Welcome to MATH 1314/NCBM 0214 – College Algebra with Support

Fall 2024 Syllabus

the Basics

About Your Instructors            

Name: Pedro Merced

The best way to reach me is email. 

Phone number:  512-223-4870 (this is for my NRG office, please email)

Email: pedro.merced@austincc.edu

Office location: MW HLC1 1423.03    TTH ACCelerator Row T 

Student Drop-in Hours: 

About Your Course

Instructional Methodology:

Classroom Section: This course is taught in the classroom primarily as a lecture/discussion course.

Synonym: 11684 Section: 035

Meeting location: HLCA Row R-T Meeting times: TTH 9:00-11:25

Prerequisites: MATD 0370 with a C or higher. Or appropriate score on math TSI Assessment test. Corequisite(s): MATH 1314.

Paired Course Policy: This is a paired course.  Students who withdraw from NCBM 0214 will automatically be withdrawn from MATH 1314.

Required Materials  

TEXT: There is no additional cost for a textbook for this course. The instructional materials are incorporated through the ALEKS software which was paid for through a course fee already added to the course.

Calculator: Students need either a scientific or business calculator. (Has log or ln key.) If a student cannot purchase one, calculators are available from the library.  Graphing calculators are not required, but you will use graphing technology in most sections of the book.  Graphing calculators are also available in the library.  Most ACC faculty are familiar with the TI family of graphing calculators. Hence, TI calculators are highly recommended for student use.  Other calculator brands can also be used.  Your instructor will determine the extent of calculator use in your class section. 

Course Calendar 

Note: Schedule changes may occur during the semester. Any changes will be announced in class and posted as a Blackboard Announcement.

Important Dates

Last day to withdraw: Nov 21st

Holidays: Nov 28th, Thanksgiving (Labor day and Veterans day are both college holidays, but do not affect this class)

(Please note these are the ONLY holidays this semester.)

Making Time to Learn

We learn math by thinking about and working on mathematical problems, which takes time. Practice is crucial in a math course. To ensure that you have adequate time, set aside 8-12 hours per week outside of class time to practice and study for this course.  Ask for help immediately when something isn’t clear.  

Getting Help

ACC provides several free resources for students who need help; descriptions and links are below:  

Office hours: Another name for office hours is “student hours.” This is the time your instructor has set aside to answer student questions, so feel free to drop by if you have questions. Office hours may be virtual or on campus; see information above. 

Instructional Associates: Instructional Associates specific to the course you are taking are available for tutoring. To make an appointment, go to https://sites.google.com/a/austincc.edu/math-students/meet/list and then click on your course. 

Learning Labs: The ACC Learning Labs provide tutoring in math and other subjects. To schedule an appointment, go to https://www.austincc.edu/students/learning-lab. This site includes information about in person and virtual tutoring options.

Academic Coaching: Academic coaches offer extra support to students with study strategies; they want to help you learn to be an active participant in your own learning process. For more information or to make an appointment with an academic coach, go to https://www.austincc.edu/students/academic-coaching. 

ACC Student Services: Services are offered in many areas, including Academic, Financial, Personal, and Technology Support.  For more information, go to https://www.austincc.edu/student-support.

Grades

Grade Components

Points will be assigned as follows for your grade in MATH 1314:

• Tests: 70% (Tests 1, 2, and 3 are 17% each; Final Exam is 19%)
• Quizzes: 10%
• ALEKS Objectives 1-15: 10% 
• Written Homework: 10%

Points will be assigned as follows for your grade in NCBM 0214:

• Exit Exam: 50%
• ALEKS Objectives 1-8: 30%
• Quizzes/Homework 1-8: 20%

Grading Scale

A: 90 - 100

B: 80 – 89

C: 70 – 79

D: 60 – 69

F: < 60

W: Withdrawal prior to deadline

Where can I find my grades? 

Grades will be posted in Blackboard. 

What will we do in this class? 

ALEKS: The majority of the course takes place in the ALEKS software. Each Monday you are assigned an objective with a maximum number of 27 NEW topics. The objective is due on the Sunday evening of each week. It is critical to your success in the course to stay on top of the work as we move through the semester. Your grade for the ALEKS Objectives in the gradebook is an average of the percentage of the topics completed at the end of each week. Once a new week starts, you are assigned a new objective and the previous topics cannot be accessed until you complete 100% of the objective for the current week. This is very similar to missing a class in a lecture course. If you miss a class day, we must move on and continue the course. The average pace for work in ALEKS is 3 topics per hour. At this pace, it is expected that you should be able to complete all topics in ALEKS in 8 hours. This requires you to access ALEKS outside of class time in order to complete your work. The recommended amount of time out of class to work in ALEKS is 5 hours. Combined with the in-class time of working in ALEKS, this is more than enough time to complete all ALEKS work for the course.

Tests: There will be 3 exams, each of which will count equally towards your grade (17% each). The final exam (worth 19%) will be a comprehensive exam over Objectives 1-15.  Tests will be administered through the ALEKS program, and a time limit will be imposed on each test.

*IF YOU HAVE A GOOGLE CHROMEBOOK AS YOUR MAIN COMPUTER, PLEASE NOTIFY YOUR INSTRUCTOR.

Exit Exam for NCBM 0214: You will be taking an Exit Exam (similar to a final exam) for NCBM 0214. This exam will be taken in the ALEKS program and will be over selected topics. You will be given one attempt to pass the exit exam. The score you earn on the exit exam will be used in the overall grading scheme to compute your grade in NCBM 0214. 

50% of a student’s 0214 grade comes from the Exit Exam category. This component can be satisfied in one of 2 ways. 

1. Students who are earning 80% or higher in MATH 1314, can forgo the departmental exit exam. Instead of the exit exam, the grade input for this category will be the student’s 1314 overall grade.
2. Students who are not earning 80% or higher in MATH 1314 will take the exit exam in the ALEKS software.

Written Homework: Each week you will be given written work in addition to the work in the ALEKS program. These written homework assignments will constitute 10% of your total grade.

Quizzes: Quizzes in ALEKS are taken in class on Thursdays. These quizzes will be over the topics and lecture from the current week. These grades count toward 10% of your total grade in the course.

What happens if I miss something? 

Dropped Grade Policy: There are no dropped grades as homework and quizzes can be turned in late. 

Late Work Policy: Written Homework is allowed to be turned in late for 10% off. 

Missed Exam Policy: The final exam is used as a replacement grade for a low test grade. Due to this there are no make up exams this semester. 

Attendance Policy: 

Attendance is critical to the success in any of your classes. Regular and punctual class attendance is expected of all students. Students are required to be present for the entirety of the scheduled class time. 

Expectations:

• Attend all classes
• Arrive on time and stay for the duration of the class
• Participate by working on ALEKS during class time and spend time outside of class working on homework.
• Refrain from any inappropriate use of cell phones or other technology during class.

Course Content

Course Description

Credit Hours: 5, Contact Hours: 5

MATH 1314 College Algebra (3-3-0). A course designed for students who need College Algebra but do not need to take Precalculus (MATH 2412) or Calculus (MATH 2413). In-depth study and applications of polynomial, rational, radical, exponential and logarithmic functions, and systems of equations using matrices. This course does not meet the prerequisite for Precalculus (MATH 2412).

NCBM 0214 – Support for College Algebra (2-2-0). This course is designed to support students concurrently enrolled in MATH 1314 by providing additional focus on MATH 1314 topics and just-in-time review of prerequisite topics, as needed. Topics include review of properties of real numbers, functions, algebra of functions, inequalities, polynomials and factoring, rational expressions and equations, radical expressions and equations, quadratic functions and their graphs, solving quadratic equations, and exponential functions. This course is not for college-level credit.

MATH 1314 Course Rationale

This course is designed to teach students the functional approach to mathematical relationships that they will need for a business calculus sequence. Other courses, such as MATH 1332, or MATH 1342 are more appropriate to meet a general mathematics requirement.  Check with your degree plan as to what math course your college requires.

NCBM 0214 Course Rationale

This course is intended to provide support to students who are taking MATH 1314.  It should be taken along with MATH 1314 and is required for students who do not meet the prerequisites to take MATH 1314 as a stand-alone course.  Upon completion of NCBM 0214 with a C or higher (with concurrent enrollment in MATH 1314), a student will be considered TSI complete in mathematics.

Common Course Objectives

Functions: 

• Use and interpret function notation. 
• Find the domain of polynomial, rational, radical, exponential, and logarithmic functions. 
• Find a symbolic representation of the sum, difference, product, quotient, and composition of two functions.
• Evaluate the sum, difference, product, quotient, and composition of two functions at a given value of the respective domain for functions represented symbolically, graphically, and numerically.
• Find the inverse of a function represented symbolically, graphically, or numerically. 
• Interpret the graphs of functions. 

Graphing functions: 

• Sketch the graphs of the following functions: Lines, x2, ax, and logax
• Identify and sketch transformations of the graphs of the following functions: x2, x3, x1/2, 1/x, 1/x2, |x|.
• Describe the end behavior of polynomial functions.
• Approximate the zeros of a function from its graph.
• Solve an inequality involving a function from its graph.
• Graph a piece-wise defined function.

Symbolic Adeptness: 

• Solve polynomial, rational, exponential, and logarithmic equations symbolically.
• Use the Fundamental Theorem of Algebra 
• Find the vertex of a parabola written in standard form by using the formula h = -b/2a.
• Convert an exponential equation to logarithmic form, and a logarithmic equation to exponential form.
• Evaluate exponential and logarithmic functions using the change of base formula and a calculator.
• Use the properties of logarithms to expand a logarithmic expression, and to write an expanded logarithmic expression as a single logarithm.
• Solve a system of linear equations using Gaussian elimination.
• Evaluate the sum, difference, and scalar multiplication of matrices.

Applications 

• Recognize and use applications of linear functions. 
• Recognize and use applications of quadratic functions, including falling object problems and extrema problems.
• Recognize and use applications of rational functions. 
• Recognize and use applications of exponential and logarithmic functions, including exponential growth and decay, doubling time, and half-life problems.
• Recognize and use applications of systems of linear equations. 

MATH 1314 Student Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of the course, a student should be able to: 

1. Demonstrate understanding and knowledge of properties of functions, which include domain and range, operations, compositions, and inverses.
2. Recognize and apply polynomial, rational, exponential, and logarithmic functions and solve related equations.
3. Apply graphical, symbolic, and numeric techniques.
4. Evaluate all roots of higher degree polynomial and rational functions.
5. Recognize, solve, and apply systems of linear equations using matrices.

NCBM 0214 Student Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of the course, a student should be able to: 

1. Demonstrate understanding and knowledge of properties of functions, which include evaluation, domain and range, related equations, and basic operations.
2. Simplify, factor, and perform basic operations on algebraic expressions, including polynomials, rational and radical expressions, complex fractions, and complex numbers.
3. Solve linear, absolute value, rational, and radical equations, quadratic equations by symbolic methods including completing the square, and linear inequalities.
4. Appropriately use forms and formulas, including quadratic formula, midpoint, distance, and equations of circles and lines.
5. Graph linear equations and inequalities, including systems of each, as well as quadratic functions, and circles. 

General Education Competencies

1. Critical Thinking: gathering, analyzing, synthesizing, evaluating, and applying information is covered in every SLO. 
2. Quantitative and Empirical Reasoning: applying mathematical, logical, and scientific principles and methods is covered in every SLO.
3. Technology Skills: using appropriate technology to retrieve, manage, analyze, and present information is covered in SLOs # 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5.
4. Written, Oral and Visual Communication: communicating effectively adapting to purpose, structure, audience, and medium is covered in every SLO.

The Details

Distance Education Information: This class is fully online. Successful online students actively participate in class on a regular basis just like in an on-campus class and avoid putting off classwork until the last minute. This includes reading assignments, taking quizzes and tests, and any other activities assigned by your professor. You will need to stay motivated and routinely log in to your classes in order to keep on top of your assignments.

Students will use the Blackboard learning management system for assignment instructions, submitting assignments, and collaboration. Students are encouraged to read ACC Distance Education General Information available at https://online.austincc.edu/faq/.

First Day Access: To enhance your learning experience and provide affordable access to the right course material, this course is part of an inclusive access model called First Day™. You can easily access the required materials for this course through Blackboard, at a discounted price, and benefit from single sign-on access.  Austin Community College includes the discounted price as a course fee in your registration fees for this course.

It is NOT recommended that you Opt Out, as these materials are required to complete the course. You can choose to Opt Out on the first day of class, but you will be responsible for purchasing your course materials at the full retail price and access to your materials may be suspended. See your course in Blackboard for details.

Importance of Completing Developmental Course Requirements:  The first steps to achieving any college academic goal are completing developmental course requirements and TSI requirements. The first priority for students who are required to take developmental courses must be the developmental courses. TSI rules state that students are allowed to take college credit courses if they are fulfilling their developmental requirements. Because successful completion of developmental courses is so important, ACC will intervene with any student who is not successfully completing developmental requirements. This intervention can mean a hold on records, requiring developmental lab classes, working with the Instructional Associate, and monitoring during the semester.

Withdrawal Policy: It is the responsibility of each student to ensure that his or her name is removed from the roll should he or she decide to withdraw from the class. The instructor does, however, reserve the right to drop a student should he or she feel it is necessary. If a student decides to withdraw, he or she should also verify that the withdrawal is submitted before the Final Withdrawal Date. The student is also strongly encouraged to retain their copy of the withdrawal form for their records.

Students who enroll for the third or subsequent time in a course taken since Fall 2002 may be charged a higher tuition rate for that course.  State law permits students to withdraw from no more than six courses during their entire undergraduate career at Texas public colleges or universities. With certain exceptions, all course withdrawals automatically count towards this limit. Details regarding this policy can be found in the ACC college catalog.

Reinstatement Policy: Students who withdrew or were withdrawn will not be reinstated unless they have completed all coursework, projects, and exams necessary to place them at the same level of course completion as the rest of the class. Reinstatement is up to the instructor’s approval.

Incomplete Grade Policy: Incomplete grades (I) will be given only in very rare circumstances. Generally, to receive a grade of "I", a student must be up to date on coursework and have a passing grade, and after the last date to withdraw, have a legitimate reason that prevents course completion. An incomplete grade cannot be carried beyond the established date in the following semester. The completion date is determined by the instructor but may not be later than the final deadline for withdrawal in the subsequent semester.

Communication with Your Instructor: All e-mail communication to students will be sent solely to the student’s ACCmail account or math software if applicable, with the expectation that such communications will be read in a timely fashion.  Likewise, students should use their ACCmail account or math software when communicating with instructors.  Instructors will respond to student emails within 3 business days, if no response has been received by the student at the end of that time, then the student should send a reminder to the instructor.

Name Change Information: If you want to change how your name appears online at ACC, go to https://www.austincc.edu/admissions/update-student-information/chosen-name. 

General College Policies: Policies that apply to all courses at ACC can be found here: https://www.austincc.edu/offices/academic-outcomes-assessment/master-syllabi/college-policies.

The readings for this course are covered in the section above

The course subjects for this course are covered in the section above. 

The student learning objectives are covered in the section above.