Course Syllabus

Jump to Today

Basics

Everything you need to do and when to do it can be found in Modules

Important Info
Math 130-4834 – College Algebra
El Camino College, Mathematics Department
Fall 2023
Instructor: Michael Zeitzew  Email: mzeitzew@elcamino.edu  
Use Pronto (click here to download the app)
Expect responses in under 24 hours
Virtual Office Hours: Zoom, Thursday 12-1 PM


Fall 2023 Important Dates

Important Dates
Weekday Classes Begin (1st 8 Week Session and Full Semester Courses)
 Monday, August 28, 2023
Last Day to Add with an Add Code/Drop for a Refund/No Notation Friday, September 1, 2023
Labor Day Holiday (Campus Closed) Monday, September 4, 2023
Last Day to Add Classes (Full-Semester Classes) Sunday, September 10, 2023
Last Day to Drop for a Refund/No Notation (Full-Semester Classes) Sunday, Sept.10, 2023
Veterans Day Holiday (Campus Closed) Friday, November 10, 2023
Last Day to Drop with a “W” (Full Semester Courses) Friday, November 17, 2023
Thanksgiving Holiday (Campus Closed) Thursday, Nov. 23 - Friday, Nov. 24, 2023
Fall Semester Ends Friday, December 15, 2023

 


Catalog Description:

3 units
3 hours lecture
Prerequisite: MATH 80 with a minimum grade of C in prerequisite or qualification by testing (El Camino College Mathematics Placement Test) and assessment.  To learn more about our math courses, please check our website:  https://www.elcamino.edu/academics/mathsciences/
Credit, degree applicable
Transfer CSU, UC*

In this course, students will explore polynomial, radical, rational, exponential, and logarithmic functions and their graphs, as well as sequences and series.

Specific Learning Objectives:

  • Solve nonlinear inequalities and a variety of equations, such as: polynomial, rational, radical, exponential, and logarithmic.
  • Solve problems using graphical methods involving a variety of functions, such as: polynomial, rational, radical, exponential, and logarithmic.
  • Solve problems using sequences and series.
  • Solve college algebra level application problems and use technology.

Course Objectives:

  1. Solve polynomial, rational, radical, exponential, and logarithmic equations, and solve formulas for a variable.
  2. Solve linear and nonlinear inequalities.
  3. Determine the domain, range, and graph (with transformations) of the following: polynomial, rational, exponential and logarithmic functions.
  4. Determine the composition of functions and the inverse of one-to-one functions.
  5. Solve problems involving arithmetic and geometric sequences and series.
  6. Analyze the graph of a function and determine the domain, range, extrema, and average rate of change.
  7. Solve college level application problems from the mathematics of finance including compound interest, present value, and annuity.
  8. Solve problems using a scientific (or graphing) calculator and/or computer algebra systems.


Materials Needed:

These are explained in the sections below in detail, but you'll need:

  • Textbook (electronic version OK, physical copy optional)
    • The textbook is free, see below.
  • Latest version of Edge/Safari/Firefox/Chrome/Opera on a laptop/desktop computer
    • You can borrow a laptop (for free!) if needed, see below.
  • Edfinity access
    • Because other browser-platform combinations (such as iOS) may handle cookies in a way that can prevent students from launching into Edfinity from Canvas. 
    • If students opt to use such browser-platform combinations, our support team may not be able to diagnose any issues that occur.
    • Edfinity is not free, unfortunately.
  • Graphing calculator is recommended.
    • You can use an app on your phone or an emulator on your PC or Mac if you don't want to pay the $$$ for the calculator.  Information about that can be found on this page.


Textbook:

Great news: your textbook for this class is available for free online!
College Algebra from OpenStax, ISBN 1-947172-12-3

You have several options to obtain this book:

You can use whichever formats you want. Web view is recommended -- the responsive design works seamlessly on any device.


Laptops/Hotspots/Calculators Available for Loan

Technology is first come, first serve. Please go to the Library Lobby to check out laptops, hotspots and calculators.

If you have questions, email lrc@elcamino.edu. 


Edfinity (REQUIRED):

Get started on Edfinity ASAP.  Click on the link to your left to sign up.  Your first assignment is to complete the Demo homework in the  Getting Started module.  Note that refunds are available should you drop the course.

[Online] Class Content

The basic flow of the class is as follows:

  • Watch pre-recorded video lecture(s)

    • The lecture videos are found on YouTube.  The links to the video playlists can be found in Modules.  The playlists are organized by chapter in the textbook.

    • The linked videos are MANDATORY to watch. 
    • Other videos linked are considered OPTIONAL and you may find them useful. 
      • You're welcome to search out other videos, but please let me know if you find something good so I can share it with the rest of the class.
  • Attend optional Office Hour using Zoom
    • See TechConnect Zoom link on the left for days and times
    • For maximum value, please send me your questions BEFORE attending
      • THE OFFICE HOURS ARE NOT MEANT TO BE LECTURES NOR A SUBSTITUTE FOR WATCHING THE VIDEOS
  • Access the class notes and other supplementary material using the Class Notebook in Canvas
    • I will be using Class Notebook to write my notes during office hours
    • The Class Notebook can be viewed in your browser or inside Microsoft OneNote
  • Complete Edfinity Homework assignments
    • These are listed in each Module as described below
    • Pay attention to the due dates!
  • Complete the Canvas Discussions
    • Links to these will be in Module during the week they are assigned
    • Be sure to contribute to the Math 130 Help Board throughout the semester.  This is a good way to improve your math knowledge and engage with your classmates.  This Discussion can earn you some valuable extra credit, but you need to earn it by actively participating throughout the semester.
    • Discussion assignment grades are based on a required number of posts and replies.  See instructions for assignment-specific details.
  • Take the online Edfinity Exams at the scheduled dates
    • You don't need any special software or hardware, it will be a similar experience to the homework.
    • The exams are timed and must be completed within the designated time window.

The Course Summary at the bottom here has all the material and dates, but not everything is visible or available yet, it will automatically update throughout the semester.  The chapter Module more specifically tells you which sections are covered.  There is one Module per chapter.  A chapter Module will remain locked until the previous chapter Module is completed.  This means that you won't be able to advance to the next chapter until completing the current chapter, including all exams, homework & discussions are completed, if applicable.  


Edfinity Homework:

Homework assignments will be administered and submitted online through Edfinity.  You don't need to log in directly to Edfinity, you can access the assignments directly from Canvas.  It is the student’s responsibility to check the current assignments and due dates. You can find these in Modules. Homework is graded on correctness and completeness. Late work will not be accepted but I will drop the two lowest scores of Homework when computing your homework grade. 

Homework is absolutely crucial to your success. The exams questions will be similar in appearance and content to the Edfinity Homework.  The Edfinity Homework is worth 15% of your final grade.


[Online] Discussions:

You will be asked to participate in Discussion assignments. These can be found on Canvas and will be based on various topics related to the class. The Discussions will be graded on your initial post and your responses to your peers (precisely how many replies are needed for each Discussion may vary and will be specified in the directions). This interaction replicates the type of interaction you would have with your classmates if we were a traditional in-person class.  No late work accepted.  No discussion score will be dropped.  Discussions are worth 15% of your final grade.

One of the discussions is a Math 130 Help Board, meant to be a place where you can go ask or answer questions with your classmates.  Significant participation throughout the semester will be rewarded with up to 5% extra credit.


Canvas & Support Services:

Instructions for how to access Canvas can be found on the El Camino homepage. You will see “CANVAS” in the top right bar. Click on that for information on how to log in to Canvas.

Other resources:


kahoot!

There will be several kahoot! quizzes during the semester.  Credit is given for participation.  Extra credit will be given for top scorers.


Edfinity Exams:

We will have four midterm exams and a final exam in this class taken online.  Exams will be given through Edfinity, but they will be accessed by clicking links in Canvas.  The online exams will be timed assignments and must be completed within the designated time period, typically around 72 hours.

Makeup exams will not be given. If you must miss an exam due to an extreme, documentable emergency, please email me before the exam. If you cannot reschedule the exam, it will be the exam you drop.

The online exams will be similar to the homework problems.

At the end of the semester, your lowest exam of these three will be dropped.  As such, only one exam can be dropped.  The remaining three exams are each worth 15% of your final grade. (45% total).  

The online final exam is worth another 20% of your final grade.


Online Exam rules:

  • Work alone
  • Open book, notes, calculator, websites, etc. but you must work alone
  • No late submissions
  • No makeups
  • One only midterm exam may be dropped. 
  • The final exam will not be dropped.


Final Exam:

The final exam will be due on 12/14. The final is cumulative. Makeup finals will not be given nor will the final be dropped under any circumstances.  The final exam is worth 15% of your final grade.

Late Exam Penalty

There will be no late exams accepted, please don't ask.

Grading:

Grading scale
Homework 15% A 90-100%
Edfinity Tests 45% B 80-89%
Edfinity Final 15% C 70-79%
Discussions 15% D 60-69%
kahoot! 10% F Below 60%
TOTAL 100%

Check your grades regularly and report grade errors within one week of the assignment due date. Grades will be posted in Canvas.

Rules & Responsibilities

Student Responsibilities: You are responsible for your own success!

You must be current on all assignments and concepts if you wish to succeed. If you are struggling, it is up to you to ask for and seek help ASAP.  Please plan on dedicating several hours to this course. 

Free Tutoring

The Math Study Center Online is opened for business!  See this link for more information.  You can also access tutoring by finding them in Canvas under The Tutoring Hub.  (You may not see the Tutoring Hub if you are accessing Canvas using the mobile app so open Canvas in a browser.)  You will be connected with the Front Desk Zoom Room and they will find you a tutor who can help (hopefully). 

Student attendance policy:

Students are expected to log in to Canvas frequently and participate in each Discussion assignment.

Students who do not engage in the first required Discussion of the academic term by the instructor’s deadline may be dropped from the class.  If illness or emergency prevents a student from completing the first required Discussion, the student must contact the instructor. 

Students who do not continue to complete required Discussions by the assigned due dates specified in the syllabus may be dropped.

Nettiqutte:

There is a page mandatory Discussion that addresses the topic of acceptable ways of communication online.  Look at this page.

Academic Honesty:

El Camino College places a high value on the integrity of its student scholars.  When an instructor determines that there is evidence of dishonesty in any academic work (including, but not limited to cheating, plagiarism, or theft of exam materials), disciplinary action appropriate to the misconduct as defined in BP 5500 may be taken.  A failing grade on an assignment in which academic dishonesty has occurred and suspension from class are among the disciplinary actions for academic dishonesty (AP 5520). 

ADA Statement:

If you believe you may need accommodations in this class now or at any point in the semester, please go to the Special Resource Center (SRC) or call (310) 660-3295. For more information visit www.elcamino.edu/student/studentservices/src. You are also encouraged to communicate with your instructor.

This course will follow this schedule below.  All dates are subject to change, if necessary.

Course Summary:

Date Details Due