Welcome to the MTLC

1. Welcome to the MTLC MATH 115 Fall 2009

2. MTLC Information • Hours of Operation • Sunday: 4:00pm – 10:00pm • Monday – Thursday: 8:00am – 10:00pm • Friday: 8:00am – 5:00pm • Closings • Labor Day: Sunday 9/6 and Monday 9/7 • Fall Break: will close Wed. 10/7 at 10pm and will re-open at 8am on Monday 10/12. • Thanksgiving: will close Tue. 11/24 at 5pm and will re-open at 8am on Monday 11/30. • Phone Number: 348 – 2592 • Website: www.mtlc.ua.edu • EMAIL: ma115mtl@bama.ua.edu Please put your instructor’s name in the subject box for email.

3. Common Rules for the Center ABSOLUTELY NO FOOD, DRINKS, TOBACCO PRODUCTS, CELL PHONES, COMPANIONS, OR PROFANITY ARE ALLOWED. NO EXCEPTIONS!!

4. Course Requirements • Prerequisites • Grade of A+ in Math 100 • Minimum of 380 (38) on the placement test • Every student must have an active “crimson” e-mail account for computer/course login. • Every new student must have a Mylabsplusaccess code.

5. Textbook and access code • Textbook – Algebra and Trigonometry, 3rd edition by Robert Blitzer, published by Prentice Hall. • This course is a computer based course. All assignments for this course will be accessed through a publisher’s website (www.mylabsplus.com). • An access code will be necessary to complete your assignments. No work can be completed until you have entered an access code into your account.

6. Access Codes • Access codes may be purchased with or without a printed version of the textbook. • You may purchase the code with the textbook at any of the bookstores in town. • You may purchase the code without a printed version of the book either at one of the bookstores in town or online on the mylabsplus website set up for your specific math course. • You may purchase the access code online using a Visa. • Again, no work can be completed until you have entered your access code into your account.

7. Access Codes - Repeating Students If you are repeating the course, then you should be able to log in to the new course by automatically re-activating your previous access code. If you have any trouble, then be sure to come to the MTLC for assistance. Again, you are responsible for checking prior to the first deadline in the syllabus.

8. Initial Skills Assessment When you login to MyLabsPlus you will see two links, a course link and a link for the MyMathTest: • Math115_Smith_Math115_01 • Alabama Skills Assessment Math115_Smith BEFORE beginning your work in your class, click the Skills Assessment link, click the Placement button on the left of the screen, and take a brief skills assessment. • Important assessment tool for us • Will NOT hurt your grade in the course, could help it • PLEASE take it seriously

9. Calculator • Only the calculator on the computer is allowed in this course. • No other calculators are allowed during testing. • It is the student’s responsibility to learn how to operate the computer calculator before testing.

10. Course Grades • Possible grades in this course are A, B, C, (+/-) or NC. • A grade of NC means you receive no credit for this course. You must take the course again, but an NC does not affect your GPA. • The last day to withdraw from the course is Wednesday, October 28th. No withdrawals will be given after this date.

11. Course Grades • 4 tests (110 points each) 440 pts • Final Exam 300 pts • Quiz average (30 points each test period) 120 pts • Homework average (25 points each test period) 100 pts • Class Meetings (1 point for each class) 40 pts • Lab Survey 2 pts • TOTAL 1002 pts You must have 700 pts. to pass Math 115

12. Quizzes & Homework • There will be a graded homework assignments for each section. . Multiple attempts are allowed on homework. Be sure to click on the “Submit Work” button when you are ready to record your homework score. You may submit homework before the assignment is finished and return to it later. • There will be a quiz given after one or two sections. Click on the “Submit Test” button when ready for your quiz score to be recorded. Only one attempt will be given on quizzes, so please be prepared and ready to do well! • You will be allowed to drop the two lowest homework grades and the two lowest quiz grades each test period. If homework or quizzes are missed due to a serious, verifiable circumstance, then make-up work may be allowed. Any student requesting to make up work must fill out a petition request form in 345 Gordon Palmer with an excuse and supporting documents attached.

13. Working at Home • Students can do homework from home by downloading all of the necessary plug-ins. • Web page: http://mylabsplus.com • Use the installation wizard in the software. Be sure to check for ALL components and install all necessary plug-ins. • Tests must be completed in the MTLC. • Homework and quizzes may be completed at home. However, if grades are not successfully sent from home for any reason, you will not be able to retry the work after the deadline has passed. If you work from home, there is a risk your grades may not be properly saved. NOTE: Macs do work for Math 115 but the installation is a little more difficult. Follow the instructions carefully on the installation wizard. Ask for help in the lab if needed.

14. Replacement Policy • Everyone will be allowed to replace his or her lowest test grade with the grade made on the final exam. • Zero grades due to unexcused absences or academic misconduct will not be replaced. • If a test is missed due to a serious, verifiable circumstance, the zero test grade will also be replaced with the final exam grade, but only if a petition request form is filed within 2 days at Room 345 Gordon Palmer and if the petition request panel approves the excuse.

15. Syllabus Quiz • The Syllabus quiz must be taken (by the deadline) and contains questions about the syllabus. • You may take this quiz (and only this quiz) as many times as you like, and you may have your syllabus with you when you take it. • The purpose of the quiz is to make sure that you understand the policies set out in the syllabus should it become necessary to refer to them later, so take this quiz very seriously.

16. Acknowledgement Form • An acknowledgment form stating that you have read the syllabus and understand the policies set by this course must be completed in the software before you will be allowed to begin any assignments. • In the software, select the Test 1 Work, then select the Orientation link, then select the Acknowledgement Form to complete this requirement.

17. MyLabsPlus Login Your software user name will be the prefix to your full crimson email account name, and your password will be your 8-digit campus-wide ID. Example: Username: jtdoe@crimson.ua.edu Password: 12345678

18. Logging into the Software

19. Getting Started After logging into the system and selecting your course from the course list: • Install the plug-ins on your own computer if necessary using the installation wizard found on the screen on the right. • Read the announcements, then click on the Test 1 Work tab. • Select Acknowledgement form link. You will now be prompted for your access code. • All information from today’s orientation can also be found in the link for orientation.

20. Basic look of the Software

21. Homework, Quizzes, Videos, and Text

22. Need Extra Help The MTLC is open 71 hours each week for help. Center for Teaching and Learning(CTL) CTL website: www.ctl.ua.edu Free personal tutorial appointments are available at the CTL in Osband Hall. Call 348-8854 to schedule an appointment.

23. Final thoughts • We are looking forward to your success in this course. • Know that this is not an easy course, you will have to work hard the entire semester. • Get help when needed. We are here for that purpose. • Good Luck!