Welcome to Precalculus 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 10 hours per week spent with online classroom presentation well as an additional 10-20 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 four on-campus exams.
TESTS
There will be four on-campus exams which may be taken in the
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 regular Chapter Quiz. Should you do 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.