Course Notes for Math 303

Course Introduction

  • Instructor: Covering for Nerio Bolson (on leave).
  • Course Code: 303 Math for Winter Term.
  • Expectations for Participation: Students may be new or returning from prior courses (201 and 301 math).

Course Shell Overview

  • Overview of the synthetic learning environment (D2L).
  • Home/Landing Page Features:
    • Welcome window widget with instructor’s contact info and office hours.
    • Academic misconduct procedures.
    • Activity feed for announcements.
    • Importance of checking college email for updates, notices, and support details (DSS communication).
    • How to find class meeting links: under 'bundle links' in the content tab or calendar.
    • Recordings available under 'Bongo recordings' after classes end (processing time required).
    • Past class folders for easy access to recording links.

Calendar Utilization

  • Class Timing: Classes scheduled at 10:20 AM.
  • Recommendations for Tracking:
    • Options for using paper agendas or digital calendars (D2L recommended).
    • Calendar feature useful for plotting due dates and tasks.
    • Filterable list view displaying assignments and quizzes.

Course Assignments Overview

  • Structure of Assignments:
    • All assignments are categorized as quizzes.
    • Quick access to upcoming topics listed by unit:
    • Unit A: Fractions.
    • Unit B: Patterns and Graphs.
    • Unit C: Polynomials.
    • Final Examination.
  • Due Dates: Assignments range from February to June, with specific unlock dates prior to deadlines (may change based on class progress).
  • Multi-step process for accessing assignment grades.

Textbook and Resource Access

  • Textbook supplied as a PDF (158 pages); encouraged to be downloaded but not printed due to size.
  • Each unit includes its own resource files for lessons, assignments, quizzes, and supplementary videos.

Student Engagement and Introductions

  • Discussion tab included for student introductions.
    • Encouragement for students to share background information and find common interests.

Course Structure

  • Course credits: 5 NLC credits.
  • Prerequisite: Grade 8 level math literacy, completion of 301 math recommended.
  • Course Objectives:
    • Prepping for Math 10C and enhancing mathematical literacy.
    • Skills include: problem-solving, number sense, mental math, and real-world applications.

Technical Requirements

  • Use a laptop or computer for the optimal course experience; mobile devices may pose difficulties.
  • Students encouraged to access additional tabs for Bongo and D2L to streamline class participation.

Course Assessments

  • Breakdown of Marks:
    • Introductory Assignment: 2%.
    • Unit Assignments: 48% total (approx. 10% each).
    • Unit Tests: 25% total.
    • Final Exam: 25% of course mark.
  • Deadlines and Extensions:
    • Assignments due as per schedule; extensions permissible with advanced requests.
    • Overall requirement: maintain an average above 50% across all assessments with no single assessment falling below 40%.

Attendance and Engagement Monitoring

  • Attendance registered during live classes; recorded lectures do not count for attendance.
  • Emphasis on participation and engagement during class time, possible extensions for late submissions.

Academic Integrity

  • Definition of Academic Misconduct:
    • Cheating, plagiarism, and seeking to gain unfair academic advantage.
    • Specific actions classified under misconduct include:
    • Submitting someone else’s work as your own.
    • Close imitation or paraphrasing without credit.
    • Using unauthorized materials during assessments.
    • Programming devices to contain unauthorized information.
  • Software implementation to monitor for plagiarism (AI detection).

Instructor Information and Communication

  • Overview of instructor's educational journey, personal anecdotes, and teaching philosophy.
  • Open invitation for student engagement and communication through chat or private messaging.
  • Options available for settings and student status during classes to facilitate smooth interactions.