Taking MTH 161 with Mr. C: What Do I Need to Know?
(1.) This is my personal quote: The Joy of a Teacher is the Success of his Students.
– Samuel Dominic Chukwuemeka
I want you to succeed in this class and I want to be part of your success.
(2.) You will do a lot of work on your own in this course.
(
Did I just scare you? I hope not. I am just being honest with you.
The good thing is that I am here to help you. But, you will do most of the work on your own.
)
The VCCS learning objectives for MTH 161 has many topics/concepts.
I shall not teach you all the topics. The topics are too much. The duration to teach all of then is short.
But I shall provide the resources for all the topics you are required to learn: the resources for you to
read/study/review: MLM Resources
and Pacing Guides.
So, this course will take a lot of your time. But you are not alone.
I am here to assist you and answer any questions you have regarding any of the topics.
You have enough time to learn all the topics.
You also get the credit for the work you do on your own.
This course is assignment-heavy, not test-heavy.
The main goal is for you to understand, learn at your pace, practice, and apply what you learned within the duration of the semester because you cannot learn forever.
For several topics, I shall introduce the topic to you, then teach some concepts of the topic.
It is highly recommended (but not required) that you review these resources prior to class and ask questions that you do not understand (Flipped Classroom Learning).
Class attendance is highly recommeded. Attendance is taken during every class session. However, no point is given for attendance; neither is any point deducted for non-attendance.
In other words, Mr. C understands that you may have other priorities besides school and that some circumstances may demand your absence from class.
Be it as it may, please note that you are completely (not partially) responsible for anything that was covered during your absence.
So, I suggest you make friends with your colleagues who attend class regularly to take their notes and ask them what was covered during the class session that you missed.
During each class session, I shall teach some concepts of the topic(s) as noted in the Pacing Guides.
But you will complete the learning on your own by working through a lot of assignment questions and practicing until
you master them.
Your goal would be to make 100% on each topic (recommended, not required).
You are not alone, though. I am here to guide your learning and help you master the concepts.
Please ask questions on any concept/topic that you do not understand.
It is important that you ask questions in the class, as that question may also be beneficial to some of your colleagues.
You are always welcome to come and see me during Student Engagement Hours (formerly Office Hours) and ask questions also.
If my Student Engagement Hours (formerly Office Hours) does not suit your schedule and you need to have a live session with me, please send an email to me with your available days and times. I shall check my schedule and respond.
How did I set up this course to help you succeed?
(3.) Assessments: There are four types of assessments for this course:
(a.) MyLab Math (MLM) also known as MyMath Lab assignments: This is 70% of your final grade.
(i.) Every assignment is open for you from the first day of class. There are many assignments for you to do. But you get the credit for it. If you complete all the MLM assignments with a
100%, you have already made 70% in the course. I do not pick and choose questions when assigning the sections because I want you to be exposed to the various types/forms of questions for each
section. It is a lot of work. But you get the credit for it if you complete it successfully. It will be good if you make a 100% on all of them, but you must not. It depends on the grade
you want for the course. Please review the Grading example in your course syllabus.
(ii.) Each section has two due dates: initial due date and final due date. It is not timed. However, it has due dates.
(iii.) If there is any section you were unable to complete by the first due date, you may continue to work on it, and try to complete it by the final due date without any penalty.
(iv.) If there is any section you did not attempt by the first due date, you will earn a zero score in the Canvas gradebook when grades are updated. When you
attempt that section and earn a grade, that grade will be updated the next time grades are updated.
(v.) Grades for MLM assignments are updated in the Canvas gradebook biweekly (every other week).
(vi.) Several questions on an MLM assignment have learning aids.
The learning aids include: Help Me Solve This and View an Example among others.
You are encouraged to use these learning aids.
The learning aids typically uses one approach/method to solve the question.
If you do not understand that approach/method, that is where I come in.
Please Ask My Instructor and/or contact me with the question/question ID.
I shall use another approach to explain the question so you may understand.
Further, the solved examples on my websites (as listed in the Pacing Guides) contain some of the questions on your MLM assignments.
(vi.) There are unlimited attempts for your MLM assignments. If you do a question about three times and get it incorrect, please click on
Similar Question or Try again button usually at the bottom right corner.
If you get a similar question correct, you will get the credit for that question.
Please use only a computer (laptop or desktop, no tablets, no smartphones) with internet access.
(viii.) The final due date for all MLM assignments is the last day of class, or sometimes the weekend of the week of the last day of class. Please review the course syllabus for the exact date.
(ix.) After the final due date, please do not ask for an extension.
(ix.) All MLM assignments are done in the Pearson learning management system via the Canvas learning management system.
(b.) Project-based assessment: This is 10% of your final grade.
(i.) Please review the project requirements in the course navigation link.
(ii.) I am giving you the opportunity to review drafts and correct any error(s) based on my feedback. Then, work with me until I
give you the green light to submit your corrected/revised draft.
Please submit the drafts by the due date so I have time to give feedback.
(iii.) The project has two due dates as noted in the Tentative Class Schedule on your course syllabus and also in the Pacing Guides.
After the first due date, a zero grade will be entered in the Canvas gradebook for any student who has not satisfactorily completed the project, regardless of whether I am reviewing your draft or not.
(v.) You may continue to work on your project after the first due date and submit it by the final due date. After the final due date, please do not request for an extension.
(vi.) All projects (not drafts) are submitted in the appropriate area in the Canvas learning management system.
(c.) Tests: There are three tests that account for 15% of your final grade.
Each test is worth 5% of your final grade.
(i.) The tests are taken in-person in the class.
(ii.) The study guides for each test will be provided for you in the Pacing Guides. They are the links to my resources.
(iii.) Each test has sections and an option to select the number of questions to answer: 20 questions to answer a minimum of 10 questions including the minimum in each section.
If you answer all the questions, I choose the best 10. I think it is a good deal. What do you think?
(iv.) If you miss any test, you are required to see me in-person during Student Engagement Hours (formerly Office Hours) to arrange for a make-up test. An approval is required before I send your make-up test to the Testing Center.
(v.) Please note that make-up tests do not have options. Each test is 10 questions to answer all 10 questions.
(vi.) The tests and make-up tests are not timed.
However, please note that I do not come with a sleeping bag to class. 😊
Besides, I have subsequent classes after this class.
(vii.) All prior approvals and make-up tests must be completed by the due date specified in the course syllabus and/or pacing guides.
(d.) Final Exam: The final exam is 5% of your final grade.
(i.) The final exam is comprehensive. It covers almost all the topics in the course.
There is no option to choose what questions to answer.
In other words, answer all questions.
(ii.) The study guide for the final exam are the three tests.
(iii.) A make-up final exam is provided to the Testing Center. It is necessary to communicate with me prior to sending it to the Testing Center.
(iv.) The final exam and the make-up final exam must be completed by the due date specified in the course syllabus and/or pacing guides.
(4.) I believe in giving my students a lot of opportunities to succeed: unlimited attempts for the MLM assignments; two due dates for MLM assignments; and two due dates for the project among
others including my availability and willingness to answer your questions.
In that regard, I do not believe in bonus points. I do not believe in extra credit. Only the three types of assessments are the graded assessments.
Please do not ask for bonus points.
Please do not ask for extra credit.
Please do not ask for the grading to be curved. (normal distribution curve).
Please do not ask for re-dos after the project is graded. Those re-dos should be drafts. But once you submit your project, that is it.
Please ask me questions instead.
What should you do?
What are some tips for succeeding in the class?
(5.) You control 70% of your final grade.
I control 30% of your final grade.
(a.) You are the one to decide the grade you want in the class. Just make 100% on what you control: the MLM assignments; you have earned a 70%...a C
Then, work with me by submitting your draft for the project on time. Work with me and address any issues till I give you the green light to submit your project...that should give you
a 100% (in most cases)...which is 10% of your final grade. You now have: 70% + 10% = 80%...a B
Review the Study Guides and ask questions on anything you do not understand so you can do well on your tests.
You can make enough points on the tests and the final exam to earn an A in the course.
Making a grade of C is basically your entire/complete decision to make.
You can also make a grade of A or B by reviewing the study guides, and also based on the project samples and requirements provided to you.
(b.) Let us discuss how you can make a 100% on the MLM assignments:
The MLM assignments consists of 25 main sections: 59 sections: 1352 questions.
You have about 112 days to complete 1352 questions.
Please note that some questions have children (sub-questions).
So, if we count each question and sub-question, the number is higher.
But you have about 111 days to complete all the questions.
For 111 days:
$\dfrac{1352}{111} = 12.18018018 \approx 13$ (rounded up) questions per day.
If you complete 13 questions (including any sub-questions) per day, you will complete all MLM assignments in about 104 days.
If you complete 20 questions (including any sub-questions) per day, you will complete all MLM assignments in about 68 days.
It is doable. It just requires your time and effort.
It is important you practice Math daily to master it.
(c.) Please make sure you do all these assignments yourself.
(i.) Use the Learning Aids provided for you by Pearson MLM.
(ii.) Use my websites (especially the Solved Examples ... as noted in the Pacing Guides). I have solved, and I am still solving your MLM questions on my websites. My
explanations of the solutions are clear, as testified by some of my students. Please let me know otherwise.
(iii.) Do not use online calculators, even my own online calculators. Mr. C is even asking you not to use his own online calculators. Here's the reason: if a calculator solves
the question for you, did you really learn to solve the question? You know these websites that have online calculators. I do not think that you learn the topics/concepts
if you use such online calculators.
(iv.) Do not use the mobile Mathematics apps that will solve the questions for you. You know these mobile apps including the one where you take the picture of the question with your
smartphone and it gives the answer. I do not think you learn the topics/concepts if you use such mobile apps.
