Math 30 College Algebra, #E8624 (018624)
~*~ FALL 2007 ~*~
Tami Matsumoto     MW 5:30-6:50 pm     Room PS 117

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BEING Revised September 2, 2007.   (Please Reload or Refresh)
Help with This Course
Important Guidelines
Here are three important guidelines which will help you do well in this course:
  • Check the course website on Blackboard at least three times per week for new announcements. Since we have few class meetings, Blackboard is the best way for us to communicate. Checking Blackboard three times per week is analogous to attending class in a normal class, and it just takes a few minutes each time. As with all classes, sometimes circumstances require minor changes to the class schedule and structure. Also, when there are important hints, you don't want to miss them.

  • Read every unit exam description before you take each unit exam. There are often reminders and announcements about syntax, and other information about exam questions. I expect you to read this information.

  • Do the Pretest/HW several times before you take the proctored exam. Past classes have found the pretests and practice exams extremely useful study tools for the proctored exams. Sometimes the textbook is rather thin in certain types of problems that we feel are important. In addition, due to the limitations of computer-graded exams, some questions have to be asked in a different manner than in the textbook. Thus, taking the pretests and practice exams will alert you to the types and formats of questions that you are expected to know in each section.
Tips for Success
First, here's some advice for improving your chances of doing well in this course:
  • Read the textbook. This is your primary source of instruction in this course.

  • WORK PROBLEMS!!! The best way to learn mathematics is to do mathematics. Work through the list of recommended problems for each section until you understand the material. Do even more problems if you are having trouble with a particular section.

  • Get help. If you have made an honest effort to understand a concept or to do a problem and are still struggling, get help. Make use of the resources listed below. However, before you consult a tutor, make sure you have first read the material and tried some of the homework problems. The best way for tutors to help you will be for them to first look at your homework attempts to see where you are having trouble.

  • Keep up with the class schedule! Try to keep up with the homework and reading, and get questions answered promptly. If you fall behind by a day or more, it will be very hard to catch up! If you have problems with a particular section, spend extra time and do extra problems from that section, and get help as soon as possible from some of resources listed below.

  • Put in the time. This may be a very challenging course for some of you. You should plan to spend about 15 to 20 hours of work per week on this course. This is a HUGE time commitment. It is imperative that you plan your social life around your courses, not the other way around.

  • Find a friend or group to work with. Mathematics is more fun to learn, and can be better understood if you work with others. Swapping ideas with others when you are all stuck on a hard problem, quizzing each other before a test, or critically reading each other's solutions to homework problems are all valuable ways to enhance your (and others') understanding of the material. However, it is important that all members contribute in such a group environment, and that each student takes responsibility for her or his own learning and understanding of the material.

  • Don't wait until the deadline date to take a unit exam. If you don't happen to feel well that day, or you get a flat tire, etc., then you're out of luck. AIM to take the exam by the TARGET date. If you feel you can do better, you are allowed to repeat the exam later if you wish, up until the deadline date.
Help Resources
Besides our time in class, you can also use any of these resources listed below to help you understand the material in this course better.
  • Textbook answers: The answers to the odd-numbered exercises are in the back of the book. It is not cheating to look at those answers. Use them to help you learn what you are doing right, and to know to check your work if your answer does not match the book's.

  • Student Study Pack:
    • Student Solutions Manual:
      • Solutions to the odd-numbered exercises are available in the Solutions Manual.
      • The Solutions Manual is also available at the Eureka campus, in Library Reserve. Go to the front desk of the library and ask for the Math 30 "Student Solutions Manual" or "Instructor's Solutions Manual" that is on reserve; you may use the manual for two hours but may not take it out of the library. The "Instructor's Solutions Manual" has two parts: volume I covers chapters 1-6, and volume II covers chapters 7-14.
    • Algebra Review: Get a handy review of Algebra with the Algebra Review in the Study Pack.
    • CDs: Watch video clips of more examples with the CD Lecture Series in the Study Pack.

  • Unit Pretests: Take several Pretests on each unit (preferably over several days) before you try the actual Unit Exam. Organize your work in a notebook, with the pretest dated and each problem numbered. After you take the pretest, you can print it out, check over each problem, and get help with the problems that you missed. This is one of the best methods for preparing for the exams.

  • Unit Practice Exams: You can use these any time to get more practice with any of the units.

  • Java Applets: Check these out! There are several here that can aid in your understanding since you can experiment and explore with them yourself!

  • Video lectures on the course material are available in the following locations:
    • Library Reserve (Eureka campus). Go to the front desk of the library and ask for the Math 30 videos that are on reserve. You may use the videos for two hours but may not take them out of the library.
    • From the instructor. You may check out either the video tape or a copy on CD for two days or over the weekend.

  • Graphing Calculator Help: This Prentice Hall website provides lots of information about several different types of graphing calculators.

  • Other Texts: There are plenty of other College Algebra textbooks around that you can read through for help. Textbooks don't all explain things the same way, and if you find one you like that helps you understand better, then you can use it to help you with this class.

  • Websites! There are lots of websites that help people with math, and algebra in particular. These might be extremely handy especially for reviewing a topic that you haven't thought about it a while. Again, different explanations can help you understand the material better. Some websites are listed in Blackboard on the "External Links" page.

  • Math 152 (the "Math Lab") is a lab course that offers 0.5 or 1 unit of credit for you to work in the lab and to get assistance with your math skills. You must register for Math 152 in order to get help and to get credit. The lab is located in the LRC on the Eureka campus, in the Academic Support Center. For Fall 2007, the hours are MTW 10-5, Th 10-4:30, F 10-1. Fall 2007 sections:
    • MATH-152-E8718 (018718) 0.5 units -- For credit, you must attend 22.5 hours total over the semester.
    • MATH-152-E8717 (018717) 1.0 units -- For credit, you must attend 45 hours total over the semester.
    In particular, attending the Math Lab will give you a regular place and time to get your math questions answered. If math has been a struggle for you, or you are in search of the A grade, we strongly recommend Math 152. It has been very successful in helping students achieve their goals in mathematics.

  • Academic Support Center Tutors: You can make appointments in the ASC (in the LRC on the Eureka campus) to work with a tutor that can help you with your study and math skills.

  • Tutors:
    • See Math 152 above.
    • See Academic Support Center above.
    • Many academic support programs (such as EOPS and DSPS) provide additional tutoring for student in their programs. Check with your counselor to find out what support services are available.
    • Prentice Hall Math Tutor Center: For students who live far away or are not able to take Math 152 for some reason, I have a limited number of access codes available for the Prentice Hall Math Tutor Center. You can use this service to receive tutoring help with examples, exercises, and problems in the texbook by phone, fax, or e-mail.Please ask me for one of these access codes if you are sure that you want to use this service.
    • Private and group tutors: If you are really struggling, and you need more individual help than the above resourses can provide, you might consider hiring a personal tutor.

  • Your CLASSMATES: Forming a study group or finding a regular study buddy can be of immense help while taking a class (any class).

  • Discussion Board: You can post questions on a discussion board for our class in Blackboard. Starting discussion threads here will help more people than just you. Also you are likely to get quicker answers and more information when you have more people as resources.

  • In Bb make use of Virtual Classroom, Bb Messages, and Email each other.

  • Instructor: You can get help from the instructor in several ways.
    • Fall 2007 Office Hours: Tu and Th, 12-1 pm in PS 102. Office Hours can also be arranged by appointment.
    • Ask questions in class. Don't be shy. If you don't understand something, it's likely that someone else doesn't either, so you will be helping the whole class out if you speak up.
    • Phone: 476-4543
    • Email:You can usually get answers to questions within one day by sending email to the instructor at tami-matsumoto@redwoods.edu
    • Fax: Alternatively, you can send a fax to the instructor at 707-476-4424.
Back to : Section 4. ONLINE ASSESSMENT SYSTEM
Questions? -- Please call me (707-476-4543) or email me.
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