Course Syllabus

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SPRING 2021 - MATH 120-1018, -3003, & -3010

Instructor Information:

Name: Jim Matovina

Communication Preference: Students enrolled in the class should contact me using the mail system in CSN's Canvas. If the student is not enrolled in the class or cannot access Canvas, any of the following methods of communication is acceptable.

E-Mail: jim.matovina@csn.edu
IMPORTANT: Any e-mail you send me should include your name, and Course/Section in which you are enrolled. Any email received without your name and Course/Section runs a significant risk of being treated as SPAM and may be automatically deleted. Student e-mails will be responded to within 12-24 hours.

Cell Phone: (702) 523-2100

Office Phone/Voice Mail: (702) 651-5801

Office Hours: Virtual Office Hours will take place in a Big Blue Button Chat Room. A link will be provided in Canvas, and the sessions will be held on Mondays and Wednesdays from 11AM-Noon & 3-4:30PM. If you cannot make it during those windows, I will be happy to meet with you in that chat room by appointment.

 

Class Information:

Title: MATH 120, Fundamentals of College Math

Description: Topics include problem solving, consumer mathematics, geometry, probability, set theory with Venn diagrams, systems of counting and measurement, and statistics. Course is broad in scope, emphasizing applications. Prerequisite: Placement test, or C or higher in MATH 095.

Location: All coursework and assessments must be completed in the Cognella Active Learning System.

  • Section 1018 is a fully online, asynchronous class with no formal meeting pattern.
  • Section 3003 is classified as an online "remote" class. All the work will be done online, and there will be weekly class sessions in a Big Blue Button chat room accessible via a link provided in the Active Learning. The sessions will take place on Mondays and Wednesdays at 9:30AM.
  • Section 3010 is also classified as an online "remote" class. All the work will be done online, and there will be weekly class sessions in the same Big Blue Button chat room as Section 3003, but they will take place on Mondays and Wednesdays at 4:30PM.
  • The students in all three sections will be placed in the same Active Learning shell and are welcome to attend any of the class sessions. Morning and evening sessions taking place on the same day will cover the same material. At least one of the two daily sessions will be recorded and a link to the recording will be posted on the course Discussion Board in the Active Learning. 

Duration: Tuesday, 1/19/2021 through Friday, 5/14/2021

Goals: Upon completion of this course, students should be able to:

  • Participate in a mathematically relevant conversation.
  • Solve problems involved with the topics of consumer math.
  • Recognize and work with sets and Venn diagrams.
  • Recognize and compute elementary statistical calculations.
  • Recognize and solve elementary probability problems.
  • Recognize and understand various topics of basic geometry.
  • Recognize and understand various techniques in voting and apportionment.
  • Have an ability to apply and extend these concepts.

Required Textbook: This class will use the Eighth Edition of WHEN ARE WE EVER GOING TO USE THIS STUFF?, published by Cognella Academic Publishing. Due to content changes, earlier editions of the book will not be sufficient.

Required Active Learning Access: This class requires the use of the Active Learning System (which is Canvas-based, but not CSN's version of Canvas). All the assessments and coursework MUST be done through the Cognella Active Learning System. You are required to review your Active Learning settings (click on your Account in the left-side icons, and then click on Settings) and make sure all the settings are correct - including having your first and last name are listed under the Display Name (if not, click the Edit Settings button on the right side of that page, and update things).

Acquiring the Required Materials: You can get the book and Active Learning access in the CSN Bookstore - either on-campus, or through their website. You can, however, get a better deal if you purchase the materials directly from Cognella Academic Publishing by doing the following:

STEP 1: Go to https://store.cognella.com/93098 - Be sure to know the section in which you are enrolled.

STEP 2: Check the materials you wish to purchase, along with the correct section, where indicated. Then click the Add to Cart button.

STEP 3: Review your order and click the Proceed to Checkout button.

STEP 4: Sign in if you already have a purchasing account or press the Create an Account button.

STEP 5: Check out by following the prompts. Payment can be made by all major credit cards. After purchasing, you can immediately access a digital copy of the first few chapters (if you selected a print format) or all chapters (if you selected a digital format) by logging into your student store account and clicking "My Digital Materials."

Print orders are typically processed within 24 hours; the shipping time and price will depend on the selected shipping method and day it is shipped (orders are not shipped on Sundays or holidays). If you experience any difficulties with ordering, please email orders@cognella.com or call (800) 200-3908 ext. 503.

After completing your purchase of the Active Learning access, an email with a subject “Course Invitation” will be sent to you to finalize your course access. (Check your SPAM folder if you don't receive it right away.) Within the invitation email, click the link labeled “Get Started,” and then follow the prompts.

 

Class/Course Policies:

Display Your Name: You are required to review your Active Learning settings (click on your Account in the left-side icons, and then click on Settings) and make sure all the settings are correct - including having your first and last name are listed under the Display Name (if not, click the Edit Settings button on the right side of that page, and update things).

ADA Notice: If you qualify for "reasonable accommodations" in accordance with the American with Disabilities Act, you must notify me in writing of such by the end of the first week of class. Visit the CSN Disability Resource Center (DRC) for more information.

Academic Integrity: According to college guidelines, academic dishonesty and academic misconduct are regarded as serious offenses, which can result in substantial penalties. If, during the course of a semester, evidence of academic dishonesty or misconduct comes to the instructor's attention, the students involved may receive a zero for the assignment, quiz, or test in question. Further, the incident could result in the student receiving a failing grade for the course and possibly even expulsion from the college and a notation in the transcript. Please refer to the CSN Academic Integrity Policy for more information.

Student Rights and Responsibilities: When you choose to become a student at CSN, you accept the rights and responsibilities of membership in CSN’s academic and social community. You can find a full description of these rights and responsibilities in the CSN Catalog.

Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS): CAPS offers short-term, problem-focused counseling to CSN students who may feel overwhelmed by the responsibilities of college, work, family, and relationships. Clinicians are available to help students cope with stresses and personal issues that may interfere with their ability to perform in school. The service is provided confidentially and free to currently enrolled students. To schedule an appointment, please call CAPS at WC (702) 651-5518, at NLV (702) 651-4099, and at HN (702) 651-3099.

Withdrawal: CSN Policy prohibits an instructor from issuing a W grade. If you stop attending class or quit completing the required work, you CANNOT be assigned an automatic "W" or "Withdrawal" grade; you will receive a grade based on the total points you have earned in the class, which, more than likely, will be an "F" to connote you have failed. If you wish to be withdrawn from this class, it is your responsibility to officially drop the class by the drop date listed in the college catalog/schedule of classes.

Technical Problems: Technical problems on your behalf will not serve as an acceptable excuse for missing deadlines or neglecting to complete the online assessments. The assessments in this class are available for extended periods of time, and it is your responsibility to make sure they are completed by the dates and times listed in the schedule at the end of this syllabus.

Calculators: Calculators are allowed in this class. In fact, you will probably need one. A good scientific calculator can be purchased for $15-20.

 

Method of Instruction:

Study: You are expected to read the text, do the suggested homework problems, study the indicated website materials, and ask questions when necessary. Answers to assessment questions will come directly, or be derived, from the content found in the textbook and/or presented in the class. DO NOT seek out alternative answers from resources not specified in the class. Answers from such resources that conflict with those presented in the textbook or through the class content shall be deemed incorrect.

Textbook Exercises: Unless directed otherwise, you are to assume every exercise in the textbook should be completed. Or, at the very least, you should do enough of them so that you understand the corresponding concepts. These assignments are there for your benefit; no textbook exercise will be submitted for grading.

Section Worksheets: Like the textbook exercises, the worksheets are there for your benefit. They will not be collected or graded, If, however, you would like some additional feedback, you are free to download, complete, and email/text me photos of them.

Syllabus Quiz: You will begin the class by taking a quiz over the information and policies laid out in this syllabus. You MUST get a perfect score on the Syllabus Quiz before you are allowed to proceed in the class. If you do not get a perfect score, review your answers and this syllabus, and then retake the Syllabus Quiz.

Any work missed due to a failure to take or get a perfect score on the Syllabus Quiz will be scored as a zero, and no make-up work will be allowed or offered for any reason, and no deadline will be extended.

At the end of the term, the 10 points earned on the Syllabus Quiz will be used in place of the lowest section quiz score.

Online Assessments: Assessments for this class will be completed online. When entering answers, you must provide a single answer, without any attempt to show work. It is also unacceptable to provide multiple answers in a single response and expect the extraneous or incorrect information to be ignored. Any attempt to show work or enter multiple answers (even if they are equivalent versions) into the same answer box shall be deemed incorrect.

Section Quizzes: During the semester, there will be an online quiz covering every section from the textbook. Each Section Quiz will consist of 5, two-point questions, and will have a 45-minute time limit. Questions appearing on the quizzes will come from the material covered in the textbook and/or presented in the supplemental materials provided in the Active Learning content. Due dates and times for the specific quizzes are indicated in the schedule found at the end of this syllabus.

Time Limits: Unless official alternative arrangements are made in writing and approved by the instructor prior to the posted deadline, each quiz MUST be completed within 45 minutes after its activation. You are not allowed to start a quiz, and then return to it at a later time to complete it. Any quiz activated and then left unattended for more than 45 minutes will be scored as is.

Computer Grading: Quizzes for this class will be completed online. When entering answers, you must provide a single answer, without any attempt to show work. It is also unacceptable to provide multiple answers in a single response and expect the extraneous or incorrect information to be ignored. Any attempt to show work or enter multiple answers (even if they are equivalent versions) into the same answer box shall be deemed incorrect.

It is important to note that the computer will be grading the online assessment questions. It is your responsibility to review your graded work. If you have an answer that you believe has been graded incorrectly, you should send me an email inside Canvas, and let me know the specific quiz and problem number(s) you would like me to examine. I will either correct the grading or explain why a deduction was made. Do realize, however, no credit shall be awarded for deductions made because of ignoring or neglecting to follow any listed instructions.

If a requisite image fails to properly load while taking a quiz, hold down the shift key and reload the page. If that does not work, contact me immediately. NOTE TO MAC USERS: Do not use Safari, as it does not play well with Canvas. Use Chrome.

Make Up Quizzes: You will be allowed up to four “Make Up Quizzes.” The Make Up Quizzes may be used to take a Section Quiz that was missed or to replace a low Section Quiz score that was earned earlier in the term. Make Up Quizzes may only be taken during the “Make Up Window” which will be during the last week of the term.

To be allowed the opportunity to take a Make Up Quiz, you must email your specific request(s) to me prior to 11:59PM on the Sunday preceding the Make Up Window. In order to be considered, each request for a specific Make Up Quiz MUST be accompanied by an original excuse. Keep the excuses clean, but feel free to be creative; ANY excuse is sufficient, and there will be no attempt to gauge their truthfulness or validity. For example, an acceptable request/excuse may look like, “I am requesting a Make Up for Quiz 3.2. A couple hours before the deadline for that quiz, while I was making my 3-yr old pea soup for dinner he hacked my account and changed my password. Apparently, he does not like pea soup.”

A different and unique excuse must be provided for each Make Up Quiz that is requested. Excuses must be free of vulgar and offensive language. Any provided excuse that is deemed offensive will result in a forfeiture of the opportunity to take any and all Make Up Quizzes, and you will also be subjected to discipline in accordance with the Disruptive and Abusive Student Policy and any other applicable College policies. Any student submitting an excuse hereby agrees to allow the said excuse to be shared with others, without any claim of ownership. Once complied, a list of the excuses, with the students names being redacted, will be posted on the class discussion board for your amusement. The list of excuses may also be presented in future classes or seminars, with the sole intention of making people smile.

Free Tutoring: Take advantage of the free tutoring offered at CSN. In addition to the free 1-on-1 tutoring offered through the Centers for Academic Success (CAS), you could also utilize the free and unlimited group tutoring offered in the Math Resource Centers (MRC) on each campus. CSN also provides students with 24/7 online tutoring through Smarthinking.com. Visit CAS Website for in-person tutoring information, and, to access the Smarthinking.com services, follow the link found inside the CSN Canvas class shell.

 

Grading:

Date of Last Attendance: Due to financial aid guidelines, CSN instructors are required to record a “Date of Last Attendance” (DOLA) for any student issued a failing grade. Any student who receives an F grade in this class shall have the corresponding DOLA recorded as the date on which the last assessment was submitted. If an F is to be issued and all assessments are completed, the DOLA will be recorded as FULLY. If no assessments are submitted, the DOLA will be recorded as NEVER.

Class Grades: There will be a total of 30, 10-point Section Quizzes and one 10-point Syllabus Quiz throughout this class. The Section Quiz with lowest score will be discarded, resulting in a total of 300 possible points to be earned. Point totals will be rounded to the nearest whole point, and +/- grades will not be assigned.

Class grades will be assigned according to the following point scale:

270-300: A
240-269: B
210-239: C
180-209: D
Below 180: F

Important Note About Grades in the Active Learning Environment and Canvas: By default, Canvas (and, hence, the Cognella Active Learning System) displays percentage grades based on only upon completed work. Students who neglect to submit work (thereby earning 0s) are often misled into thinking they are earning a grade higher than their actual grade.

For example, if you submit the first two quizzes and earn 9/10 on both of them, Canvas will display your grade as 90% (18/20 = 90%). Then, if you neglect to submit the next quiz (earning 0/10), Canvas will STILL display your grade as 90%, instead of the correct 60% (18/30 = 60%).

At the end of every semester, I am contacted by at least one student who was issued a grade lower than what they thought they had earned. In every case, the student in question neglected to submit at least one quiz and, hence, was misled by Canvas. Keep in mind, not only are missed quizzes scored as 0s, but the grades in this class are based on point accumulation, instead of the percentage of points earned on completed quizzes.

 

Important Dates:

  • Last Day for a 50% Refund: 2/1/2021
  • Last Day to Drop a Class WITHOUT a Grade of W: 2/1/2021
  • Last Day to Change from Credit to Audit: 3/26/2021
  • Last Day to Drop a Class WITH a Grade of W: 3/26/2021

 

Course Summary:

Date Details Due