Butler County Community College

Butler County Community College	MA 135: College Algebra (13564)
Behavioral Science, Math, Science, and Physical Education Division	Semester

CRN	Meeting Day(s)	Meeting Time	Site	Building	Room
13564	M,T,W,R,F	10:12-11:00	Butler of Marion	Peabody-Burns High School	205

Course Syllabus

College Algebra

INSTRUCTOR INFORMATION

Instructor Name: Brian Simmonds

Instructor Contact Information: TELEPHONE

511 MAPLE HOME: (620) 983-2223

PEABODY, KS 66866 WORK: (620) 983-2196

Email: bsimmonds@usd398.com

COURSE INFORMATION

Course Description

MA 135. College Algebra. 3 hours credit. Prerequisite: Placement score or MA 120 or MA 125 with C or better. This course will enable the student to interpret mathematical symbols and notation, simplify expressions, factor polynomials, solve equations (including absolute value, quadratic and systems of linear equations), perform operations on radical expressions, write equations of lines and evaluate functions. The successful student will begin to conceptualize abstract ideas.

Course Relevance

The concepts learned in this course will improve the student’s math skills, leading to success in subsequent courses. The student’s ability to think analytically will improve. Discipline, perseverance and the ability to follow directions are necessary for success, so these skills will also improve. Mathematical literacy will be increased, leading to informed choices when making decisions in life.

Required Materials

Bittinger, M., Beecher, J., Ellenbogen, D., Penna, J. (2009 ). College algebra graphs & models (4th ed.). Boston, MA: Pearson Addison Wesley Publishing Company.

Graphing calculator: The Texas Instrument Model 83, 83+, or 84 is preferred for this course and for continuing in mathematics. The student will be responsible for the knowledge necessary to use any other make or model of calculator besides the three listed above.

Online textbook and materials:

The online student may choose between the following two options

1. MyMathLab® software by the text book’s publishers contains the entire text book (e-book) online and the Student Solution Manual

2. The hardcover text listed above under required materials and the software MathXL® which also contains the Student Solution Manual

Supplemental Materials:

Student Solution Manual (2009). Pearson Addison Wesley Publishing Company.

Learning Outcomes

The intention is for the student to be able to

1. Use problem solving to be successful in future learning

2. Gain confidence in personal mathematical ability

3. Perform mathematical procedures and techniques correctly

4. Conceptualize abstract ideas

Learning PACT Statement:

Butler prepares students to be principled, productive individuals who are responsible, involved lifelong learners. To accomplish this goal Butler has established a Learning PACT for the skills that learners need during their career and has integrated PACT skill-building activities and assessments through a variety of program coursework, extra curricular activities, and other learning opportunities.

The BCCC Learning PACT consists of:

P = Personal Development Skills

A = Analytical Thinking Skills

C = Communication Skills

T = Technological Skills

The Learning PACT Skills are vital for any adult to function successfully in the ever changing world of the 21st century. Butler expects learners to be full partners in the learning process and as such to assume primary responsibility for their own choices.

Primary Learning PACT Skills that will be DEVELOPED and/or documented in this course

Through the student’s involvement in this course, he/she will develop his/her ability in the following primary PACT skill areas:

1. Problem Solving

· Through the process of learning to solve multi-step problems and real world application problems, the student will develop not only the general concepts involved in problem solving, but skills that can also be applied and transferred to real life analytical types of situations.

2. Field-Related Technology

· Through the use of graphing calculators, the student will learn basic skills involved in problem solving with the aid of visual graphs and immediate calculations that apply to mathematics and real world situations.

Secondary skills (developed but not documented):

Time Management

Reading

Listening

Major Summative Assessment Task(s)

These learning outcomes and the primary Learning PACT skills will be demonstrated by

1. Completion of the departmental final exam which demonstrates a cumulative knowledge of the material

Student Engagement Expectation
Butler Community College expects students to be engaged in the learning process. Engaged students

are motivated, prepared for class, interact inside and outside of class with other students and faculty, and take responsibility for their own learning.

CLASS INFORMATION

Methods of Grading and Evaluation:

The student will be evaluated on the basis of his/her performance on the following:

Tests – over each chapter or mid chapter will be given worth approximately 100 points each.
Daily Assignments – will count 5 points each
Quizzes – will be worth 5 to 10 points each.
A common, comprehensive final exam will be given worth 200 points.

An accumulative point-total system will be used. These points may be converted to a letter grade by the following scale:

Grading Scale
90% -100%	A
80% -89%	B
70% -79%	C
60% -69%	D
0% -59%	F

Class Schedule:
(Adjust for breaks.)

Week	Date	Learning Activities
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16

Problem sets for each section will be established and given out at each class period.

Problem sets for each section can be changed by the instructor

The schedule and procedures in this course are subject to change in the event of extenuating circumstances.

INSTITUTIONAL POLICIES

Attendance: Students are expected to attend all scheduled class and examination meetings. Students are also expected to maintain satisfactory progress in each of the classes in which they are enrolled. Thus, whenever absences become excessive and, in the instructor’s opinion, minimum course objectives cannot be met due to absences, the student may, at the discretion of the instructor, be withdrawn from the course. If a student is withdrawn by the instructor for excessive absences, a grade of “WT” (withdrawn by teacher) will be recorded on his/her permanent record. Instructors are responsible for clearly stating their attendance policy and administrative drop policy in the course syllabus, and it is the student’s responsibility to be aware of those policies.

Procedural Clarifications:

1. Students should not miss class for any reason other than a college activity or an emergency, as determined by the instructor (i.e., death in the family, health).

2. Student absences for approved college activities will not accrue as excessive absences.

3. Students will be allowed to make up work missed as a result of college approved activities.

4. Students will make up work before the absence for the approved college activity or within one week after returning to class. Students will check with each instructor prior to the absence to arrange for make-up times.

5. Activity sponsors will publish a timely list of students who will be absent because of an approved college activity.

Academic Honesty: Effective learning may involve differences of opinion and views between the student and faculty. Students are responsible, however, for learning the content of course of study outlined by the instructor, regardless of how the student feels privately. This attainment for content must be reached in an honest and forthright manner. Students who compromise the integrity of the academic process are subject to disciplinary action on the part of the college.

Students who have been accused of violating a standard of honesty may protect themselves with a series of appeal processes and are assured of due process and procedure. A student may appeal faculty and administration decisions concerning academic honesty. The first step is with the Division Dean, who, if necessary, may inform the student of further steps in the procedure. These can include appeals to the Vice President for Student Services and College President if the student deems this necessary.

Violations Include:

1. Cheating, in any form, whether in formal examinations or elsewhere.

2. Plagiarism, using the work of others as ones own without assigning proper credit to the source.

3. Misrepresentation of any work done in the classroom or in preparation for a class.

4. Alteration of any documents pertaining to academic records.

5. Disruptive behavior in a course of study or abusiveness toward faculty or fellow students.

Students violating such standards must accept the consequences which may include a failing grade, suspension or dismissal from the class or college.

Incompletes: If a student who has been making a passing grade cannot complete the work in a course due to illness (or other sufficient reason), an instructor, at his/her discretion, may enter an "I" temporarily on the student's record at the end of the term when the final grade roster is submitted. It is the student's responsibility to initiate the verbal or written contract with the instructor. The "I" will change to an "F" if the work is not completed within the first 6 weeks of the following semester (excluding summer), unless an extension of time is granted by the agreement of the appropriate dean and the instructor of the course. The student is entirely responsible for completing the work which will remove the "I."

Disability Services Statement: Anyone needing information concerning disability services should contact your instructor after class or the Disability Services Coordinator, at 322-3321 or 733-3321.

INSTRUCTOR POLICIES

Attendance: Attendance is expected for all class periods. If for some reason you are not able to attend, it is your responsibility to make up any assignments missed and/or material covered.

Late/Make-up Assignments: Assignments must be turned in the next class period to receive credit. Extensions will be given at the instructor’s discretion. Test will be made up by the next class or be counted as a zero.

All work must be shown on homework and test problems.

No extra credit or retakes are possible.

Drop: I will not drop you from this class. You are responsible for dropping this class.

DEPARTMENTAL POLICIES

If a student enrolls in a class without the necessary prerequisite, that student may be dropped at the discretion of the instructor.

Students who attend class, do the assignments, and follow instructor policies have the best chance for success in completing the course.

Graphing calculators are required in all Math courses numbered 131(College Algebra with Review) and higher. Help with graphing calculators may be found at: www.butlercc.edu | Mathematics | Utilities and Links.