Spring 2020
Dear Student,
Welcome to Algebra 2 online at Genesee Community College. I believe you’ll find this course to be an interesting, challenging, and rewarding experience.
Our main means of communicating this semester will be through the use of the Blackboard (myGCC) software at Genesee Community College. Please log on at https://mygcc.genesee.edu , click the “My Courses” tab at the top of the page, and navigate your way to the “Algebra 2” link. This link, which connects you to the college’s myGCC server, will be available by Monday of the first week of classes. If you want to get started earlier, go to https://faculty.genesee.edu/kjmead and select the “Algebra 2 Online” link.
This semester, you are required to do homework online using the WebAssign software at https://www.webassign.net. More information will be provided soon.
I suggest that you thoroughly read the syllabus and make notes of the important dates for the semester. Some key points to note:
The course is broken up into four distinct modules.
Each module will take about 3-4 weeks to complete.
You will take one quiz for each module. These quizzes must be taken at your local campus center or at a local library or school with an employee willing to proctor your exam on site. Online quizzes will only be available through the ProctorU testing service, at a cost of approximately $20 per quiz. The student will be entirely responsible for covering the cost of this service.
Quizzes must be taken on or before the due date – LATE QUIZZES ARE NOT ACCEPTED. However, to help with unexpected emergencies, I provide you with a total of four late passes for the semester. I'd suggest saving these "late passes" for a true emergency -- I will NOT grant you any more than four. Every semester, there's always one student who burns all their late passes on the first quiz -- not a good idea!!!
There will be a final exam that will count 20% of your final grade. This final exam requirement may be waived by the instructor depending on your average at the end of the semester. See the syllabus for details.
Our textbook, Intermediate Algebra, an Applied Approach, 9th edition, by Aufmann and Lockwood, does a nice job of presenting the course content in a clear and straightforward manner. In the study packet for each module you’ll see a precise listing of all the chapters, sections, objectives and problems you’ll need to examine to master the content.
In Blackboard/myGCC, I will post the learning objectives, timelines, and activity sets for each module. I'll attempt to highlight the most important material. Each module covers about 10 chapter sections, consists of a list of suggested exercises, three required online homework assignments, and culminates in a quiz. Your active participation in the suggested activities will ensure your success in this class. You must not fall behind in the work! I give no make ups for quizzes and do not accept late homework assignments. Once the deadline for a quiz has passed, a grade of zero will be recorded.
Remember, you'll be taking 4 quizzes and a final exam at your local campus center. It is your responsibility to know the testing hours for your test site. You may take quizzes any time on or before the exam deadline (plus, potentially up to 4 days late, depending on availability of your "late days").
Finally, a note about WebAssign and the print version of your textbook: if you purchase the "eBook" version of Webassign, you will have an electronic copy of the textbook at your disposal, and theoretically would not need the print edition. I still recommend having the print version around, but I'll leave that decision to you. Please contact me at kjmead@genesee.edu if you have any questions.
Sincerely,
Ken Mead
Professor of Mathematics
and Computer Information Systems
Genesee Community College