Why? See! Math

I have been getting a steady stream of emails revealing some confusion over projects versus technology assignments. Let’s start with Projects.

A project is an involved problem which you have 4 to 5 weeks to solve. You’ll find your first project under the Projects button in MyLabsPlus. Each project starts with a project letter that sets out what you need to solve. Sometimes there is data in a separate link you need to use  and in other cases you create the data based on your social security number or the number of letters in your name. Once you have solved the problem, you document your solution in a technical memo. This written document introduces the problem, lays out the strategy for solving the problem, carries out the calculation, and provides some insights on the solution. You will learn how to write this document in the class. How it is graded and the required format is laid out in the link Documenting Your Solution under the Projects button in MyLabsPlus.

Left to solve this on your own, most students would wait till the last minute and turn in an incorrect solution. You need to be working on this project throughout the four to five weeks you have to solve the problem. You also need feedback on your work throughout this period. This is where the technology assigments come in. Technology assignments are designed to help you navigate the solution strategy for the project. By completing the technology assignments, you are learning the technology and mathematics you’ll need to achieve a successful solution. For instance, in MAT 152 this week you are finding your data for the project and creating a scatter plot of the data. This is NOT the solution to Project 1. However, this is one step out of several to get to the solution. Typically, you submit some file to the Dropbox at the end of a technology assignment. This is usually an Excel file or a Word file (the assignment will specify which type of file).

If there are any further questions or points I need to clear up, send me a comment on this post.

A number of students have expressed interest in forming study groups. These groups could meet during my office hours in Bldg 4 for easy access to me. I already have a request for a study group in MAT 172 on Tuesdays. If you are interested, leave a comment with the times you would be available.

My office hours are MT 11-2 and WTh 12:30-2. I teach classes from 2-3:15 on M-Th.

For the first technology assignment, you must submit a document (specified in the handout of the assignment) by this coming Thursday (1/26) for MAT 152 and Thursday, 2/2 for MAT 172 and 212. This is done using the Dropbox feature in MyLabsPlus. Using the Dropbox, you can submit your work to be graded and view your grade and my comments after it has been graded.

How do I submit an assignment to the dropbox?

1. Click on the “Dropbox” button in the upper right hand corner of your MyLabsPlus course.
2. Click “Submit Assignment”.
3. Pick the correct basket from the dropdown box. The baskets are labeled Tech Assignment 1, Tech Assignment 2, ect.
4. Add any comments in the blank textbox provided.
5. Click on Add Attachments. Attach the document you want to submit for grading.
6. Click “Submit” – You will now see your assignment submitted under “Outbox”.

How do I view comments from my instructor?

1. Click on the “Dropbox” button in the upper right hand corner of your MyLabsPlus course.
2. Look under Inbox and see if you have any new unread items.
3. If you have any new items, click on the sealed envelope link to open the message/file.

For technology assignments I will leave comments for you. For Projects, I will leave a PDF file of my handwritten comments on your technical memo. Look for comments after the due date. It normally takes about a day for me to grade technology assignments and about 5 days to grade projects.

If you have any trouble submitting your file for Technology Assignment 1, contact me immediately.

A few of you are having trouble logging into yc.mylabsplus.com…the link is not showing up in the YC portal for many students. The IT staff at YC promises me that it will be there by Wednesday morning, January 18.

There are some alternatives that might allow you to log in until then…goto http://yc.mylabsplus.com.  Use your YC username and password to log in. If you are not able to log into the course using your YC username and password, try logging in using your YC username and the password Yavammddyy where mmddyy is your birthdate.

Hopefully, we won’t need to do this after tomorrow morning!

After sending out the last email, I have answers to a few more questions.

Are there unlimited tries at homework assignments for you to reach the 75%?

Depends on what you mean by unlimited…once the assignment becomes available (1 week before the week we cover) until the date it is due, you have unlimited tries.

Are the quizzes only allowed to be taken once?

Once you have attained 75% on the homework assignment, you may take the corresponding quiz as many times as you like until the due date. You could spend a lot of time on this, but considering how much quizzes are worth (30%) it would be a better use of time to work on projects (they are 50% of you grade).

For the technology assignments, those are given instead of a test I understand?  Also what are the technology assignments?

Projects are equivalent to exams in my courses. The technical memo you will write is what I grade to give you a score on the project. You’ll learn how to write them throughout the semester. The technology assignments are designed to introduce you to the software you’ll need in the class as well as to help you complete the steps in the projects. They are little hints and guidance to get you to the solution. In the technical memo, you document what the solution is and how you get it.

Where do we find the Mathtype program?

Mathtype is a program that can be used to put mathematical symbols into Word documents. It is the program I use with Word to create any math you see in videos or handouts. If you are using Word 2007 or Word 2010, you can use the equation editor that is included with those software programs to do the same thing. I’ll show you how to do that in the technology assignments. If you need to use Mathtype because you are using a very old version of Word, you will be able to download it for free from within the online course.

Keep those questions coming!

The semester is still over a week away, but I have gotten a few emails about your course. Many of the answers may be found under the Information link above. On this page you can find a document describing course policies, course syllabi, calendars and a description of how you course will work.

Here are some specific answers to questions I have received:

Does the MyMathLab from MAT 122 roll over to MAT 152? Or do I need to purchase a new code?

Codes can only be reused in a course if they use the same book. Since MAT 122 and MAT 152 use different books, you’ll need a new code for MAT 152. However, MAT 172 and 212 use the same book so you only need 1 code as long as you take the classes in a one year time period. If you are repeating a course, you can use the same code as last semester.

I am in your online course and I want to make sure the course is completely online. Will the exams (and final) require me to be on campus?

The are no exams or final in the course. Instead, you will complete a unique individual projects (three projects and a final project). You never have to set foot on campus unless you want to talk to me in person.

What are my options for purchasing the textbook?

You are not required to purchase a print version of the textboook. However, you must have a MyLabsPlus student access code for the course. This code is bundled with the print textbook if you purchase in the Yavapai College Bookstore. They also sell stand alone student access codes for about half the price of the print textbook and access code bundle.

For the first two weeks of the course, you do not need to supply an access code in MyLabsPlus. So you may use the electronic version of the textbook which is included in the online portion of the course. Once that window passes, you’ll need to enter your student access code. If you have not purchased one by that time, you’ll have the opportunity to purchase one online with a credit card (this is the cheapest option).

If you are comfortable reading the text online as needed, simply purchase the student access code at the end of the two week period. If you want to have the print version, you’ll need to get it at the bookstore. It is also possible to purchase a used copy of the textbook online and then purchase the student access code when prompted in the course.

Textbook information is located on your course syllabus at Information.