Department of Mathematics

Department of Mathematics

MATH 1090:  Computational Skills

Instructor: Janice Hiner
4410 Everett Tower
387-4592 		       Course
Coordinator:		 Dr. Kirsty J Eisenhart
3326 Everett Tower
387-4117

Overview and Course Description
This course is designed to sharpen computational skills involving whole numbers, fractions, decimals, percents, signed numbers and simple geometric figures. In addition to this, the course is designed to strengthen analytical thinking.  Students will be asked/ encouraged to find patterns, make conjectures, and judge the validity of given conjectures.  The students will test their conjectures and eventually provide counter examples to disprove invalid conjectures or give justifications for conjectures they determine are valid.

Required Course Materials
In addition to a textbook you will also need a a three ring notebook and MathXL.  If you purchase a new textbook from the bookstore then an access code for MathXL will be bundled with your text.  If you are purchasing a new textbook from a different source, make sure your text is bundled with an access code to MathXL (not MyMathLab).  New textbooks are automatically bundled with one of these two possible access codes so be sure you get the correct access code:  MathXL.

If you purchase a used textbook, you will also need to purchase an access code for MathXL.  This will cost you $40 and can be done at the following website: http://mathxl.com/.  Go to this site and click on the “Buy Now” button to purchase an access code with your credit card.  Since this is a single semester course, I suggest purchasing the 12-month code instead of the 24-month code.

TEXTBOOK: Mathematics in Action: Prealgebra Problem Solving, 2/E
                        The Consortium for Foundation Mathematics

ISBN of text packaged with MathXL:
   ISBN-10: 032151792X
   ISBN-13: 9780321517920

ISBN of just the text:
   ISBN-10: 0321446127
   ISBN-13: 9780321446121


Course Format and Participation
This is a laboratory-oriented course in which you will often investigate mathematics collectively (with a partner, in small groups, or whole class).  Whole class discussions of different solutions to a problem and the mathematics underlying these solutions will play a central role in this course.  Though these discussions will take different forms on different occasions, it will always be the case that your ideas, strategies and questions will guide the discussion. Thus, as a class, we will examine each other’s thinking and come to a better understanding of the mathematics by doing so.  Given the student-centered nature of this course, attendance and participation is of the utmost importance. [See attendance policy on the next page.] Satisfactory participation means that you are willing to share your thought process, questions and solutions with the class (even when you don’t think you have “the right answer”), that you support your classmates by listening and thoughtfully reacting to their ideas, and that you attempt all of the homework before class so that you can actively participate in our discussions.   Consistent and productive participation in class will be considered in determining final grades (see participation rubric below).

Grading Policy
If all course requirements have been met, grades will be assigned according to the scale:

A
90 – 100%		 BA
85 – 90%		 B
80 – 85%

CB
75 – 80%		 C
70– 75%		 DC
65% - 70%		 D
60% - 65%		 E
Below 60%

NOTES: You must attain at least a C in this course in order to take Math 1100.

Course Requirements
The following is a tentative outline of the required graded assignments and their weights:

*
*
*
*
*
*		 Exams
Comprehensive Final Exam
Online Homework: MathXL
Class Participation (see rubric on last page)
Writing Assignments
Other Assignments 		39% of final grade
25% of final grade
15% of final grade
  6% of final grade
10% of final grade
  5% of final grade

Attendance Policy
As much of the course content is presented in a small-group, problem-solving format, daily attendance is required. Each class utilizes tools and concepts learned from previous classes, so be sure to arrive on time and stay until you are dismissed. Not only do excessive absences, tardiness, and early departure suggest a lack of professionalism and commitment, but they also guarantee that you will not attain the objectives of this course.   Also note that class participation is 6% of your final grade (see participation rubric below); you will not earn any class participation points if you do not attend class.

Course Notebook
You are required to organize your work for this course in a notebook (e.g. one-inch three-ring binder) that includes the following sections: 1) Activities with In-Class notes 2) Post-class Notes, 3) Scratch Work, and 4) Assignments & Exams. The goal is to make your notebook into something that will serve as a resource for you over time. This will also serve as your main resource when studying for each exam. Items within your notebook will be assessed through various means. Therefore, it is critical to always bring your notebook to class with you, and to keep up on your daily work and seek help when you don’t understand an assignment. If you have a more efficient way of organizing your notebook, discuss your plan with your instructor. Otherwise, your note book should contain four sections as described below.

  Activities & In-class Notes :  Use this section to organize your completed work from each activity along with the notes you took during class. Note that you are expected to finish any activity not completed in class.
  Post-class Notes:  It is often the case that you may have difficulty taking notes on the discussions that occur during class.  For this reason we require that you take at least 10 minutes after each class to capture important mathematical ideas that have been discussed during class.  This will help to solidify your understanding, and highlight areas/issues around which you still have questions. Post-class notes will save you valuable time when studying for an exam.
  Scratch Work :  Use this section to organize scratch work from MathXL. Most of the problems on this online homework will require paper and pencil calculations. You will want to keep all of your work, correct and incorrect calculations. We highly recommend crossing out incorrect work rather than erasing it and then write yourself some notes as to why your fist methods were invalid. This will help you learn from your past errors rather than repeat them.
  Assignments:  This section will contain all of your exams and assignments.  You will want to keep both the graded and not graded assignments in this section as well as all of your drafts of each assignment so that you can reflect on all before tutor sessions, group homework sessions, or an exam.

Assignments:  In order to succeed in any class, it is critical that you stay on top of your assignments.  Be sure to start your homework early and utilize your instructor and the tutor lab when needed. Also to keep you on schedule, late homework will not be accepted.  In the event that you must be absent from class, have your homework delivered to the Math Department mailroom before class.  Each instructor has a mailbox in the Math Department office on the 3rd floor of Everett Tower. Be sure to attach a cover sheet to your homework that contains your name, class time, and instructor's name.
 
MathXL:  This is an online interactive tool packaged with our textbook that can provide immediate feedback.  We will be utilizing this tool to help strengthen your mathematical skills and more importantly to help you become more efficient in these skills.  Efficiency in these skills is vital for success in your next mathematics course. For this reason, if you do not achieve at least a 75% on MathXL you will be deducted one letter grade at the end of the semester. After completing a text activity you will go to the MathXL website and take the corresponding quiz.  If your quiz score is not satisfactory use the “Study Plan” to strengthen your skills and then retake the quiz.  Your grade will be calculated using the highest quiz score. Note that most quizzes will be due the Sunday after you finish the corresponding activity in class. Be sure to visit MathXL a few times throughout the week so that you do not miss a due date.

MathXL Bonus Opportunity: You may earn 70 MathXL bonus points by mastering chapters in your study plan (turning pencils into caps). You can earn 20 points for chapter 3 and 10 points each for chapters 1, 2, 4, 5, and 6. This means you could earn 324/254 for your MathXL portion of your final grade. These bonus points are earned by scoring 85% or higher on one of the two sample chapter tests (version A or version B). Once you Score a 85% or higher, immediately print out a copy of your results and give it to your instructor. Be sure to include your name and class time on your printout. As with quizzes, you can take a sample chapter test as many times as you wish.

Registering for MathXL: Directions for registering for a MathXL account and for installing the plug-ins are given to the left .  Always be sure to turn off any pop-up blockers when using MathXL.

Exams:  There will be 3 unit tests worth 13% each (for a total of 39% of your final grade). Most of the problems on the unit tests will be similar to, or elaborations of, homework and group work. Other questions may test definitions, example problems, and/or class work.  Note that answers to selected section problems are in the back of your text.  You may wish to use these as practice problems.  The final will be a comprehensive test worth 25% of your grade. If you are unable to attend class on any exam day you must notify the Director of the Developmental Mathematics Program (387-4117) BEFORE the exam or a make-up may be denied.  All make-up exam will be given on the mass final exam date: Friday April 30th.

Accommodations:  Any student with a documented disability (e.g., physical, learning, psychiatric, vision, hearing, etc.) who needs to arrange reasonable accommodations must contact their instructor and the appropriate Disability Services office at the beginning of the semester. If you believe you need some type of accommodation due to a disability and haven’t yet talked with the Disabled Student Resources and Services office, here is their contact information: 2210 Wilbur Ave (across from Rood before the Health Center, above the Day Care Center); 269-387-2116; http://www.dsrs.wmich.edu.

Policy on Incompletes:  According to University policy, incompletes are given only in those rare instances when extenuating circumstances have prevented a student from completing a small segment of the course. An incomplete is never given as a substitute for a failing grade and the Chair of the Department of Mathematics must approve all incomplete grades. The last day a student can process an officially withdrawal from a class to avoid a failing grade is Monday, March 22nd.

Academic Integrity:  You are responsible for making yourself aware of and understanding the policies and procedures in the Undergraduate and Graduate Catalogs that pertain to Academic Honesty. These policies include cheating, fabrication, falsification and forgery, multiple submission, plagiarism, complicity and computer misuse. [The policies can be found at http://www.wmich.edu/catalog under Academic Policies, Student Rights and Responsibilities.] If there is reason to believe you have been involved in academic dishonesty, you will be referred to the Office of Student Conduct. You will be given the opportunity to review the charge(s). If you believe you are not responsible, you will have the opportunity for a hearing. You should consult with me if you are uncertain about an issue of academic honesty prior to the submission of an assignment or test.

Student Conduct:  Please familiarize yourself with the student code of conduct and the definition of plagiarism.  The use of mobile phone or two-way radios is strictly prohibited during class, unless it’s a life-and-death emergency.  Silence your phones, beepers, iPods, etc. at the entrance of the classroom and store them.  For a complete copy of the code go to http://www.osc.wmich.edu.

Class Participation Rubric

Class participation will be informally assessed on a continuing basis. Class participation grades will be based on participation in both small group and whole group settings.

A

Contributing to Others’ Learning
This is the goal of the class. This does NOT mean telling or showing someone else how to do something. Sometimes it means sharing your thinking about the mathematics so that others can analyze and learn from it. Always it means listening carefully to what others are saying, connecting what you hear to your own thinking, and asking questions that will help everyone involved better understand the mathematics. The expectations for receiving this grade will increase as the semester goes on. That is, it is assumed that these are skills that you are learning so in the beginning attempts at doing this will be sufficient to earn the grade. As you develop these skills, it will require competence in them to earn the A.

B

Contributing to One’s Own Learning
Here you are clearly engaged in learning the mathematics, but haven’t moved outside yourself to interact well with others. It generally means doing quality work, but not being willing to share your thinking with others or not showing interest in making sense of their thinking. In the context of whole class discussion, it would mean listening and learning, but not sharing your ideas or observations with the class.

C

Getting By
This involves showing up, minding your own business, and doing what you are told.

D

Interfering with Learning of Self or Others
There are various ways one can do this; the most obvious are distracting group members from the task at hand or being belligerent about what one is asked to do. More subtle ways include implying someone is stupid because they don’t understand a problem or telling someone how to do a problem and thus undercutting their opportunity to figure it out for themselves.

F

Not there
This includes not being there physically and/or mentally.  Note that whenever you are absent, it is your responsibility to make up the work, preferably before the next class so that you are able to participate in class.  See syllabus for responsibilities associated with missing class. 

 

 

Developmental Mathematics Program

Western Michigan University
Kalamazoo MI 49008-5248 USA
(269) 387-4117 | (269) 387-4530 Fax
math-dev@wmich.edu