2022 Spring Course Syllabus - Mathematics 0701.001

Course: Mathematics 0701.001.

Course Title: MATH 0701: Basic Mathematics for Today's World.

Credits: 4.

How this course will be taught: Virtual for the first two weeks, in person starting January 24th.

Time: 10:40-11:50am.

Place: The first two weeks of class will be held on Zoom. The Zoom link will be posted on Canvas and emailed to students prior to the first day of class. Beginning on January 24th, class will be held in Wachman 407.

Instructor: Max Emlen Avener.

Instructor Office: Wachman 522.

Instructor Email: max.avener@temple.edu

Instructor Phone: 215-204-7841 (Math department office - for emergencies only).

Office Hours: Instructor office hours: Tue/Thu 3:00-4:00 (online only); Fri 2-3 (Wachman 522, with online option by request). CA office hours: Mon 12-3 (Wachman 1036), Tue 1-2 (Wachman 1036), Wed 12-2 (Wachman 1036).

Prerequisites: Placement exam.

Course Materials: The course will use the Foundations of Mathematical Reasoning textbook and supporting materials from the Dana Center Mathematical Pathway program developed at the University of Texas in Austin. All materials will available free of cost on Canvas.

Course Goals: Course Objectives/Learning Goals: This course is a quantitative reasoning course. This means you will learn to use, understand, and communicate about quantitative information. The course has five goals: Communication goal: You will interpret and communicate quantitative information and mathematical and statistical concepts using language appropriate to the context and intended audience. Problem Solving goal: You will make sense of problems, develop strategies to find solutions, and persevere in solving them. Reasoning goal: You will reason, model, and make decisions with mathematical, statistical, and quantitative information. Evaluation goal: You will critique and evaluate quantitative arguments that utilize mathematical, statistical, and quantitative information. Technology goal: You will use appropriate technology in a given context. Learning Outcomes - by the end of the semester, you will be able to: 1. apply concepts of numeracy to investigate and describe quantitative relationships and solve real-world problems in a variety of contexts. 2. use proportional reasoning to solve problems that require ratios, rates, proportions, and scaling. 3. transition from specific and numeric reasoning to general and abstract reasoning using the language andstructure of algebra to investigate, represent, and solve problems. 4. evaluate statements that appear in the popular media (especially in presenting medical information) involving risk and arguments based on probability. 5. interpret, and make decisions based on financial information commonly presented to consumers. 6. critically evaluate quantitative information presented in the media and judge its usefulness.

Topics Covered: Topics include (1) numeracy with an emphasis on estimation and fluency with large numbers, (2) evaluating expressions and formulas, (3) rates, ratios, and proportions, (4) percentages, (5) solving equations, (6) linear models, (7) data interpretations including graphs and tables, (8) verbal, algebraic and graphical representations of functions, and (9) exponential models.

Course Grading: Pre-class preview assignments: 5%. Post-class practice assignments: 15%. Attendance, participation and in-class activities: 10% Tests: 45% (4 tests with the lowest score dropped and the remaining 3 scores worth 15% each). Final: 25%.

Exam Dates: Test 1: Monday, January 31st. Test 2: Wednesday, February 23rd. Test 3: Friday, March 25th. Test 4: Friday, April 22nd Final Exam: Friday, April 29th, 10:30 am - 12:30 pm.

Attendance Policy: Attending and participating in class regularly is crucial to your learning. You are expected to be in class every day unless you are unable to due to extenuating circumstances such as illness or family emergency. If you do miss class it is your responsibility to communicate with your instructor as soon as possible about the nature of your absence, your expected return time, and your plan for completing missed work. Any absences for unexcused reasons such as sleeping in or recreational travel, or absences that you do not communicate about, in a timely manner, may result in a reduction of your participation grade.

Attendance and Your Health: To achieve course learning goals, students must attend and participate in classes, according to your instructors' requirements. However, if you feel unwell or if you are under quarantine or in isolation because you have been exposed to the virus or tested positive for it, you should not come to campus or attend in-person classes or activities. It is the student's responsibility to contact their instructors to create a plan for participation and engagement in the course as soon as they are able to do so, and to make a plan to complete all assignments in a timely fashion, when illness delays their completion.

Preview and Practice Assignments: For each class, you will be assigned a set of preview assignments (due at 11:59 pm the night before class) and a set of practice assignments (due at 11:59 the night before the following class). All assignments will be submitted through Canvas. Assignments will be graded for completion.

Late Submission/Make-Up Policy: Preview and practice assignments will be accepted up to 1 week late for 80% credit and will not be accepted after that. Test make-ups will be handled on a case-by-case basis. If you are not able to attend a test, contact me as soon as possible. No make-ups will be allowed after tests have been returned and/or we have discussed solutions in class.

Calculator Policy: A scientific calculator (on that can carry out calculations involving addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, exponents, and radicals) will be needed in class and on exams. Non-internet connected graphing calculators may be used but are not needed. No internet-connected devices (including phones, tablets, smart watches, or computers) may be used during tests.

Canvas: We will use Canvas for many things in this class, including but not limited to announcements, posting materials, posting and submitting assignments, and tracking grades. Please note that the weighting of our course assessments cannot be accurately tracked in Canvas, so your cumulative grade in Canvas will generally not be accurate.

Letter Grades: A: 93 and up; A-: 90 to 92; B+: 87 to 89; B: 83 to 86; B-: 80 to 82; C+: 77 to 79; C: 73 to 76; C-: 70 to 72; D+: 65 to 69; D: 55 to 64; D-: 50 to 54; F: 49 and below.

Math Consulting Center: The Math Consulting Center offers free drop-in tutoring for this course and many other math courses. This is a great opportunity to get support outside of class and office hours. Details will be posted on Canvas early in the semester.

Disability Statement: Any student who has a need for accommodations based on the impact of a documented disability or medical condition should contact Disability Resources and Services (DRS) in Howard Gittis Student Center South, Rm 420 (drs@temple.edu; 215-204-1280) to request accommodations and learn more about the resources available to you. If you have a DRS accommodation letter to share with me, or you would like to discuss your accommodations, please contact me as soon as practical. I will work with you and with DRS to coordinate reasonable accommodations for all students with documented disabilities. All discussions related to your accommodations will be confidential.

Academic Freedom: Freedom to teach and freedom to learn are inseparable facets of academic freedom. The University has adopted a policy on Student and Faculty Academic Rights and Responsibilities (Policy # 03.70.02) which can be accessed here (opens in new tab/window).

Add/Drop Policy: Students will be charged for a course unless dropped by the Drop/Add deadline date. Check the University calendar (opens in new tab/window) for exact dates.

During the Drop/Add period, students may drop a course with no record of the class appearing on their transcript. Students are not financially responsible for any courses dropped during this period. In the following weeks prior to or on the withdrawal date students may withdraw from a course with the grade of "W" appearing on their transcript. After the withdrawal date students may not withdraw from courses. Check the University Calendar (opens in new tab/window) for exact dates. See the full policy by clicking here (opens in new tab/window).

Incomplete Policy: The grade "I" (an "incomplete") is only given if students cannot complete the course work due to circumstances beyond their control. It is necessary for the student to have completed the majority of the course work with a passing average and to sign an incomplete contract which clearly states what is left for the student to do and the deadline by which the work must be completed. The incomplete contract must also include a default grade that will be used in case the "I" grade is not resolved by the agreed deadline. See the full policy by clicking here (opens in new tab/window).

Expectations for Class Conduct: The best way to maintain a safe and focused learning environment is for everyone to get vaccinated. Masks must be worn by vaccinated and unvaccinated people in all indoor or in enclosed spaces (including classrooms, the Library, the TECH Center, the Student Center, shuttles/buses, administrative spaces, common areas in residence halls, etc.). For your general health and well-being, hand washing and monitoring your health is still highly recommended.

Student Support Services: The following academic support services are available to students (all links open in a new tab/window):
    The Math Consulting Center
    Student Success Center
    University Libraries
    Undergraduate Research Support
    Career Center
    Tuttleman Counseling Services
    Disability Resources and Services
If you are experiencing food insecurity or financial struggles, Temple provides resources and support. Notably, the Temple University Cherry Pantry and the Temple University Emergency Student Aid Program are in operation as well as a variety of resources from the Division of Student Affairs.

For courses in remote mode:

Technology specifications for this course: A working computer with a reliable internet connection, a Webcam, and audio capability. Recommended Internet Speed: 8mbps download & 5mbps upload. You can test your connection at https://www.speedtest.net. Please note: Hard-wired connections are more consistent than Wi-Fi for Zoom sessions. A scanning app such as AdobeScan or CamScanner is required as is access to Zoom and Canvas (the Canvas app is also recommended).
Limited resources are available for students who do not have the technology they need for class. Students with educational technology needs, including no computer or camera or insufficient Wifi-access, should submit a request outlining their needs using the Student Emergency Aid Fund form. The University will endeavor to meet needs, such as with a long-term loan of a laptop or Mifi device, a refurbished computer, or subsidized internet access.

Remote proctoring statement: Zoom, Proctorio or a similar proctoring tool may be used to proctor exams and quizzes in this course. These tools verify your identity and record online actions and surroundings. It is your responsibility to have the necessary government or school issued ID, a laptop or desktop computer with a reliable internet connection, the Google Chrome and Proctorio extension, a webcam/built-in camera and microphone, and system requirements for using Proctorio, Zoom, or a similar proctoring tool. Before the exam begins, the proctor may require a scan of the room in which you are taking the exam.

Online Classroom Etiquette: It is expected that each student attends every class on time for the full duration of each class and behaves, in the same professional manner, as if you are in a regular classroom. This refers in particular to your location and attire. It is not appropriate to eat a large meal, drink alcohol, smoke, or get up often during an online class.

Statement on recording and distribution of recordings of class sessions: Any recordings permitted in this class can only be used for the student's personal educational use. Students are not permitted to copy, publish, or redistribute audio or video recordings of any portion of the class session to individuals who are not students in the course or academic program without the express permission of the faculty member and of any students who are recorded. Distribution without permission may be a violation of educational privacy law known as FERPA as well as certain copyright laws. Any recordings made by the instructor or university of this course are the property of Temple University.