DSPM 0700
Basic Mathematics
3 Credit Hours

Course Information

Course Description:
Basic Mathematics is a course for students whose placement and diagnostic tests indicate a need to review and strengthen basic mathematics skills.  The course will consist of a study of whole numbers, fractions, decimals, exponents and order of operations, ratio and proportion, percent, measurement and the metric system, introductory statistics, and graphs.  Emphasis will be placed on word problems that involve applications of the above topics.  Students will learn and practice note-taking, study methods and test-taking strategies as they specifically relate to mathematics.  To exit this course you must earn a minimum grade of C.  The next required course would then be DSPM 0800 Elementary Algebra.

Course Objectives:
  • The student will determine by self-examination if they have math anxiety.
  • The student will learn methods to overcome math anxiety  and become a better math student.
  • The student will learn how to study for a math test successfully.
  • The student will round a whole number or decimal number.
  • The student will add, subtract, multiply, and divide whole numbers.
  • The student will evaluate expression involving powers and roots.
  • The student will use the distributive property to write equivalent expressions.
  • The student will simplify expressions using the order of operations.
  •  The student will add, subtract, multiply, and divide fractions.
  • The student will add, subtract, multiply, and divide decimals.
  • The student will add, subtract, multiply, and divide integers.
  • The student will evaluate algebraic expressions when given values for the variables.
  • The student will solve a linear equation in one variable involving two operations.
  • The student will write a ratio, a proportion, and solve a proportion for an unknown value.
  • The student will determine the other equivalent forms of the number when given a fraction, decimal number, or percent.
  • The student will solve problems involving a percent.
  • The student will determine the area, volume, and perimeter (or circumference) of simple geometric figures.
  • The student will determine the mean, median, mode, and range for a given set of data.
  • The student will interpret the meaning of a bar, circle, or line graph.
 
Prerequisites and Corequisites:
Placement score on college entrance exam
Course Topics:
1.       Whole numbers
2.       Fractions
3.       Decimals
4.       Signed Numbers
5.       Basic Equations
6.       Ratio and proportion
7.       Percent
8.       Basic Statistics
9.       Basic Algebra
10.     Bar, line, and circle graphs
11.     Geometry and measures
Specific Course Requirements:
Completion of all assigned work by the assigned deadlines.
Textbooks, Supplementary Materials, Hardware and Software Requirements
Required Textbooks:

Please visit the Virtual Bookstore to obtain textbook information for this course:

 http://rodp.bkstr.com
Supplementary Materials:

Please visit the Virtual Bookstore to obtain textbook information for this course:

 http://rodp.bkstr.com

 
Hardware Requirements:
The minimum requirements can be found at http://www.rodp.org/students/hardware_software.htm.
Software Requirements:
The minimum requirements can be found at http://www.rodp.org/students/hardware_software.htm. 
Instructor Information
Please see the separate page inside the course to find instructor contact information as well as a statement of virtual office hours and other communication information.
Assessment and Grading
Testing Procedures:
All tests and quizzes will be taken online.  There will be three attempts allowed for all quizzes and they will be timed.  The tests and the final exam are allowed one attempt and will be timed.
Grading Procedure:

  • You will be expected to log on and check your e-mail and calendar at least twice a week.

  • You will be expected to complete a quiz for each unit.  There are 12 units.  These quizzes will be timed.  They are to be submitted by the deadline or a zero will be recorded.  You may attempt the quizzes 3 times.

  • You will be expected to complete a test for each module.  There will be five modules and you may only attempt the test once.  This test will be timed and must be submitted by the deadline.

  • You will be required to participate in at least one  discussion about each unit during a given period of time. 
Grading Scale:

Your grade will be calculated as follows:

Grading Scale

12 Unit Quizzes @ 50 each

600 points

1386-1540 points

A

5 modular exams @100 each

500 points

1232-1385 points

B

12 weeks of participation @20 each

240 points

1078-1231 points

C

Final Exam

200 points

0-1077       points

F

Total Points Possible

1540 points

 

 

Assignments and Participation
Assignments and Projects:
9/3-9/9
  • In Mastering Mathematics
    Complete Survey
    Read Chapter 1 and Complete Personal Worksheet Online
    Read Chapter 2 and Complete Personal Worksheet Online
  • In Basic Mathematics for College Students
    Complete Textbook Tour Online
  • In WEBCT- complete modules
    Getting Started with Online Courses
    How this Course Works
    Complete Unit 1 of Module 1
    Post self-introduction on discussion board
    Complete Weekly Quiz #1
9/10-9/16
  • In Mastering Mathematics
    Read Chapter 3 and Complete Personal Worksheet Online
    Read Chapter 4 and Complete Personal Worksheet Online
  • In Basic Mathematics for College Students
    Read Chapter 1
    Do the following written homework assignments-
    1.1 An Introduction to Whole Numbers 1-6,7,15,21,25,26,33,43,53,61,67,71
    1.2 Adding Whole Numbers
    1-10,11,13,15,17,18,19,20,23,31,41,51,61,63
    1.3 Subtracting Whole Numbers
    1-8,11,21,31,41,51,61
    1.4 Multiplying Whole Numbers
    1-8,11,15,17,27,37,47,67,73,83,93
    1.5 Dividing Whole Numbers
    1-19,29,39,49,59,69,79,89
    Estimation
    1,5,9,11
    1.6 Prime Factors and Exponents
    1-10,35,45,55,65,75,83,91
    1.7 Order of Operations
    1-4,15,19,23,27,31,35,39,43,47,51,55,59,65,69
    Chapter 1 Test
    1-25 odd
  • In WEBCT
    Complete Unit 2 of Module 1 
    Group Problem for Chapter 1
    Discussion of Past Math Class Experience
    Week 2 Quiz
    Test 1
9/17-9/23
  • In Mastering Mathematics
    Read Chapter 5 and Complete Personal Worksheet Online
  • In Basic Mathematics for College Students
    Read Chapter 2
    Do the following written homework assignments-
    2.1 An Introduction to the Integers 
    1-10,11,21,31,41,51,55,63,75
    2.2 Addition of Integers
    1-3,7,11,12,21,27,31,37,41,45,49,53,57,61,65,71,75,79,83,87,95
    2.3 Subtraction of Integers
    1-3,5,7,9,13,19,21,25,29,33,37,41,45,49,53,57,61,65,69,77,83,85,87,89
    2.4 Multiplication of Integers
    1-7,17,18,23,27,31,35,39,43,47,51,55,61,65,69,73,75,91,93
    2.5 Division of Integers
    1-6,15,19,23,27,31,35,39,43,47,59,61
    2.6 Order of Operations and Estimation
    1-4,11,15,19,23,27,31,35,39,43,47,51,55,59,63,67,71,75,79,83,87
    Chapter 2 Test
    1-19 odd
  • In WEBCT
    Complete Unit 3 in Module 2 
    Group Problem for Chapter 2
    Discussion of methods for dealing with integers
    Week 3 Quiz
9/24-9/30
  • In Mastering Mathematics
    Read Chapter 6 and Complete Personal Worksheet Online
  • In Basic Mathematics for College Students
    Read Chapter 3
    Do the following written homework assignments-
    3.1 The Fundamental Property of Fractions 1-8,21,25,29,33,37,41,45,49,53,57,61,65,69,73,77,85
    3.2 Multiplying Fractions
    1-6 all, 17-57 every other odd, 61,67,71
    3.3 Dividing Fractions
    1,2,13-45 every other odd, 49
    3.4 Adding and Subtracting Fractions
    1-4 all, 27-71 every other odd, 77,83
    The LCM and the GCF
    1-33 every other odd
    3.5 Multiplying and Dividing Mixed Numbers
    1-4,17,21,25,29,37,43,47,51,55,59,63,69,81
    3.6 Adding and Subtracting Mixed Numbers
    1-4 all,13-65 every other odd, 73,77
    3.7 Order of Operations and Complex Fractions
    1,2,13,17,21,25,29,31,39,43,47,51,55,59
    Chapter 3 Test
    1-19 odd
  • In WEBCT
    Complete Unit 4 in Module 2 
    Group Problem for Chapter 3
    Discussion of Fraction Freak Out
    Week 4 Quiz
    Test 2
10/1-10/7
  • In Mastering Mathematics
    Read Chapter 7 and Complete Personal Worksheet Online
  • In Basic Mathematics for College Students
    Read Chapter 4
    Do the following written homework assignments-
    4.1 An Introduction to Decimals 1-4,5,9,11,15,17,27,29,33,37,41,45,47,51,53,57
    4.2 Addition and Subtraction with Decimals
    1-4,7,17,27,37,47,59,65
    4.3 Multiplication with Decimals
    1-4,9,19,29,39,49,53,59,69,79
    4.4 Division with Decimals
    1-4,15,25,35,45,55,69
    4.5 Fractions and Decimals
    1-4,15,19,23,27,31,35,39,43,47,51,55,59,63,67,71,75,79,83
    4.6 Square Roots
    1-6,25,29,33,37,41,45,49,73
    Chapter 4 Test
    1-21 odd
  • In WEBCT
    Complete Unit 5 in Module 3 
    Group Problem for Chapter 4
    Discussion of Calculators
    Week 5 Quiz
10/8-10/14
  • In Mastering Mathematics
    Read Chapter 8 and Complete Personal Worksheet Online
    Read Chapter 9 and Complete Personal Worksheet Online
  • In Basic Mathematics for College Students
    Read Chapter 5
    Do the following written homework assignments-
    5.1 Percents, Decimals, and Fractions 1-6,9,13,17,21,25,29,33,37,41,45,49,53,57,61,65,71,77,83
    5.2 Solving Percent Problems
    1-6,11,13,15,17-37 odd, 41,43,45
    5.3 Application of Percent
    1-4,7,9,11,13,15,17,23,29,31,33,35,37,39,43
    5.4 Interest
    1-6,9,11,15,17,19,21,23,25,27
    Chapter 5 Test
    1-23 odd
  • In WEBCT
    Complete Unit 6 in Module 3 
    Group Problem for Chapter 5
    Discussion of Percents in Everyday life
    Week 6 Quiz
    Test 3
10/15-10/21
  • In Mastering Mathematics
    Read Chapter 10 and Complete Personal Worksheet Online
  • In Basic Mathematics for College Students
    Read Chapter 6
    Do the following written homework assignments-
    6.1 Ratios
    1-4,13,17,21,25,29,33,35,37,41,45,49,51,53,55,57,59,61,69,
    71,73,75,77,79,81,83,87,91
    6.2 Proportions
    1-4 all,13-47 odd,51,55,57,59,61,65,
    6.3 American Units of Measurement
    1-6 all,7-17 odd,21-69 odd, 75,77,81,83,85,87,89
    6.4 Metric Units of Measurement
    1-8 all,11,13,17,19,21,23,25,27,29,31,41-87 odd, 91,93,95,99 
    Chapter 6 Test
    1-19 odd,25,27
  • In WEBCT
    Complete Unit 7 in Module 4 
    Group Problem for Chapter 6
    Discussion of American versus Metric 
    Week 7 Quiz
10/22-10/28
  • In Mastering Mathematics
    Read Chapter 11 and Complete Personal Worksheet Online
    Read Chapter 12 and Complete Personal Worksheet Online
    Read Chapter 13 and Complete Personal Worksheet Online
  • In Basic Mathematics for College Students
    Read Chapter 7
    Do the following written homework assignments-
    7.1 Reading Graphs and Tables 
    1-8 all,9-63 odd
    7.2 Mean, Median, and Mode
    1-6 all, 7-47 odd
    Chapter 7 Test
    1-19 odd
  • In WEBCT
    Complete Unit 8 in Module 4 
    Group Problem for Chapter 7
    Discussion of Statistics
    Week 8 Quiz
    Test 4
10/29-11/4
  • In Basic Mathematics for College Students
    Read Sections 8.1-8.3
    Do the following written homework assignments-
    8.1 Solving Equations by Addition and Subtraction
    1-6 all, 7-71 odd, 73,75,77,81,85
    8.2 Solving Equations by Division and Multiplication
    1,2,9,11,13-47 odd, 49,53,57,59
    8.3 Algebraic Expressions and Formulas
    1-4 all9,11,19-53 odd, 55,57,59,61,65,69,71,73,
  • In WEBCT
    Complete Unit 9 in Module 5 
    Group Problem for Chapter 8
    Discussion of Algebra
    Week 9 Quiz
11/5-11/11
  • In Basic Mathematics for College Students
    Read Sections 8.4-8.6
    Do the following written homework assignments-
    8.4 Simplifying Algebraic Expressions and the Distributive Property 
    1-4 all,13,15,17,19-77 odd
    8.5 Combining Like Terms
    1-8 all, 9-19 odd, 27-83 odd
    8.6 Simplifying Expressions to Solve Equations
    1-6 all, 15-79 odd
    Chapter 8 Test
    1-21 all
  • In WEBCT
    Complete Unit 10 in Module 5 
    Group Problem for Chapter 8
    Discussion of translation from English to Algebra
    Week 10 Quiz
11/12-11/18
  • In Basic Mathematics for College Students
    Read Sections 9.1-9.3
    Do the following written homework assignments-
    9.1 Some Basic Definitions 
    1-12 all,13-27 odd,47-50 all,71,73,
    9.2 Parallel and Perpendicular Lines
    1-6, 13-16,19
    9.3 Polygons
    1-16 all, 17-39 odd, 41,42,43,45,47,53,55,57,59
    In WEBCT
    Complete Unit 11 of Module 5 
    Group Problem for Chapter 9
    Discussion of Geometry
    Week 11 Quiz
11/19-11/25
  • In Basic Mathematics for College Students
    Read Sections 9.4-9.7
    Do the following written homework assignments-
    9.4 Properties of Triangles 
    1-4 all, 11,15,17,37,39,41,43,45,47,55,57
    9.5 Perimeters and Areas of Polygons
    1-6,15-22,23,25,27,29,31,33,35,37,39,47,49,51,53,55,57,59
    9.6 Circles
    1-8,15,21-28,29,31,37,47,49,51
    9.7 Surface Area and Volume
    1-5,11,17,23,25,27,28,29,30,41,42,49,51
    Chapter 9 Test
    1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,11,12,17,18,21,30,31,33,34
  • In WEBCT
    Complete Unit 12 in Module 5 
    Group Problem for Chapter 9
    Discussion of This Class Experience
    Week 12 Quiz
    Test 5
11/26-12/2
  • In Basic Mathematics for College Students
    Cumulative Review Exercises 
    (Selected Exercises to Review for Final Exam)
  • In WEBCT
    Final Exam

Class Participation:
Students must participate in all interactive aspects of the course.  Students must use chat rooms, discussion threads, and e-mail to communicate with the instructor and other students. Students are expected to communicate with the instructor as a learning resource, students must check the course bulletin board frequently for announcements, and students must actively participate in threaded discussion events.
Punctuality:
Each week there will be a quiz that is due by midnight on Monday.  This is to review the material for that week and to help keep students on track.  The Quiz is to be taken by midnight on Monday and no late quizzes will be accepted.  Remember that the quizzes are worth 50 points each. 
Course Ground Rules

Cheating and other forms of academic misconduct, including plagiarism, are prohibited. The instructor has the authority to assign a zero for the exercise or examination or to assign an F in the course in the case of academic misconduct.
Please include a subject line when e-mailing the instructor or other class members. Please ask permission before sending e-mails with large attachments.
The discussion board and chat room are for class purposes only. Please remember to be courteous to other users at all times. They will be monitored. Make sure that you remember that even though you may not mean to be rude or cruel sometimes e-mails and postings can be misunderstood. Please be respectful and mindful of the instructor and your fellow students.
 
Guidelines for Communications
Email:
  • Always include a subject line.
  • Remember without facial expressions some comments may be taken the wrong way. Be careful in wording your emails. Use of emoticons might be helpful in some cases.
  • Use standard fonts.
  • Do not send large attachments without permission.
  • Special formatting such as centering, audio messages, tables, html, etc. should be avoided unless necessary to complete an assignment or other communication.
  • Respect the privacy of other class members
Discussion Groups:
  • Review the discussion threads thoroughly before entering the discussion. Be a lurker; then a discussant.
  • Try to maintain threads by using the "Reply" button rather starting a new topic.
  • Do not make insulting or inflammatory statements to other members of the discussion group. Be respectful of other's ideas.
  • Be patient and read the comments of other group members thoroughly before entering your remarks.
  • Be cooperative with group leaders in completing assigned tasks.
  • Be positive and constructive in group discussions.
  • Respond in a thoughtful and timely manner.
Chat:
  • Introduce yourself to the other learners in the chat session.
  • Be polite. Choose your words carefully. Do not use derogatory statements.
  • Be concise in responding to others in the chat session.
  • Be prepared to open the chat session at the scheduled time.
  • Be constructive in your comments and suggestions.
Web Resources:

Library

The Tennessee Virtual Library is available to all students enrolled in the Regents Degree Program. Links to library materials (such as electronic journals, databases, interlibrary loans, digital reserves, dictionaries, encyclopedias, maps, and librarian support) and Internet resources needed by learners to complete online assignments and as background reading must be included in all courses. 

Students With Disabilities

Qualified students with disabilities will be provided reasonable and necessary academic accommodations if determined eligible by the appropriate disability services staff at their home institution. Prior to granting disability accommodations in this course, the instructor must receive written verification of a student's eligibility for specific accommodations from the disability services staff at the home institution. It is the student's responsibility to initiate contact with their home institution's disability services staff and to follow the established procedures for having the accommodation notice sent to the instructor.

Syllabus Changes

The instructor reserves the right to make changes as necessary to this syllabus. If changes are necessitated during the term of the course, the instructor will immediately notify students of such changes both by individual email communication and posting both notification and nature of change(s) on the course bulletin board.

Technical Support

Telephone Support:
If you are having problems logging into your course,
timing out of your course, using your course web site tools, or other technical problems, please contact the AskRODP Help Desk by calling

1-866-550-7637 (toll free)

or go to the AskRODP website at:

http://help.rodp.org