Professor

• Erich Holtmann
• Office: MA1-121
• EHoltman@losmedanos.edu
• 925-439-2181 x3192

 

Erich's schedule 

Note: my schedule is subject to change. See http://holtmann12.pbwiki.com/ for my current schedule.

 

9:00      10:00        11:00        Noon        1:00         2:00         3:00         4:00           5:00

M

Office

80

12

Senate

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12

Test

DGC

W

Office

80

12

Th

12

Test

Ofc

Lab

F

Office

80

Test

S

 

Math Labs

You will need to spend at least two hours per week outside of class in the tutoring math labs, computer math lab, and testing room. See http://lmcprofdev.pbwiki.com/Math%20labs for the labs' schedules. Whether you are going to the tutoring math lab, the computer math lab, or the testing room, please log in and log out on the computer in the tutoring math lab to record your hours.

 

Tutoring Math Lab: MA1-102

You can drop in any time the tutoring lab is open (schedules). See my schedule above for when I will be in the lab.

 

Computer Math Lab: MA2-202

You can drop in any time the computer math lab is open (schedules). We will spend one hour of class time each week in the computer math lab, but you will need to additional time on the computer (www.coursecompass.com) in order to complete your homework and tests. CourseCompass registration instructions are on a separate page.

Testing Room: MA1-107

You will need to go to the testing room (schedules) to take mastery quizzes, about once a week. Some exams will also be given in the testing room, rather than in class. Your can drop into the testing room whenever it is open. Be sure to bring a photo ID.

Required Materials

1. Software & Textbook: Mathematics In Action: Prealgebra Problem Solving, by the Consortium for Foundation Mathematics, 2^nd edition, with Access Code to MyMathLab
2. Scientific Calculator. If you plan to take Math 30 (Intermediate Algebra), then I recommend you get a TI-83 or TI-84 calculator (about $100). Otherwise, any cheap ($12) scientific calculator will do. You will need to learn how to do math with and without a calculator.
3. Red pen.
4. Three-ring binder, pencils, ruler, 8.5" by 11" lined paper, 8.5" by 11" graph paper or engineering paper, and a stapler (there is a stapler in the math lab). Your binder should be divided into three sections: (1) Computer Homework & Tests, (2) Activities & Exercises, and (3) Quizzes & Exams.

Course Description

This course is recommended for students who need a refresher before taking Elementary Algebra (Math 25). Math 25 is a prerequisite for Math 26 and Math 30, courses that satisfy the math requirement for the A.A. degree and that lead to transfer courses. If you want a Certificate instead of an A.A. degree, you should consider taking Math 4 or Math 7 or Math 9 instead of Math 12. Ask me for more information about your choices.

You will learn to work with various representations of numbers (whole numbers, integers, fractions, mixed numbers, decimals, and percent), data (tables and graphs), and relationships (word problems and equations). You will also learn problem-solving techniques, including a general problem-solving procedure and some specific techniques such as proportions and unit analysis. Finally, you will work on mathematical communication and effective learning skills. This course satisfies the prerequisite for Elementary Algebra (Math 25).

Goals

1. Students will be able to communicate reasoning and prealgebra concepts using standard mathematical notation. These concepts include negative numbers, arithmetic operations, variables, equations, statistics, and unit analysis.
2. Students will use multiple perspectives in their problem solving and mathematical communication, including fractions, mixed numbers, decimals, percentages, diagrams, tables, graphs, and words.
3. Students will be able to use a generalized problem-solving process to solve a variety of problems involving arithmetic and linear equations.
4. Students will become more effective learners.

Grading

Your grade for the course will be a weighted average of the following types of work:

Type of Work	Weight	Comments
Computer Homework	15%	Mastery, Unlimited # of tries
Computer Tests	15%	Unlimited # of tries  until deadline
Class Activities, Exercises, In-Class Quizzes	15%	No late work
Mastery Quizzes	20%	Mastery, Unlimited # of tries until deadline
Exams	15%	One try
Final Exam	20%	One try

You will receive full credit on a mastery quiz if you score at least 85%; otherwise, you will receive no credit. “Unlimited # of tries” means that you can repeat the assignment as many times as you like. On the computer, only the highest score counts. You may also earn extra credit "bonus" points for class participation. Letter grades will be assigned as follows:

Grade:	A	B	C	D	F
At least:	90%	80%	70%	60%	0%

 

Participation

Participation and attendance are vital to success in this class. Be on time, or you may miss a quiz! If you miss a class, make sure you get the notes and assignments from a classmate. If you are going to miss an in-class exam, speak to me before the exam to arrange a time for a make-up (otherwise no make-up!). It is your responsibility to drop the course if you choose not to complete it. See the schedule of classes for the deadlines. I may drop any student who does not attend the first day, misses more than three consecutive weeks during the semester, or has fallen irretrievably behind due to absences. Students who are not making adequate progress by the fourth week may be dropped. CCCCD policy does not allow auditing (attending a class without being enrolled). This also means that unenrolled children of students are not allowed to come to class. Please plan accordingly.

Computer Work

Homework:

Your homework problems will be on the computer instead of at the end of each section of the book. You still need to write up your homework solutions, but instead of checking your answers in the back of the book, the computer will check them. The computer gives you immediate feedback, offers several types of help, is available 24/7, and lets you try again. You must achieve mastery (100%) on each homework before you can do the next homework or test. (The green flag on the homework will drop when you are ready.)

Tests:

Your tests on the computer take the place of the Chapter Reviews and Chapter Tests in the book. You have an unlimited number of tries on each test until it expires. But before you can take a test, you must finish the chapter homework. (The green flag on the test will drop when you are ready.)

Written Work

Activities and Exercises:

These are in-class exercises from the textbook and worksheets. In the activities you will learn problem solving and communication using the skills you learned on the computer. I encourage group work on activities. I will check the activities and exercises in notebook checks.

Quizzes:

You will have frequent, unannounced quizzes to help you to assess your recent learning. You need to have a red pen, because you will be correcting these quizzes in class. You will be graded on the corrections. I do not give make-up quizzes, but there will be some extra-credit quizzes. Quizzes will be open-notebook (so you can use your activities and exercises).

Mastery Quizzes:

You have an unlimited number of tries on the mastery quizzes in the math testing room (schedules). On each quiz, you earn full credit as soon as you achieve mastery (85%) by the deadline by the deadline; otherwise, you get no credit.

Exams:

Exams will be announced ahead of time. Many exams will be given outside of class, in the math testing room (schedules). There are no re-takes, but you may earn extra credit by re-working selected exams. If you are absent the day of the exam, I will allow make-ups only if you contact me (in person, by email, or by voicemail) before class starts and schedule a time for the make-up within a week. You may not use notes on any exams.

Final Exam

The final exam will cover the entire course. Check the Class Schedule for the time and day of the exam. You may not use notes on the final exam.

Extra Credit

You may earn extra credit in several ways, such as classroom participation bonus stamps, re-working of selected written activities and exams, and extra-credit quizzes.

Accommodations

Students with documented learning and/or physical disabilities may receive reasonable classroom and/or testing accommodations. Please make these arrangements with me during office hours at the beginning of the semester or as possible after documentation has been determined. Last minute requests may not be determined “reasonable.”

LMC Clubs and Activities 

Connecting with other students and having a social support network increase academic success, You can find a list of LMC student clubs and activities at www.losmedanos.edu/studentservices/clubs/list.html