Math in Society - Mathematics 107
Section I (#6574) - Online Spring 2016 5 CR
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
A math course for students not planning to take additional math courses. Introduces math topics used in a
variety of liberal arts disciplines, such as mathematical modeling, representational statistics, probability, and
finance math.
PREREQUISITE:
MATH 87 or Math 90 with a grade of 2.0 or higher or appropriate placement on a placement test. This is
important for your success in this course.
SUGGESTED COMPETENCIES:
Students should exhibit confidence and mastery of algebraic skills, basic number sense, and the ability to think
mathematically. Success in this course will depend on the student’s ability to respond to the challenges
presented by new problems and new ideas.
HOW TO REACH YOUR INSTRUCTOR:
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 425-640-1638
While I do check my voicemail occasionally, email is the best way to contact me. I will try to answer emails
ASAP – at least in 24 hours. AND please don’t use a thread to contact me unless your subject is related to that
thread. I respond to new email subject lines more quickly.
OFFICE HOURS: 10:00 am – 12:30 pm Wednesday and Friday ONLINE (which means you’ll get an immediate response to your emails or posts on the forums)
REQUIRED TEXTS & MATERIALS
: Math in Society, Edition 2.4 by David Lippman (hard-copy or electronic version).
ISBN/EAN13: 1479276537 / 9781479276530
THE ELECTRONIC VERSION IS FREE!! And you can buy a hard copy at:
https://www.createspace.com/3989340/
*A GRAPHING CALCULATOR is required for the course. A TI-83/84 (or TI-83/84-Plus) is recommended as the
course will be taught with a TI-84. Any model is acceptable, but assistance will not be given on any
calculators other than Texas Instruments. If you wish to rent a TI-84 for the quarter for $20, you will need to
obtain a signed permission form from me during the first week.
**It is also required that you have REGULAR ACCESS TO A COMPUTER AND THE INTERNET at home.
As an online student this should not be a problem. See page 2 for more information about the required
online assignments (we will use www.WAMAP.org, a free course management software for math courses).
WITHDRAWL FOR NON-ATTENDANCE POLICY:
With an online class, I have a strict policy about attendance the first week. YOU MUST DO THREE THINGS:
1. Students who do not enroll into the WAMAP course and introduce themselves by Wednesday, April 6th
will be dropped for non-attendance and be eligible for 100% refund. The Autobiography Post can be found
in the DO THIS FIRST folder in WAMAP.
2. Students who do not fill out Student Information Questions by Wednesday, April 6th will be dropped for
non-attendance and will be eligible for 100% refund. This is found in the DO THIS FIRST folder in WAMAP.
3. Students who do not take the “How the Class Works” Quiz by Thursday, April 7th will be be dropped for
non-attendance and will be eligible for 100% refund. This is found in the DO THIS FIRST folder in WAMAP.
COURSE MODE:
This is an online course. Classroom time is replaced by content and activities that take place in a managed
online classroom (eLearning class). However, the contact hours are flexible and assignments and
communication can take place at home or any place with a computer and Internet access. Our class will not
require campus visits. For more information about taking an online class, visit www.edcc.edu/elearning.
LOGGING INTO WAMAP:
Go to www.wamap.org
If you have not used WAMAP before, click on the “Register as a New Student” link. You can create your own
username and password. Be sure to use an email address that you check regularly since I will be sending
announcements and information via WAMAP.
At the bottom, you will need to enter the Course ID and Enrollment Key as shown here:
The Course ID: 11626
The Enrollment key: Useful
After you enter that information, you will be directed to a page that says “Return to the main page and click on
the course name to access the course”. From there you should be able to click on our class: Math 107 Spring
2016.
If you have used WAMAP before, use your username and password as before. Once logged in, click on the
button “Enroll in a New Class”. The use the Course ID and Enrollment Key as given above.
Once enrolled, start looking around the online course by clicking on the ► symbols to open up each “folder” to
see what is there. Go to the “DO THIS FIRST” Folder. There is a forum to introduce yourself to the class, an
Intro to WAMAP assignment, the Student Information Questions mentioned above, and a “How the Class
Works” quiz to get started with. If you have trouble with WAMAP, email your instructor.
VIDEO ASSIGNMENTS:
As this is an online course, you will have many videos to watch to learn the new materials. Some of them are
essential to watch and understand. Others are supplied for review or additional learning if needed. For the
essential videos, you will get credit for watching them by answering basic questions related to the videos. You
will have two chances to answer each question, losing 20% for being able to attempt the question again if you
get the 1st try in correct.
ATTENDANCE/DISCUSSION BOARDS:
As this is an online course, to be successful, you must log into the WAMAP classroom regularly, working about
20 hours a week in it, however you will not be graded on your hours spent there. You WILL be graded on your
participation in TWO types of discussion boards.
1. The Question Forums are a great place to ask questions on problems that you can’t figure out. To post on
these question forums, please do the following:
Indicate what problem you are working on (section and number) – this is done automatically when you
post to the forum from inside the homework (there’s a link in each problem). This helps other
students who have a question about the same question later.
If you’re willing, please show the work that you have done by typing it in or uploading a file showing
the work (scanning for a pdf or taking a picture for a jpeg).
If you have no questions or your questions have already been answered, it’s OK to not ask a question
for that week. However, to get credit for the week, I do require you to at least respond to someone
else’s post. That can be as simple as saying “Thanks!” to someone’s post or writing, “I had that question
too.” This tells me that you spent the time to get on the discussion forum and I’ll give you credit for
that week.
I answer questions more thoroughly if you give details as to where you’re stuck. Just saying “I don’t get it”
or “help” doesn’t tell us what you’ve done yet.
You must post something each week to prove that you’ve been reading the forums. This can be as simple as
writing, “thanks, I had that question too.” or as basic as asking a question about a homework problem or as
helpful as answering someone else’s question.
2. There will be 4 to 5 Discussion Forums throughout the quarter in which you will both solve a mathematical
problem, writing a clear and correct answer, and commenting on another student’s post.
HOMEWORK (Exercises):
Doing the homework is very crucial to being successful in mathematics. You can expect to spend on average
around 3 hours every day (including weekend days) watching the videos, working on homework, and reading
the textbook. If you miss a problem, you can ask for a similar question and start over. Thus it is possible to get
100% on all homework assignments. Online homework (excercises) will be due on Saturdays. However, the
video assignments related to them are due at earlier times throughout the week. This is to discourage the
practice of doing everything in one day, which is not a recipe for success.
Late Passes: Life happens and sometimes our plans for working on homework gets messed up by life. Thus,
I have given each student 5 late passes (on WAMAP) to use during the quarter on the online part of the
course. (These are NOT for exams and NOT for either of the forums.) Late passes must be used within a day of
the assignment’s original due date. Each late pass grants a 24-hour extension however, you will get a 5%
penalty (which means you can only earn 95% of the points). Late passes can be used on assignment for which
a late passes has already used.
PROJECTS:
You will have 4 to 5 projects to turn in during the quarter. These will be on specific real life problems that you
will need to find solutions to as well as write about clearly in English sentences.
ONLINE SKILL QUIZZES:
Weekly quizzes will be given online using WAMAP. Quizzes will open up on Friday mornings and be due
Sundays at 11:59 pm. If you miss a problem the first time on a quiz, you will get one more chance at a different
problem with a 20% penalty. HOWEVER, realize that the problem might totally change and you cannot go
back to the original one. This might matter if the question has more than one part and you got part of it
correct. Also, if you want to ask me questions later, it would be good to write down the actual problem and
then write your solutions neatly so there is something to reference if you decide to try a different problem.
You can also save an image of the computer screen when you miss a problem and you’re sure you’re right.
That way, I can see the original problem after the quiz is done.
Late passes may be used on quizzes.
TESTS:
Two tests (a midterm and a final) will be given during the quarter online. You must take the tests on the day(s)
required.
The Midterm is to be taken between Tuesday, May 10th through Thursday, May 12th .
The Final Exam is to be taken between Tuesday, June 14th through Thursday, June 16th.
GRADING SUMMARY:
Video Assignments: 10%
Online Homework: 15%
Projects: 15%
Question Forums: 5%
Discussion Forum: 15%
Skill Quizzes: 10%
Midterm: 15%
Final Exam: 15%
EXPECTATION OF STUDENTS
Students should expect to spend on average 20 hours a week working on this course.
Students are required to access WAMAP regularly.
Students are required to stay on schedule given the master calendar at the end of the syllabus.
Students must check their email regularly as I send correspondence to indicate any additional work or
changes to the master schedule.
If a student’s edmail email is not one they check regularly, the student is required to forward all edmail
emails to their most used personal email.
Students are responsible for following all directions as listed in the syllabus, announcements or emails.
Students should contact their instructor if a serious situation arises that may affect the students ability
to stay on schedule.
A NOTE:
Please keep in mind that each of you have paid a lot of money for this class. My job is to provide you
with resources and expertise on the subject, to encourage your learning, and to help you when you are
struggling. I will do all I can to help you learn, but you have to do your part. If you do not have the
time and energy for this course, you should wait until next quarter to enroll. Also, you have to trust that
I will do my best to make the class interesting, safe for learning, and engaging. In return, I ask that you
respect the learning environment and the opinions and thoughts of other students by being polite on
the discussion boards.
POLICY ON “I” and “V” GRADES
Incomplete “I” grades are only given “when the student has done satisfactory work but could not, for some
unavoidable reason, complete part of the course work or take the final examination.” Instructor-initiated
Withdrawal “V” grades are given only for hardship cases and “in consultation with the student.” It is your
responsibility to withdraw by the deadline if you choose to withdraw instead of earning a decimal grade. If you
simply stop participating in class but do not withdraw from the course, you will not receive an “I” or “V” grade.
For more information about grading options, see the EdCC Catalog.
POLICY ON ACADEMIC DISHONESTY (aka CHEATING):
Edmonds CC students shall demonstrate Academic Integrity. I am expected to report all violations of Academic
Integrity (cheating and plagiarism) to the College. The College's database of such incidents will be monitored
by the Office of the Vice President for Student Services. Data will be maintained for three years. Evidence of
repeat incidents will result in additional action by the Office of the Vice President for Student Services as
governed by the Student Code of Conduct.
The following are considered academic dishonesty in this course:
• Copying another student’s work or letting another student copy your work.
• Taking a quiz for another student on WAMAP
• Getting help on quizzes/exams on WAMAP
• Discussing an exam with anyone who took the exam before you.
Certainly, there are other forms of academic dishonesty that might appear during this course. Please use your
best judgment. If you are unsure about whether something might be considered cheating, please ask me. It is
not cheating to study with a group. As a matter of fact, this is a great way to study and I strongly encourage it.
Just make sure that you work on your own when you write up the assignments that you will be turning in. If
there is evidence of plagiarism on any component of the course, all students involved will receive a grade of 0
on the assignment or test. If a second offence occurs, all students involved will receive a course grade of 0.0.
Any incident of academic dishonesty will be reported to the Vice President for Student Services, recorded in the
student’s file, and the student will be subject to disciplinary action as determined by the Vice President.
COURSE OBJECTIVES :
Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:
1. Construct mathematical models for a variety of situations, using linear, quadratic, exponential, or
logarithmic relationships.
2. Solve financial applications, using the appropriate formula or mathematical model.
3. Read, interpret, and verbalize information when it is presented in tables, graphs, or by numerical
measurements.
4. Summarize and tabulate data by tables, graphs, or by numerical measurements.
5. Calculate probabilities using basic probability rules.
6. Compute basic statistics, including the mean, standard deviation, and normal distribution.
7. Solve application problems and express solutions clearly.
DEGREE PROGRAM OUTCOMES: Outcomes for Edmonds Community College degrees and certificates can be
found in the online college catalog (http://catalog.edcc.edu) embedded within each degree or certificate. To
find specific outcomes, click on the Degrees and Certificates link and select a program from the list.
Information about the COLLEGE-WIDE ABILITIES can be found at http://www.edcc.edu/cwa
STUDENT RESPONSIBILITIES:
Please see the Student Rights, Freedoms and Responsibilities in the Edmonds CC online academic
catalog:http://catalog.edcc.edu/content.php?catoid=23&navoid=6810. This document includes Guidelines for
Student Conduct and information on disciplinary procedures.
EMERGENCY CLOSURE:
In case of an emergency school closure, you can access the following web site for information
http://www.schoolreport.org/ and or call the college switchboard at 425-640-1459. Of course, since we are an
online class, this should not affect us except in the case that it falls on a testing day.
ACCOMMODATIONS:
If you require an accommodation for a disability please contact Services for Students with Disabilities, MLT 159,
425-640-1320, [email protected].
STUDENT RESOURCES
Useful Student Resources: www.edcc.edu/students
Academic Calendar: www.edcc.edu/calendar/academic.html
Advising :www.edcc.edu/advising
Center for Student Engagement and Leadership: www.edcc.edu/csel
College Policies and Procedures: http://catalog.edcc.edu
Counseling and Resource Center: www.edcc.edu/counseling
Diversity Student Center: www.edcc.edu/dsc
eLearning Information: www.edcc.edu/elearning
Enrollment Services: www.edcc.edu/es
Library, including online resources: www.edcc.edu/library
Services for Students with Disabilities: www.edcc.edu/ssd
Student Printing Information: www.edcc.edu/acs/printing
Student Support Resources: www.edcc.edu/support
TRIO: www.edcc.edu/trio
The EdCC academic calendar can be found here: www.edcc.edu/calendar/academic.html.
WHAT IF YOU NEED HELP?
I expect that everyone in the class will struggle with the concepts and need extra assistance at some point in
the quarter. (If you never struggle, you are not learning, and are probably in the wrong class.) Your success in
this course will depend greatly on keeping up with (and understanding) the homework. If you start to struggle,
do not give up -- GET HELP! There are several resources for you!
When you are looking for help on math, here are places to go:
Form a study group of other Math 107 students
drop-in tutoring. It is staffed by math tutors every hour it is open; it is open the following hours:
Mondays & Thursdays: 8:30 AM – 4:00 PM
Tuesdays & Wednesdays: 8:30 AM – 6:00 PM
Fridays: 8:30 AM – 12:30 PM
They will have Saturday hours later in the quarter.
, https://www.etutoring.org/login.cfm?institutionid=172&returnPage= (you
actually paid for with your enrollment at Edmonds CC) To login for the first time, click "Login Now" and
choose "Western eTutoring Consortium," select "Edmonds Community College" and enter your Username
(SID, with no hyphens or spaces) and Password (Birthdate, May 12, 1985 would 850512; year, month, date).
Problems? Contact [email protected] for help.
hn Academy, https://www.khanacademy.org/math/algebra and watch their tutorials on the areas
you want help.
ic (e.g. “logarithms”)
BUT ONE OF THE MAIN PLACES YOU’LL GO WHEN YOU ARE BY YOURSELF IS TO POST TO THE FORUM
FOR THE CHAPTER.
To Post on the Question Forum, please do the following:
Indicate what problem you are working on (section an number) – this is done automatically when you post to
the forum from inside the homework (there’s a link in each problem). This helps other students who have a
question about the same question later.
If you’re willing, please show the work that you have done by typing it in or uploading a file showing the
work (scanning for a pdf or taking a picture for a jpeg).
HOMEWORK AND TESTING SCHEDULE FOR THE QUARTER
Week 1 (4/4 – 4/10): Post to the Autobiography Forum
Fill out the Student Information Question for your instructor
Watch the video assignments and answer the corresponding questions.
Problem Solving Homework
So your 1st Post to Week 1 & 2 Discussion Forum
Post to Problem Solving Question Forum
Skill Quiz 1
Week 2 (4/11 – 4/17): Watch the video assignments and answer the corresponding questions.
Finance Part 1 Homework
Do your 2nd
Post to Week 1 & 2 Discussion Forum
Post to Financial Question Forum
Project #1 Due
Skill Quiz 2
Week 3 (4/18 – 4/24): Watch the video assignments and answer the corresponding questions.
Finance Part 2 Homework
Do your 1st Post to Week 3 & 4 Discussion Forum
Post to Financial Question Forum
Skill Quiz 3
Week 4 (4/25 – 5/1): Project #2 Due
Watch the video assignments and answer the corresponding questions.
Statistics Part 1 Homework
Do your 2nd
Post to Week 3 & 4 Discussion Forum
Post to Statistics Question Forum
Skill Quiz 4
Week 5 (5/2 – 5/8): Watch the video assignments and answer the corresponding questions.
Statistics Part 2 Homework
Do your 1st Post to Week 5 & 6 Discussion Forum
Post to Statistics Question Forum
Skill Quiz 5
Project #3 Due
Week 6 (5/9 – 5/15): Midterm (take sometime during 5/10 – 5/12),
Statistics Part 3 Homework
Do your 2nd
Post to Week 5 & 6 Discussion Forum
Post to Statistics Question Forum
Skill Quiz 6
Week 7 (5/16 – 5/22): Watch the video assignments and answer the corresponding questions.
Probability Part 1 Homework
Do your 1st Post to Week 7 & 8 Discussion Forum
Post to Probabililty Question Forum
Skill Quiz 7
Week 8 (5/23 – 5/29): Watch the video assignments and answer the corresponding questions.
Probability Part 2 Homework
Do your 2nd
Post to Week 7 & 8 Discussion Forum
Post to Probabililty Question Forum
Project #4 Due
Skill Quiz 8
Week 9 (5/30 – 6/5): Watch the video assignments and answer the corresponding questions.
Growth Models Part 1 Homework
Do your 1st post to Week 9 & 10 Discussion Forum
Post to Growth Models Question Forum
Skill Quiz 9
Week 10: (6/6 – 6/12): Watch the video assignments and answer the corresponding questions.
Growth Models Part 2 Homework
Do your 2nd
post to Week 9 & 10 Discussion Forum
Post to Growth Models Question Forum
Project #5 Due
Skill Quiz 10
Week 11: (6/13 – 6/16) Final Exam (to be taken 6/14 – 6/16)