Welcome To The Tomball College Math Lab

1
Welcome To LSC-Tomball Independent Study Math
Course
Yes, it really is an independent study course!
MATH 0308 Section 3017 6W2 Beginning Algebra
Orientation
Theresa Fritzel Online at home or at one of the
Lone Star College campuses
2
Is Independent Study Right for you?

• Benefits
• You set your time to study
• You determine the pace HOWEVER
• must show progress
• must finish course within the semester
• Disadvantages
• Much harder than a lecture course
• Must have a basic working knowledge of computers
• Must take exams at an approved testing center
• Need transportation
• Testing centers have varying hours of
  availability
• No face to face lecture time
• You teach yourself
• Textbook
• Online resources
• Webpages I created
• Easy to procrastinate and fall behind
• Might not be right for you if you
• Have taken the course multiple times
  unsuccessfully

3
What Materials do I need?

• A computer with internet access
• A valid, working email address
• MyMathLab Student Access code for the following
  text
• Essential Algebra Skills by Elayn Martin-Gay,
  Custom Edition for Lone Star College, Pearson
  Publishing Inc.
• This code and workbook are good for 0306, 0308
  and 0310
• Current combo text has a Mustard and Red cover
• Previous (but acceptable) combo text has a Blue
  and Red cover
• You are purchasing an access code and getting a
  free workbook/text that cannot be returned
• Campuses that will have this bundle in their
  bookstore
• LSC Tomball
• LSC UP
• LSC North Harris (possibly)
• Any other campuses will NOT have the correct
  bundles/texts/MML access
• NOTE Because this is a custom text, we use a
  special custom version of MyMathLab access. You
  CANNOT purchase MML only access from a bookstore
  OR online. You MUST purchase this bundle.
• Supplementary materials
• Calculator (not required for 0308, required for
  0310)
• TI-84 plus, TI-84, TI-83, TI-83

4
How Much Time?

• 64 total hours
• OR
• 4 hours (or more) each week in Fall and Spring
• 7 hours (or more) each week for 9 wk Summer
• 10 hours (or more) each week for 6 wk Summer
• Reading your book/course materials
• Working odd problems in the book
• in MyMathLab (MML)
• Working assigned graded - homework (at home)
• Taking tests (at testing center)
• in Desire 2 Learn (D2L)
• Studying materials (at home)
• Taking the final exam (REQUIRED at testing
  center)
• in math center for tutoring help (if needed)
• 2 hours study/1 credit hour
• 4 credit hour class at least 8 hours of study
  each week

5
How often?

• Online Flexibility
• Every day
• Three times a week
• Twice a week
• Weekends only
• Minimum required but no maximum
• Accrue time at your own pace
• Must finish all materials by the last day of
  class
• Online requires Discipline
• Procrastination is a factor and a danger in
  online courses. You should attempt to make time
  to work on math a little every day so your dont
  fall behind.

6
When are things due?
In D2L, there will be a printable schedule as
well as start dates listed in the D2L Calendar
tab under Resources

• Homework assignments
• All sections are open from Day 1 in the class
• Due before their corresponding exam opens in MML
• Exam start dates posted inside D2L and MML to
  help you plan accordingly
• Worked in MyMathLab (MML) from home
• Test dates
• Start date is posted to keep you on track
• Due dates discussed/posted in D2L and exam
  start/due dates listed in MML
• Major exams worked in MML at testing center
  closest to you
• For out of state or overseas students, email me
  externally or contact me in D2L after the class
  begins for information on setting up a testing
  center for you.
• Final exam worked in D2L at testing center
  closest to you
• Withdraw date
• Holidays

7
What will we be covering?

• We will be covering the following in 0308
• Chapter 8 Real numbers and Intro to Algebra
• Chapter 9 Equations, Inequalities and Problem
  Solving
• Chapter 10 Graphing Equations and Inequalities
• Chapter 11 Systems of Equations
• Chapter 12 Exponents and Polynomials
• Chapter 13 Factoring Polynomials
• Chapter 14 Rational Expressions
• Review materials posted in D2L in the Content
  Tab
• Do assigned homework in MyMathLab (MML) at home
• Work the practice exams posted in MML or D2L
• Tested on concepts, definitions, and processes

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MyMathLab Resources

• Chapter Contents Section
• Complete textbook
• Student Solutions Manual
• Worked problems for every chapter
• Word Problem Workbook
• Further explanations on word problems that are
  seen in this course
• Student Organizer link
• Printable pages that help you organize your
  notes, study plan, and
• Tools for Success
• Basic Math and Algebra Review cards
• Graphing Calculator help
• Study Skills Builder pages from the text
• Guided help links in the homework area
• Help me solve this link
• View an example link
• Lecture video link
• Ask my Professor link sends me a message and
  I reply to you.
• Make sure you can also work problems without
  these aids as they will NOT be available to you
  on exams.

9
Math Tutoring available at

• LSC-Cy-Fair
• LSC-Fairbanks Center
• LSC-Greenspoint Center
• LSC-Kingwood
• LSC-Montgomery
• LSC-North Harris
• LSC-Tomball
• LSC-University Park

Click here for more information
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Resources at LSC-Tomball
Other campuses will most likely have similar
resources. Check out the learning center closest
to you for more information.

• Supplemental Books and Exercises
• Use in Math Area
• May be checked out
• C230 circulation desk
• Ask first
• Free worksheets and handouts
• Manipulatives for the kinesthetic learner

11
Preparing for Exams

• Read your text
• Review the materials posted by exam in D2L
• Content tab/Course Content/Modules 1 through 4
• Work the graded homework in MyMathLab
• Need Extra Practice?
• Rework homework problems...they change each time
  you access them
• Work the odds in your book and check their
  answers
• Work the practice exams in MML (not graded).
  This will populate the study plan.
• Work the study plan exercises in MML. These are
  NOT graded. They will be similar to the graded
  homework and will show you which areas you need
  more work in.
• Work the practice exams
• For chapter exams in MML, the practice exams are
  also in MML
• The exams are built directly off of the practice
  tests.
• For the final, there is a pdf posted in D2L under
  Content/Course Modules/Final Exam Information
• Not on the practice test? Wont be on the exam.
• Use Math Center resources
• Free Tutoring
• Manipulatives
• Study Aids
• Use online resources when doing homework in
  MyMathLab

12
Taking the Exams

• Online in any approved Lone Star College
  Assessment Center
• Main exams are in MML, Final is in D2L
• If you are currently out of state or overseas, we
  can set up testing in your location.
• Contact me in D2L once the course begins for more
  information.
• All of the testing centers in LSCS will have a
  full roster list and passwords so you can go to
  any center that works best for you.
• Know the hours of operation for your chosen
  center
• Click here for testing centers and hours
• Photo ID required
• I need to know that it is you
• No id, no test
• Calculators are helpful and allowed
• Note cards are not allowed

13
What will I be graded on?

• Online homework assignments in MML at home
• 33 homework assignments
• 200 points total
• Chapter tests online in MML at testing center
• 4 tests, 100 points each
• 400 points total
• Final Exam online in D2L at testing center
• Cumulative, 200 points
• 800 total points

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Grading Policy

• A 89.5 - 100.0
• B 79.5 - 89.49
• C 69.5 - 79.49
• IP or F lt 69.49
• IP means you completed the course work but
  didnt make the required 69.5 to pass
• Reasons for a failing grade
• No consistent progress
• Dont log enough hours
• Dont take the final exam

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How do I get started?

• Even though we will communicate solely inside D2L
  once the course begins, I need contact
  information if D2L is down.
• Email me with a current email address and include
  the following
• Your name and course number/section
• You must "agree" that you understand how an
  independent study online course will be different
  from an in class course
• list how you think an independent study online
  course will differ from a lecture course
• Send this note to
• mymathprof_at_att.net

16
How do I get started?

• Because your final will be administered at Lone
  Star College testing centers using D2L and we
  will use D2L email for all communication once the
  semester begins
• Go to LSC-online to get your D2L login and
  password if you dont already know it
• Click on the Secure Login link
• This is a yellow button in the Login to your
  online classes box at the right of the page.
• Next to the username box, click on the Forgot
  your Username? link
• Fill out the form with the information requested
  and you be given your D2L login and initial
  password.
• You may be asked immediately to change that
  password for security reasons.
• Login to D2L and look at the home page.
• Our course will show up after you take the
  mandatory Orientation provided through the D2L
  website.

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How do I get started?

• Third, because your homework and main exams will
  be completed in MML for a grade
• Returning students
• If you were in 0306, 0308 or 0310 at Tomball (or
  UP) within the last few years, your account
  should still be active and might already be tied
  to this code.
• Test it before purchasing a new MML student
  access code.
• New students
• Obtain a MyMathLab student access code
• Purchase from LSC-Tomball or LSC-UP bookstore
• Using the student code, register for and login to
  MyMathLab
• Course id for the Homework Course
• Please note that this code is my last name
  fritzel followed by 5 numbers
• FRITZEL85198
• Enter the course, click on the Installation
  Wizard
• Prove that you have accessed MyMathLab
• Send me an email inside D2L and describe how to
  access the graded homework assignments

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Summary

• Using your current external email address, drop
  me a note and include the following
• Name and course/section number
• "agree" that you understand how the online course
  will be different from an in class course
• list how you think an independent study online
  course will differ from a lecture course
• After the class has begun
• Login to MyMathLab and register for our course
• Send a message to me through D2L indicating how
  you access the graded homework assignments in
  MyMathLab.

19
How to be successful in Independent Study Courses

• Be Goal oriented dont procrastinate, no excuses
• Verify understanding of concepts with instructor
  or tutor
• Do your homework BEFORE exams
• Work graded MyMathLab assignments nightly
• Extra, non-guided practice - odds at the end of
  each section in the textbook!
• Practice good study skills
• MyMathLab now has a section under chapter
  contents called Student Organizer.
• While you wont have a class to take notes in,
  you can use the organizer in combination with the
  text and help pages in D2L.
• Two hours of study for each hour of class