INSTRUCTOR:  Mr. Bittner

OFFICE:    1121B

PHONE:     225-4916 (office)

OFFICE HOURS:     M thru F 10:00 – 10:50 a.m.

 

BASIC MATERIALS FOR THE COURSE:

 

1.         Beginning and Intermediate Algebra, 2^nd, K. Elayn/Martin-Gay, Prentice Hall, 2001

2.         Supplement for Math 102, 1st Edition, by Bob Bittner, available in the bookstore   

3.         Graph paper.

4.         Electronic calculator with scientific functions.

5.         A student solution manual is available to you. (It is not a required text.)

 

RECOMMENDED MATERIALS:

 

 1.        A student solution manual is available to you.  (It is not a required text.)

 2.        Scientific calculator.

 

CLASS PROCEDURE:

 

The class will consist of lectures and problem solving.  Since I believe you can only get as much out of a course as you are willing to put into it, please feel free to stop me at any time to ask questions.  Do not wait until you are thoroughly lost; ask questions when something becomes unclear to you.  I do not get upset with students who repeatedly ask questions—I encourage it.  Please, however, try to be specific about what step or procedure you do not understand when asking a question.

 

RECOMMENDED OUTSIDE CLASS ASSIGNMENT: 

 

The student should work as many of the problems in the book as necessary to learn the skill involved.  Odd-numbered problems are answered in the text's appendix.  Homework will not be collected or graded on a regular basis, however there will be some graded homework.

 

EDUCATIONAL PHILOSOPHY:

 

The student and the teacher have two significantly different roles in the educational system.  The teacher has the responsibility to prepare for class, answer questions and present new material as clearly as possible.  The student must also be prepared for class and do the assignments necessary to learn the material.  In short, the teacher is responsible for teaching and the student for learning.  These roles are complimentary and will help you to be successful.  However, if either fails in this responsibility, the results are unsatisfactory.

 

GRADING PROCEDURE AND POLICY:

1.       Each Chapter Test will count for 100 points.

            All graded homework work is equivalent to one chapter test.  (100 points)

            The percentage of possible homework points earned will be used as the homework score.

2.       The cumulative Final Exam will count 200 points.  (The Final Exam percentage will be recorded twice.) 

3.       By Math Department policy, anyone who fails to take the Final Exam will fail the course regardless of test average.

4.       If you must miss a test, contact your instructor as soon as possible.  A make-up test may be given if you contact your instructor by the calendar day after the test.  Points may be deducted for late tests.

5.       Points will be deducted on late homework at a rate of 7% per calendar day late.  Hence, no credit will be given for homework more than two weeks late.  (15 free points will be given to allow for a few late homeworks.)

6.       One test score (excluding the Final Exam) or the graded homework score can be dropped.

7.       All tests and homework (excluding the lowest) will be averaged using the formula:

(Percentage of total points) =  Points earned   * 100%

                                                  Points possible

9.       Your letter grade will be based on the percentage of total points as follows:

 

 

A = 90 - 100;  B = 80 - 89;  C = 65 - 79;  D = 50 - 64;  F = 0 - 49

 

 

 

 

ATTENDANCE AND DROP POLICY:

 

Good attendance is essential.  Students who appear to be no longer attending on census day may be dropped, unless special arrangements are made with the instructor.

 

A student who misses a class for any reason will be held responsible for the material missed and must go to the Math Learning Center to become familiar with the material covered on the day(s) missed.  This puts the responsibility on the individual student to keep up with the rest of the students who are attending class.

 

It is strongly recommended that a student who is not scoring at least 75% on tests take advantage of the services offered in the Math Learning Center located in Room 1102.  The student should expect to spend two hours of study time outside of class for each hour in class.

 

Mathematics Faculty Expectations of all Students;

 

The Mathematics Faculty believes that all students should have an equal opportunity to learn. In order to achieve this goal all students are expected to exhibit respectful behavior to other students and to the instructor.  Please observe the following specific guidelines.

 

CHEATING:  Unless specifically announced otherwise, all tests will be closed book with no use of notes allowed.  Use of these materials or receiving or giving aid during an exam will result in a zero grade on that exam and may result in being suspended from the course.  This zero score will count in the final grade determination. 

 

FINAL EXAM:  A final exam and /or regular class activity will be conducted during the scheduled final exam period, and all students will be expected to attend.  Failure to attend during the final exam period will result in an “F” grade for the course unless special arrangements have been made in advance with the instructor.

 

CREDIT BY EXAMINATION:  No class taught by mathematics faculty is eligible for credit by “credit by examination.” 

 

GUESTS/CHILDREN/PETS:  Only authorized persons are allowed in the classrooms.  Children will not be allowed in the classrooms or the learning center.  Children should not be left unattended in the hallway.  If a student needs assistance with childcare during class time, please contact the EOPS office.  EOPS may be able to help with long-term day care; however, it does not provide day-care service on a drop-in basis.  No pets (with the exception of those which aid a physically challenged individual) are allowed in the 1100 building. 

 

DISRUPTIVE BEHAVIOR:  A student may be suspended from the class if he or she engages in a classroom behavior that interferes with the learning environment.  Such behavior includes, but is not limited to, disruptive conversations with fellow students, regular tardiness, leaving the classroom during class time, and eating or drinking in class.  Students are expected to turn off all pagers, cell phones, and other electronic devices during class time.

 

ATTENDANCE:   Students are expected to attend all class meetings.  A student who fails to attend the first meeting of a course without notifying the instructor may be dropped from the class.  In addition, an instructor may drop a student for excessive absences.  Nevertheless, it is always the student’s responsibility to officially drop or withdraw from the class.  Students who fail to file the necessary forms, even though they stop attending class, will be assigned a course grade. 

 

 

 

R/10/02