If you are good at the nuts and bolts of algebra, then you can certainly find success in this course. In particular, you should be able to readily simplify algebraic expressions, factor binomials and some trinomials, find the sum, difference, product, or quotient of rational functions by factoring and obtaining common multiples, graph linear and quadratic functions, apply the quadratic formula to solve equations of degree two in one variable, and use algebra to describe and then solve elementary applied problems. This prerequisite material is covered in a typical Intermediate Algebra course which is taught in every high school in the country and in most colleges. The first chapter also reviews much of this material.
Carefully read the syllabus so that you understand course policies and procedures. Explore each of the links on the left portion of the homepage.
Click on the Text link and you will find instructions to purchase the Hawkes Learning Systems Courseware.
Once you have the software installed, you are ready to go. Remember the old saying: Mathematics is not a spectator sport?" Well, the absolutely best feature of this course is the interactive, online nature of the lessons. Each lesson includes an Instruct, Practice, Tutor, and Certify mode with error specific feedback. The homework assignments may be repeated as many times as necessary (without penalty) in order to help you learn the material. Once you achieve the mastery level of success for a lesson, you are given full credit for that lesson, your success is noted in the Gradebook, and you are ready to move on to the next lesson. Of course the homeworkis graded in seconds!
Now for your favorite part of the course: Testing.
There are three midterms, each worth 100 points. The final test is comprehensive and is worth 200 points. To schedule and take an exam, just click on the Test link and follow the instructions. The exams are not open-book; however, you may use scratch paper, your graphing calculator, and a single 5 x 8 index card for formulas and definitions. For each midterm and final test you get four attemps with the best score counted. Test results are automatically recorded in the Hawkes Gradebook, results and feedback are immediately available. After you have completed an examination, Dr. Heal will review your exam and give you additional points for partial credit and trivial formatting errors when it is appropriate. You don’t need to contact me, just check your Hawkes Gradebook for the revised score a few days after it is submitted.
The tests are randomly generated using a variety of problem types and parameters. They are based on the same problem types that are used to build your homework.
So the way to get top scores on the exams is to Work Hard. Life is that way. The interactive lessons with Instruct, Practice, Tutor, and Certify modes are your key to success.
Finally, as with any mathematics course, it is important that you do not get behind schedule. Each lesson usually builds on material from previous lessons. If you let the time between homework assignments drag out, the material gets "cold" and it will be more difficult to catch back up. Your reward will not only be a decent semester grade but a possession of important mathematical knowledge. This course will prepare you for a subsequent calculus course, either the science based sequence or the business calculus course. Furthermore, there are many examples and exercises that encourage you to apply your knowledge of algebra to solve interesting real-world problems.
| Dr. E Robert Heal, Professor Department of Mathematics and Statistics Faculty Website Robert.Heal@usu.edu 435.760.0704 |
