 12:00 AM | Monday - Thursday, 8:00 AM to 12:00 AM | Friday, 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM Phone: (949) 390-2095 | Email: contact us at http://support.connectmath.com Please check the System Requirements link from www.connectmath.com.

Getting Started > How to Use Connect Math

All homework is done in ConnectMath. You will need to purchase an access code. This can be done at connectmath.com, which you should be able to access by selecting MHCampus on the left of the screen. You will need a credit/debit card to pay for this. The course id is AFPWK-QLGPN. ConnectMath also contains your ebook and other resources such as videos.

Getting Started > Free Tutoring Resources

Free Tutoring

A variety of free tutoring resources are available for students enrolled in Texas State correspondence courses.

Smarthinking

Texas State correspondence and extension study students have access to several hours of free online tutoring from Smarthinking for subjects ranging from grammar and writing to mathematics and Spanish.

SLAC and Texas State Math Lab

Currently-enrolled, degree-seeking Texas State students able to visit the Texas State campus are eligible for free in-person tutoring from the Student Learning Assistance Center (SLAC) and from the Texas State Math Lab.

Getting Started > Academic Integrity

The Texas State Academic Honor Code applies to all Texas State students, including correspondence students. The Honor Code serves as an affirmation that the University demands the highest standard of integrity in all actions related to the academic community. As stated in the Texas State Student Handbook, Violation of the Honor Code includes, but is not limited to, cheating on an examination or other academic work, plagiarism, collusion, and the abuse of resource materials.

Academic work means the preparation of an essay, thesis, report, problem, assignment, or other projects, which are to be submitted for purposes of grade determination. Cheating means engaging in any of the following activities:

• copying from another student’s test paper, laboratory report, other report orcomputer files, data listing, or programs;;

• using, during a test, materials not authorized by the person giving the test;;• collaborating, without authorization, with another person during an examination or

in preparing academic work;;• knowingly, and without authorization, using, buying, selling, stealing, transporting,

soliciting, copying, or possessing, in whole or in part, the content of anunadministered test;;

• substituting for another student—or permitting another person to substitute foroneself—in taking an exam or preparing academic work;;

• bribing another person to obtain an unadministered test orinformation about an unadministered test;;

• purchasing, or otherwise acquiring and submitting as one’s own work, anyresearch paper or other writing assignment prepared by an individual or firm.This section does not apply to the typing of the rough or final versions of anassignment by a professional typist.

Plagiarism means the appropriation of another’s work and the unacknowledged incorporation of that work in one’s own written work offered for credit.

Collusion means the unauthorized collaboration with another person in preparing written work offered for credit.

Abuse of resource materials means the mutilation, destruction, concealment, theft, or alteration of materials provided to assist students in the mastery of course materials.

Please cite all unoriginal material through the use of standard bibliographical practice [https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/section/2/] Incidents of academic dishonesty as outlined by the University will be reported to the administration for disciplinary action. In addition, students will receive a 0 for the assignment or assignments without the opportunity to redo the work.

Getting Started > Students with Special Needs

The Office of Distance and Extended Learning is committed to helping students with disabilities achieve their educational goals.

A disability is not a barrier to correspondence study, and we strive to provide reasonable accommodations to individuals in coursework and test taking.

Students who require special accommodations need to provide verification of their disability to the Office of Disability Services, Suite 5-5.1 LBJ Student Center, 512.245.3451 (voice/TTY).

Students should then notify the Office of Distance and Extended Learning of any disability-related accommodation needs as soon as possible to avoid a delay in accommodations.

Course Syllabus

Course Description

MATH 1316: Survey of Contemporary Mathematics

A study of the uses of mathematics in society today. Emphasis is on concepts rather than technical details. May not be used as a prerequisite for any other mathematics course.

Prerequisite: College Readiness in Mathematics according to the TSI regulations or Math 1311 with a grade of CR.

Objectives

This course satisfies the University’s General Studies requirement for mathematics. The goal of this course is to emphasize modern uses of mathematics as applied to practical settings. This will be accomplished by the following objectives. The student will learn from the concepts of:

• Mathematics of Finance—simple and compound interest, amortization, annuities, investing• Management Science—street networks (Euler circuits), Hamilton circuits, bin packaging, minimum

spanning trees, scheduling, set theory, truth tables• Statistics and Probability—descriptive statistics, sampling and experimental design, normal

distribution, polling, basic probability Growth and Form—units of measure, simple and compoundinterest, geometric properties of shapes, permutations and combinations Social sciences—votingmethods, apportionment methods, methods for optimization, investment basics

Course Materials

The following materials are required:

Math in Our World – by David Sobecki (Author), Allan Bluman (Author) ISBN-13: 978-0073519678 ISBN-10: 0073519677 Edition: 3rd

You may purchase a paper copy if you'd like, but an electronic version of the textbook comes with the Connect Math online subscription (discussed below).

• Purchase of Connect Math Access code required—AFPWK-QLGPN (You can selectMHCampus on the left or go to connect math.com)

• A scientific calculator is required for this course. The course will be taught using the capabilitiesof the scientific calculator. You may also use a graphing calculator.

Assessments and Grading

Your final grade for the course will be comprised of the following learning opportunities that sum to 1000 points:

• Getting Started Quiz (20 points)

• Homework (250 points)—The homework is assigned at the end of each lesson and must becompleted in Connect Math. You may attempt homework as many times as you wish in order toachieve your desired grade.

• Chapter Tests (180 points)—You will take a test via Connect Math at the end of each chapter. You willbe allowed three attempts.

• Midcourse Exam (220 points)—The midcourse exam will be 23 questions inspired by problemspresented in the interactive online lessons on TRACS, Connect Math homework, and ebookexamples as well as the videos assigned for viewing for chapters 8 and 14. To take the midcourse

exam, you must have earned a score of 80% or higher on all homework assignments for Chapters 8 and 14. This exam will be taken in a proctored, testing environment. The student is responsible for coordinating arrangements with the Office of Distance Learning and for emailing the instructor to receive approval that all prerequisites have been met.

• *Final Exam (330 points)—The final exam will be 32 questions inspired by the problems presented in the interactive online lessons on TRACS, Connect Math homework, and ebook examples as well as the videos assigned for viewing for chapters 11, 12, and 13. To take the final exam, you must have completed all assignments and have earned a score of 80% or higher on all homework assignments for Chapters 11, 12, and 13. You must wait at least one week between taking the midcourse exam and the final exam.

For the midcourse exam and the final exam, please be aware that I have five business days from the date of receipt to complete grading. You will be able to earn a maximum of 1000 points. Final grades will be determined as follows*:

A = 900 points and above B = 800-899 points C = 700-799 points D = 600-699 points F = less than 600 points

*Regardless of the total points you accumulate, you must earn a total of at least 300 out of 550 points on the twoexams to earn a D in this course and a total of at least 360 out of 550 points on the two exams to earn a C in this course.

How to be Successful in this Course

Completing this course successfully will require time and effort on your part. Accordingly, I’ve compiled the following list of study practices that I believe will help you to be successful in this course:

• Realize that you cannot cram this material. Slow and steady wins the race. Please do nottry to complete this course in an unreasonably short period of time. One of your first tasks inthis course should be to prepare a schedule and stick to it. (The Course Study Schedulewill help you do this.) I suggest you plan to cover no more than one chapter every twoweeks. Be careful about stepping away from the course material for an extended period oftime.

• Fully utilize Connect Math. Recognize that math is not a spectator sport. Would you expect towatch someone play a sport and then expect to be able to perform at the same level? No. It’sthe same with math. Think of your brain as a muscle;; you have to build it up and get it in shapeby practicing, and you practice by working problems. In this course, your "gym" will be ConnectMath. You will go there to work out your brain. And just like you have to visit the gym regularlyto keep in shape, you'll need to keep visiting Connect Math regularly to retain your mathematicalfitness.

• Connect Math is an interactive workspace for homework. Unlike using a book where there isno feedback, Connect Math has several options to help you understand and practice problems.If you don't know how to work a problem, you can select "Guided Solution” to step through theproblem, then choose "Try Another" to work a similar problem. Or you can select “ShowExample” to see a sample problem worked out. You can continue working “Try Another”exercises until you understand the problem, and have earned full credit for the problem. Youcan also work review exercises at the end of each section in the online textbook.

• Keep a Homework Journal. That is, avoid working your Connect Math homework on scratchpaper and then throwing it away. Instead, work your homework in your homework journal andyou’ll have it to study from for your exams. Your homework journal can be a 3-ring binder ora spiral notebook(s);; it's up to you. As you do your homework, make notes to yourself in yourjournal. Write out the equations and processes or whatever helps you make the connectionsyou need to make. Then, when you study for your examinations, your journal will be a usefulstudy tool.

If you put the effort into it, your homework journal can be the most useful tool in this course. Ifyou do your homework on scratch paper, input your answers in Connect Math then throw thatscratch paper away, what will you have to study from for your exams? But if you work theproblems in a notebook, and enhance it with formulas and notes, you’ll have personalizedstudy guide. The topics in this course involve multi-step solution processes. While many ofthe equations will be provided on the exams, the process steps will not so you will need tolearn them. The first step in learning a multi-step process is to write down the steps. So asyou read the material, watch videos and work homework, write out the steps.

• Make a Plan. Self-motivation is necessary for successful completion of this course;; no onewill be pushing you but you. Use the Course Study Schedule to help you identify targetdates and chart a path for progressing through the course, including when you’ll completeeach homework, project, chapter test, and exam. You will benefit the most by completing theassignments in the sequence shown on the study schedule. Also, as you plan yoursubmission dates, remember that I have five business days from the date of receipt to gradeyour projects, midcourse exam, and final exam. Life happens;; update your schedule asneeded.

• You are not alone. Though self-paced courses offer tremendous convenience for students,they also leave some students feeling isolated. Remember that I am here to help. If you havequestions about the course content or structure, please email me via the Mail tool in the left-hand navigation menu. You can also visit the useful links to reference materials, interactiveactivities, and videos provided in the lessons. If you're on campus, remember also that youcan utilize SLAC and Math Lab for free tutoring. Those of you distant from campus have accessto free online tutoring via Smarthinking.

MATH 1316 Course Study Schedule

Below is a list of each chapter and its corresponding activities and assessments. Enter the date you began the course and your deadline for completion. Then, plan your target submission dates accordingly. Remember to include holidays and inter-‐semester periods in your timeline. Additionally, remember that you may not complete more than one chapter per week. Furthermore, remember that for the midcourse and final exams, I have ten business days from the date of receipt to grade your submission.

START DATE: __________________________________________________________________________

Chapter Lesson Activities Date Submittedd

Date Returned Grade

Get Started & Syllabus

• Review Get Started and Syllabus.• Access Connect Math and ebook

through McGraw-‐Hill website.N/A N/A

• Take Syllabus Quiz. Immediately

Chap

ter 8

8.1 • Read Section 8.1 in textbook/ebook.• View Lesson 8.1 in TRACS.• Do Homework 8.1 in Connect Math.

Immediately


Immediately


Immediately


Immediately

8.5 • Read 8.5 in textbook/ebook.• View Lesson 8.5 in TRACS.• Do Homework 8.5 in Connect Math.

Immediately


Immediately

• Take Chapter 8 Test in Connect Math. Immediately


Date Returned Grade

Chap

ter 1

4 14.1 • Read Section 14.1 in textbook/ebook.

• View Lesson 14.1 in TRACS.• Do Homework 14.1 in Connect Math.

Immediately


Immediately


Immediately

14.4 • Read Section 14.4 textbook/ebook.• View Lesson 14.4 in TRACS.• Do Homework 14.4 in Connect Math.

Immediately


• Take Midcourse Exam at Testing Center.

Chap

ter 1

1


Immediately


Immediately


Immediately


Immediately


Immediately



Date Returned Grade

Chap

ter 1

2


Immediately

12.2 • Read Section 12.2 in textbook/ebook.• View Lesson 12.2 TRACS.• Do Homework 12.2 in Connect Math.

Immediately


Immediately

12.4 • Read section 12.4 in textbook/ebook.• View Lesson 12.4 in TRACS.• Do Homework 12.4 in Connect Math.

Immediately


Immediately


Immediately


Immediately


Chap

ter 1

3

13.1 • Read Section 13.1 in textbook/ebook.• View Lesson 13.1 in TRACS.• Do homework 13.1 in Connect Math.

Immediately


Immediately


Immediately


Date Returned Grade


Immediately


Immediately


• Take Final Exam at Testing Center.

DEADLINE FOR COMPLETION: ____________________________________________________________

Getting Started > Meet Your Instructore9dd1e5e-5251-41e2-a2c3... · Getting Started > Meet Your...

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