Welcome to College Algebra Online!

It would be helpful for you to take some time right NOW to browse the course website and see all it has to offer. Go to www.coursecompass.com. Use the access code (found bundled with your text or in the stand-alone version of the software) and the course ID that your received from me to register with MyMathLab.

Once you get to the course website you will find a lot of helpful features which will make the course much easier to handle. The left side of the first page has a list of buttons to take you to important parts of the course. The button labeled "Course Materials" contains the necessary materials (Be sure to scroll down to find all the listings). Here you will find:

1) instructor contact information and office hours.
2) course syllabus
3) course schedule
4) lecture notes/handouts
5) complete text listed chapter by chapter (scroll down to find the desired chapter and then click and scroll to find the desired section).

To successfully complete the course by the end of the semester, please closely follow the course schedule. Once you fall behind it is hard to catch up (see below for the 5 keys to success).

The advantage of working online is that it is more flexible; however, do not think the course is easier because of this flexibility. The material is the same as that covered in a traditional course. Set a study schedule and stick to it allotting both the 3 hours per week spent with online classroom presentation as well as an additional 6 - 9 hours per week, depending upon student background level, for homework exercises and quizzes. Do not put it off! Start working on the course on the first day of the semester. Target dates will be posted in an online schedule to help students pace themselves. I can be reached for questions via email or in person during my posted office hours.

The greatest reason for student failure in this course is falling behind in online homework and quizzes.

HOMEWORK
The homework component of your grade will come from the exercises found under the icon labeled "DO HOMEWORK" in the list of links found on the left side of your first webpage. You will find about 20 - 25 homework exercises for each section of the course.

QUIZZES
The quizzes can be accessed from the "TAKE A QUIZ" icon listed on the left side of your first webpage.

There are two types of quizzes:

1) Practice Quizzes

These may be taken an unlimited number of times and will not count toward your grade and may be used as a preview of the chapter quiz.

2) Chapter Quizzes

These quizzes will count toward your final grade.

You may take each chapter quiz up to three times. I will average the highest attempt of each chapter quiz for your quiz grade.

The Chapter Quizzes (worth 10% of your final grade) together with your Homework (worth 10% of your final grade) will prepare you for each of the three on-campus exams.

TESTS
There will be three on-campus exams which may be taken in the

Testing Center on either campus at a time that is convenient for you pursuant to the listed course schedule (found under Course Materials). Each test is designed to take about one hour. Please check the Testing Center's hours so you have enough time to finish without hurrying. A link to their webpage can be found under "Helpful Links".

Here is a suggested way to efficiently work through each chapter of the course:

1) Read the chapter in your text.

2) View the chapter video found under Course Materials / Chapter # / Section #.

3) Do the homework found under "Do Homework".

4) Take the Chapter Quiz (not the Practice Quiz). Should you not do well on this quiz you might want to try a few exercises in your personalized Study Plan for extra practice before retaking the quiz. There is no extra credit for doing the study plan but it will definitely help in understanding the material.

5.) Take each of the on-campus tests when you have completed the required material for each test.

If, for some reason, you cannot get into the website at any time during the semester, there is a back door. Go to http://www.mathxl.com and enter your mymathlab password in the box on the right side the viewing window to access homework and quizzes.