MA101 is a new way for students to learn the algebra concepts they need to be successful in logical systems courses and other courses that require algebra as a skill for success. This course is structured but individually tailored. Students receive instruction from computer software called ALEKS and have access to one-on-one assistance during class. This is not an on-line course. Through an attendance policy, students will be required to attend class as scheduled. Success in this course is dependent upon students committing to attending every class meeting and spending at least 3 hours every week outside of class working on the material. Students must have access to a computer with internet access to fulfill the ‘outside of class’ requirements of the course. This can be done at home or in any of the University’s open labs.
There is no paper textbook for this course, although an e-textbook is available. As part of the course fee, students will have an 18-week (for a fall or spring semester) subscription to ALEKS which they will use in class. Students will access ALEKS through the class website. Students will also be expected to keep a notebook of their work as they are guided through the topics by the software. This notebook will be graded.
Students enrolled in MA101 will work to master approximately 150 objectives. This material is divided into 10 units and there are deadlines for finishing each
unit. Students may choose to work ahead, but the deadlines help to insure students
stay on schedule to finish the course in the allotted time. The grade in the course
is determined by the following:
30% Final exam (instructor generated test).
20% Midterm exam (instructor generated test).
10% Pencil and paper quizzes over 8 units (8 quizzes).
10% Notebooks (collected twice).
20% Two unit exams.
10% Completion of the ALEKS objectives.
Course grade is CR, F or X.
CR grade will be awarded for an overall percentage of 70% or above.
F grade will be awarded for an overall percentage less than 70%.
X grade will be awarded for students not taking the final exam.
NOTE: A grade of CR in MA101 does not get computed into the GPA, but a grade of F or X does.
Students enrolled in MA101 may and are encouraged to work ahead to complete the course early. When a student has notified the instructor that the course objectives have been completed, the instructor and student will work together to schedule the remaining quizzes in the course and a date for an early final exam. If the student passes all of the quizzes and gets at least a 70% on the final exam, the student’s ALEKS subscription will be transferred to the MA102 course. No transfer in the Southeast enrollment will occur until the end of the semester. Students who ‘transition’ to MA102 will merge into the course at its current unit and not be required to start over from the beginning (since the first part of MA102 is a fast-paced review of MA101 content). The student must work on the MA102 course content, take the remaining MA102 exams and quizzes, and complete the MA102 final exam with a 70%. If the student meets these requirements, then the student’s Southeast enrollment will be transferred from MA101 to MA102 and the student will receive a letter grade for MA102 on the transcript.
Students in MA102 will work to master approximately 265 objectives. The first part of the course content is a quick review of the MA101 material which prepares the students for more advanced objectives that are covered the second half of the semester. Mastery of course objectives will be determined by written quizzes, notebooks, a midterm exam, two unit exams, completion of ALEKS objectives, and a final exam as indicated below. MA102 students have the option to work ahead to finish the course early.
Students who pass MA102 – Intermediate Algebra with a grade of 'C' or higher have the prerequisite for any logical systems course. Students who are currently enrolled in MA101 and are on track to complete both MA101 and MA102 by the end of a semester may have difficulty enrolling in a logical systems course. Students should contact the Department of Mathematics Administrative Assistant at (573) 651-2164 for enrollment assistance.
You may contact the Department of Mathematics at (573) 651-2164 or Cheryl McAllister at (573) 651-2778 (cjmcallister@semo.edu) if you still have questions about MA101 and MA102.
Contact
Phone: 573.651.2164
math@semo.edu
Johnson Hall 201