Course Syllabus

Fall 2006

 

Basic Course Information

             MAT 101 General Mathematics

             Hours: Online

 

Instructor Information

Ron Murphy

Office: Building D, Phone: 706-837-4208

E-mail: rmurphy@westgatech.edu

Web page: http://www.westgatech.edu/FacultyWebs/RMurphy/default.htm

 

Office Hours

I am in class till around 12:30 everyday.  I will be in my office after 1:00 or 1:15 Monday through Friday.

 

Pre-requisite

 MAT097 or a minimum score on the ASSET test of 37.

 

Course Description

This course emphasizes mathematical skills that can be applied to the solution of occupational and technical problems.  Topics include: properties of numbers, fractions, decimals, percents, ratio/proportion, measurements and conversions, exponents, and geometric and technical formulas.

 

Important Information

Review the information on the college's Distance Education website  http://www.westgatech.edu/elearning/index.htm.  

 

Course Texts and Materials

Bello, I. (2006). Basic College Mathematics (2^nd ed.). New York: McGraw-Hill.  ISBN#0-07-283104-9

 

Evaluation

Tests                  35%

Homework       15%

Final Exam       50%

 

Grading Scale

Grading Scale: 90-100=A, 80-89=B, 70-79=C, 60-69=D, Below 60=F 

 

Grading

To get started go to Blackboard.  Be sure to check the agenda and note the testing dates.  You may take a test before the scheduled test date, but not after that date.  If you miss a test, you will receive a zero.  The grade you make on the final will replace one lower test grade, if there is one.  This will hopefully alleviate any hardships. All tests except the final will be taken online from any location. 

If you miss two consecutive tests and have not contacted the instructor, you will be dropped from the course.   

The test will need to be taken by the scheduled day.  The test will be password locked and you will need to request the password to access the test.   You will have a set amount of time depending on the content to complete the test.  Remember, this is a test.  You may not get help from anyone and you may not use your notes.  Also remember, you will need to know the material for final to pass this class, so be honest with yourself and do you own work.

There will be a short writing assignment will be required to satisfy the writing across the curriculum requirement.   You will be notified at a later date of the topic and format of the assignment.

 

Final Exam

The final exam must be taken during the scheduled final exams (Sept 18, 19, and 20).  It is your responsibility to schedule your exam time.  I will suggest some times that will be most convenient closer to the exam dates.   If you do not take the exam on these scheduled dates, you will receive a zero for the final.

The final must be taken on campus unless you live more than 60 miles away.  If you live more than 60 miles away and choose not to come here for the final, you must make arrangements with an instructor, librarian, etc to administer the final.  This person must be approved by DTAE.  You will be asked to show a picture ID when you come to take the final. 

If your computer is not dependable, make arrangements to use another computer – especially if you are taking a test.  If your computer kicks you out during a test, you will not be allowed to reenter the test. Remember you will be allowed to replace one test for which you received a poor grade with the final.

 

E-mail

You will need an email address. You now have a student e-mail through student services and we are encouraging students to use their school internet for online classes.  This makes it easier for the college to get pertinent information to you.  If you have problems with you student e-mail, you can contact Nancy Hale, 706-837-4274. 
. My email address is:  rmurphy@westgatech.edu

 

Work Ethics

Students are given a work ethics grade at mid-term and at the end of the quarter.  Because good work habits are valuable in any technical field, students will be evaluated on the following criteria:  attendance, character, teamwork, appearance, attitude, productivity, organization, communication, cooperation, and respect.  The work Ethics grading scale is as follows: 3 – Exceeds Expectations, 2 – Meets Expectations, 1 – Needs Improvement and 0 – Unacceptable.  Two or three late assignments will lower the work ethics grade to a one.  Four or more late assignments will lower the work ethics grade to a zero.  The work ethics grade is not included in the GPA, but is shown on the student’s transcript.  For additional information on work ethics, see my faculty website.

View Your Grades on the Internet
Grades will not be mailed.   You may view your West Georgia Technical College quarterly grades on line!  Go to www.westgatech.edu click on the bannerweb quicklick on the left side of the page. Grades are usually posted about 3 to 4 business days after final exams are finished.

Course Requirements

An average of 70 or higher of all coursework.

Writing across the curriculum embedded into the course as a paper written according to the specifications given by the instructor.

 

Tutoring

WGTC offers free tutoring for mathematics students.  The tutor is available on campus the following hours:        Mon              11:00-3:00

                                       Tue       9:30-1:30

                                       Wed      1:30-6:30

                                       Thur      11:00-3:00

                                       Fri         9:30-6:30

An online tutoring service is also available at a website called My Skills Tutor.  www.myskillstutor.com

If you would like to make use of this, contact your instructor and an account will be set up for you.

 

Course Objectives

Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:

Identify prime and composite numbers.

Read and write whole numbers.

Identify place value of whole numbers.

Solve whole number problems requiring addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, and powers.

Apply the hierarchy of operations to evaluate multiple operation problems.

Define a fraction.

Identify proper, improper, and mixed fractions.

Solve problems relating to equivalent fractions.

Solve fraction problems requiring addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, and powers.

Read and write decimal numbers.

Identify place value of decimal numbers.

Solve decimal problems requiring addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, and powers.

Convert between fractions and decimals.

Convert between decimal notation and scientific notation.

Define percent.

Convert between fractions, decimals, and percent.

Work base, rate, and part problems.

Solve problems and applications involving percents (including simple interest problems).

Construct and solve problems involving ratios and proportions.

Define ratio, rate, and proportion.

Identify, set up, and solve direct and inverse proportion problems.

Convert within and between US Customary and Metric measurement systems

Solve problems and applications in measurement and conversions.

Find whole number powers of numbers.

Find roots of numbers.

Identify basic two and three-dimensional figures.

Find perimeter (circumference) and area of squares, rectangles, triangles, and circles.

Find volume of cubes, rectangular solids, right circular cylinders, and spheres.

Identify acute, right, obtuse, and straight angles.

Solve problems involving complementary, supplementary, vertical, and adjacent angles.

Solve problems involving sum of the measures of the angles of a triangle.

 

Student Learning Outcomes

1. The student will be able to identify and extract relevant data from application-based problems, compute the solution, and determine the validity of the results.

2. The student will be able to communicate mathematical thoughts and ideas clearly and concisely to others in the oral and written form.

3. The student will be able to incorporate mathematical knowledge into viable job skills that make him/her successful in the workforce.

4. The student will be able to perform elementary computations involving whole numbers, decimals, fractions, percents and interest, and direct and indirect proportions.

5. The student will be able to use computational skills to convert between measurement systems and calculate perimeter, area, and volume.

 

 

 

DISCLAIMERS/IMPORTANT INFORMATION

 

 

Academic Honor / Plagiarism statement

Plagiarism, using the words and ideas of someone else as your own, will not be tolerated.  All essays/reports/summaries, etc., must be your own work.  If a student is caught turning in plagiarized work as his/her own, the student will automatically receive a “O” for the assignment.  Further disciplinary action may also be taken.  A student may be dismissed from the class and given an “F” as a final grade and/or be dismissed from school.  Plagiarism is a serious offense.

 

Confidentiality statement

The rules of confidentiality do not apply to the instructor/student relationship. Please do not disclose information assuming it will be confidential. An instructor is considered a “mandatory reporter”.  Any information revealed to an instructor that may represent potential harm to the student or another individual must be reported by law.

            

 

ADA statement

If you have a disability that you think may affect your ability to function in this class, please inform the instructor and the West Georgia Technical College Special Needs Career Planner, Gil Ausman at 706-812-4246 (Student Services Offices, Building A) to discuss a request for accommodations. All requests for accommodations are welcomed.

 

DTAE Guarantee

The Georgia Department of Technical and Adult Education warrants every graduate of our Technical College programs offering a certificate of credit, diploma, or associate's degree as follows:
The warranty guarantees that the graduate has demonstrated the knowledge and skills and can perform each competency as identified in the industry-validated Standard or Program Guide. Any program graduate who is determined to lack such competence shall be retrained at no cost to the employer or the graduate.
A claim against the warranty may be filed by either an employer in conjunction with a graduate or a graduate if the individual is unable to perform one or more of the competencies contained in the industry-validated Standard or Program Guide, including failure to pass a State of Georgia required licensing examination. 
The warranty shall remain in effect for two years immediately following the date of graduation and shall be honored by any state governed Technical College that offers the program from which the individual graduated.

 

Agenda is below