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MTH 1000 - Online
Math for Liberal Arts
Illinois Valley Community College

Course Syllabus

Welcome to the Course:     Audio Welcome  (If you need a player, Real Player is available as a free download.)

Welcome to Math for Liberal Arts (MTH 1000)!  This online section of the course is offered online through Illinois Valley Community College (IVCC).  I, Dawn Wiggins, am the professor for the course.  Math for Liberal Arts serves as a general education course and covers set theory, consumer mathematics, probability, and statistics; it does not serve as the prerequisite for any other mathematics course.  All course materials, assignments, and quizzes are available electronically.  The exams for the course are proctored on campus at the Assessment Center.  If you live out of the district and cannot take the exams at IVCC, you are responsible for making arrangements with the IVCC Department of Learning Technologies for an approved location.  This online course allows for flexibility in your personal schedule, but should not be confused with a self-paced course.  Please familiarize yourself with the course syllabus, paying special attention to the schedule.

Contact Information    Email Protocol

Materials    Description    Expected Learning Outcomes   

Schedule    Getting Started    Study Recommendations   

Practice Exercises    Grading and Assessments    Course Policies    Support and Technical Information

Course: MTH 1000 Online, Math for Liberal Arts, 08/FA

Prerequisite: MTH 0907 (Intermediate Algebra) AND MTH 0908 (Geometry), both with a "C" or better, or the equivalent college course; or, an appropriate score on the placement test.

Contact Information:

E-mail (preferred): Dawn_Wiggins@ivcc.edu  
Phone: (815) 224 - 0339
Address: 815 N. Orlando Smith Ave.
                Oglesby, IL 61348
Office Hours: E-307
Web Site: http://www.ivcc.edu/dwiggins
Correspondence Replies: Barring unforeseen circumstances, I will check and reply to messages at least once per day during the week.  I will check and reply to messages once over the weekend.  I believe that my schedule for checking messages will result in a reply within at least 48 hours, but most likely less than 24 hours.

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Email Protocol:
Unless otherwise instructed, send email to my campus email account.  When composing the email message, identify the course (MTH 1000 Online) in the subject line and include your full name in the body of the email.

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Materials:
    Text: Thinking Mathematically (IVCC edition based on the fourth edition by Blitzer).  The custom published text is available at the IVCC bookstore. (Optional)
    Calculator: Scientific calculator required; I recommend the TI-30X IIS or TI-30X IIB.  Graphing calculator, PDA, cell phone, etc. NOT permitted for exams.
    Computer: Meets the minimum system requirements as identified by CourseCompass (http://www.coursecompass.com/html/system_requirements.html) and MyMathLab (http://www.mymathlab.com/system.html).  NOTE: MyMathLab does NOT support Linux operating systems.
    Online:

1. Reliable internet access. 

2. A valid email address. 

3. Access to the course management system (MyMathLab/CourseCompass).  Access to the system includes an electronic copy of the text for this course.  A student access code is available for purchase through the IVCC bookstore or online (http://www.coursecompass.com/html/student_register.html).

NOTE: In lieu of having your own computer and internet access, you may choose to use the Computer Resource Center's facilities on campus (http://www.ivcc.edu/crc/Hours.html).  This is not advised, but it is an option for completing the course.  Given the due dates in the schedule and the hours of operation of the center, you are responsible for planning accordingly if you select this option.

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Description:
This course serves as a general education course; it does not serve as the prerequisite for any other mathematics course. The topics covered include consumer mathematics, set theory, probability, and statistics.  If time permits, additional topics may be selected from logic.

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Expected Learning Outcomes:
Upon completion of the course, the student should have demonstrated proficiency in the following:
                1.  Knowledge of set theory
                2.  Knowledge of consumer mathematics
                3.  Knowledge of probability
                4.  Knowledge of statistics

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Schedule:

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Getting Started:

1. Determine your readiness for the course.
               Are you ready for an online class?
               Do you have access to a computer that meets the minimum computer requirements?  Remember, computing resources are available on campus at the Computer Resource Center.

2. Register for the course through IVCC (http://www.ivcc.edu/admissions/registration.html).

3. Complete the IVCC Online Orientation Session prior to Fri. 8/22. (http://www.ivcc.edu/dl.aspx?id=2398).

4. Obtain the Materials.

5. Register for MyMathLab through CourseCompass (http://info.coursecompass.com/website/student_register.html) on Mon. 8/18 or Tues. 8/19.  During the registration process, you will set up a login and password that you will use to log in to CourseCompass and MyMathLab.  You will need the Course ID: wiggins66247.

6. Begin work on the course (Note deadlines in the schedule for the first week.).

1. Log in to CourseCompass (http://www.coursecompass.com/webapps/cclogin/process.do?type=ssologinpage&new_loc=%2Fwebapps%2Fportal%2Fframeset.jsp) and select the course.

2. From within the course, select the Course Outline link from the course menu on the left.

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Study Recommendations:
Given the online nature of the course, you are in attendance when you are logged in to MyMathLab/CourseCompass.  The online assessments include the surveys, quizzes, review assessments, projects, and discussion board postings.  The due dates can be found in the course schedule.  Late or missing assessments will be assigned a score of zero.  You may want to plan to complete the online assessments early to avoid last minute emergencies (e.g. internet failure, computer failure, etc.).

The exams and the cumulative final exam are to be taken on campus at the IVCC Assessment Center.  The exams will be available on the days specified in the course schedule.  For planning purposes, you will want to place exam dates on your personal schedule at the beginning of the course.  Also, to take an exam at the Assessment Center, be sure to schedule an appointment (http://www.ivcc.edu/assessment/).

As you work through the course, you may want to preview the assigned Practice Exercises for the section prior to completing the reading; this will help guide your reading.  Then, go through the lesson notes online, reading the textbook section as a supplement, and complete the assigned practice exercises.  To practice using the MyMathLab interface, I recommend that you complete some of the Tracked Tutorial Exercises for each section in the Book Contents menu item link of CourseCompass.  Then, take each quiz in MyMathLab after completing the associated sections.  After completing all sections for the chapter, prepare for the review assessment.  You can do this by reviewing the assigned practice exercises, reading the chapter summary at the end of the chapter, completing the review exercises at the end of the chapter, and reviewing the quizzes that you have taken in MyMathLab.  You may also want to complete the Sample Tests in MyMathLab for extra practice.  When you are ready, take the review assessment in MyMathLab.  After completing the review assessment online, prepare for the unit exam, which you will take at the Assessment Center.

This is a three credit course.  To help manage your time, you should plan to spend at least 10 hours working on the course each week.  Some weeks may require more, others less.  Also, the amount of time that you need to spend will depend on your comfort level with mathematics and your skill base.

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Practice Exercises:

The practice exercise problems are located at the end of each section.  They can be found in the hard-copy of the text or in the electronic text in MyMathLab/CourseCompass.  The assigned practice exercises are to help you gain proficiency with the material; they are not graded.  You may find that you need to complete more exercises than those assigned to master the material.  I recommend that you complete the assigned practice exercises in a notebook, just as you would in a face-to-face class.

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Grading and Assessments:

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Surveys:
Periodic surveys will be administered through CourseCompass.  Your participation will provide me with insight regarding student learning and ways to improve the course.  Please approach the surveys seriously to help me better meet your learning needs.

Quizzes:
The quizzes are located online in MyMathLab/CourseCompass.  Be sure to take the quizzes by the assigned deadlines.  Any quiz not completed by the assigned deadline will be assigned a score of zero.

You may take each quiz TWO times.  The best score will be used in your grade calculations.  You will have sixty minutes (60 minutes) to complete each quiz.

It is your responsibility to arrange for reliable access to the course.  Please keep in mind that technology problems (e.g. lost internet service, broken computer, etc.) do not exempt you from the assigned deadlines.  Plan accordingly: complete assessments with enough time left to allow for possible problems; and, have at least two computer alternatives for accessing the online course (e.g. IVCC's Computer Resource Center, a friend, a local library, work, etc.).

Review Assessments:
The review assessments are located in MyMathLab.  Be sure to take the review assessment for each chapter by the deadline and prior to taking the exam for the chapter.  Any review assessment not completed by the assigned deadline will be assigned a score of zero.

You may take each review assessment TWO times.  The best score will be used in your grade calculations.  You will have an hour and a half (90 minutes) to complete each assessment.

It is your responsibility to arrange for reliable access to the course.  Please keep in mind that technology problems (e.g. lost internet service, broken computer, etc.) do not exempt you from the assigned deadlines.  Plan accordingly: complete assessments with enough time left to allow for possible problems; and, have at least two computer alternatives for accessing the online course (e.g. IVCC's Computer Resource Center, a friend, a local library, work, etc.).

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Exams:
There will be a three day time-frame, as outlined in the course schedule, during which you must complete each chapter exam at the Assessment Center on campus.  You must schedule an appointment with the Assessment Center (http://www.ivcc.edu/assessment/) to take an exam; a photo ID must be presented prior to testing.  You will have one hour and fifteen minutes to complete each exam.  You are expected to take the exams in pencil.  (A 5 point penalty will result if you do not use pencil.)  Also, take a scientific calculator with you.  A graphing calculator, PDA, cell phone, etc. will NOT be permitted. 

If you have a conflict with the time-frame that an exam is available, you may take the exam early; I will need at least one work day notice prior to the date that you would like to make up the exam.  If you miss an exam, you may make up the points for a single missed exam at the end of the semester with your final exam score.  You will earn a score of zero for any subsequent missed exam(s).

Your exam will be graded within one week of the last exam day.  Grades are available in the MyMathLab gradebook.  Unless you make alternative arrangements with me, you may pick up graded exams at the IVCC Assessment Center.

Replace Lowest Exam Score:
If the percentage on your final exam is higher than your lowest exam score, then your lowest exam score will be replaced with the percentage from your final exam.  The final exam percentage can only be used to replace a single exam score in the course.  So, if you have missed an exam, then the final exam score will be used to replace the score for the missing exam.

Arranging Testing Services:
If you are unable to take the exams at the IVCC Assessment Center on campus, you are responsible for making arrangements with the IVCC Department of Learning Technologies for an alternative location.  The forms and instructions are available at http://www.ivcc.edu/dl.aspx?id=2478.

Final Exam:
There will be a two day time-frame, as outlined in the course schedule, during which you must complete your cumulative final exam at the Assessment Center on campus.  You must schedule an appointment with the Assessment Center (http://www.ivcc.edu/assessment/) to take the exam; a photo ID must be presented prior to testing.  You will have two hours to complete the exam.  You are expected to take the exam in pencil.  (A 5 point penalty will result if you do not use pencil.)  Also, take a scientific calculator with you.  A graphing calculator, PDA, cell phone, etc. will not be permitted.  If you have a conflict with the time-frame that the exam is available, you may take the exam early.  I will need at least one work day notice prior to the date that you would like to make up the exam. 

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Projects:
Project topics correspond to the course content themes: set theory, consumer mathematics, probability, and statistics.  Assignment details outlining projects are available online in the course management system.

Discussion Board Participation:
Discussion boards are available online in the course management system.  There is a Core Values discussion assignment at the beginning of the course.  Then, there are discussion threads for each unit.  Details regarding discussion board requirements and grading are available online in the course management system. 

Materials posted in the discussion boards should be relevant to course content and assignments.  When responding to posts, please exercise respect.  Postings that are obscene, inflammatory, sarcastic, or demeaning to the instructor or fellow classmates will not be tolerated.  Any student who makes such postings will be removed as a user from MyMathLab/CourseCompass and will subsequently fail the course.

The discussion threads are intended to enhance your learning experience and promote community amongst you and your classmates.  I will make posts as necessary, but my primary role will be as a facilitator.

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Course Policies:

Academic Conduct:
Academic honesty is expected.  Violations will not be tolerated.  Academic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to, copying answers off another student's exam, submitting another person’s work as your own, having crib sheets during an exam, and using a graphing calculator during an exam.  I reserve the right to assign a score of zero on any assignment where academic dishonesty occurs.  I also reserve the right to file an Academic Dishonesty Report with the office of  Academic Affairs.  Other possible disciplinary action includes failure of the course or withdrawal from the course; and, possibly, withdrawal from the college.

Withdrawals:
All withdrawals earn a grade of "W", which does not affect the GPA, but deletes the course credit(s) for the involved course(s).  Withdrawal from the course is NOT automatic.  Even if you cease all activity in the course, you must be withdrawn from the course.  All students on the roster at the end of the course will be assigned a grade.  It is your responsibility to contact me and receive confirmation from me of your withdrawal from the course prior to the deadline.  The last day for withdrawal is Friday November 7th, 2008.  If you wish to withdraw from this course, but cannot reach me, it is your responsibility to contact the dean of English, Mathematics, and Education, Marianne Dzik. 

Withdrawal from a course can affect financial aid.  Students who receive financial aid should contact an advisor in the Financial Aid Office before withdrawing from a course.

Special Needs Educational Support Services: 
You may be eligible for academic accommodations through the Disability Services Office if you have a documented physical, psychiatric, or cognitive disability such as a learning disability or ADD/ADHD. If you have a disability and need more information regarding possible accommodations, please contact Tina Hardy at 224-0284 or Judy Mika at 224-0350; or, stop by office B-204.

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Support and Technical Information:

IVCC Computer Resource Center (http://www.ivcc.edu/crc/)

IVCC Known Technical Issues (http://www.ivcc.edu/myivcc.aspx?id=2962)

IVCC Student Web Services, MyIVCC (http://www.ivcc.edu/myivcc/)

CourseCompass FAQ (http://www.coursecompass.com/html/student_faq.html)

MyMathLab Installation Wizard Student Support FAQ (http://www.mymathlab.com/contactus_stu.html)

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NOTE: This course syllabus is subject to change to meet the learning needs of the students and/or the needs of the professor.

Last Updated: 16 August, 2008

IVCC | Professor