WHO IS THIS COURSE FOR?
Hello, and thank you for your interest in this course! My name is Julie Hoffman-Rose, and my contact information can be found below.
Math 232, College Algebra, is designed for students who need to take Business Calculus (Math255) or if your major specifically requires a college algebra course. One such major, for example, is the Recreation, Parks, and Tourism major at Cal. Poly. Check with your academic counselor if you are not sure if you are required to take this course.
If your major does not specifically require this course and you just need a transfer level math class to meet general education requirements, I highly recommend that you take Math 230, College Mathematics for the Humanities. This course is also offered on-line.
INSTRUCTOR CONTACT INFORMATION
Name: Julie Hoffman-Rose
Email Address: jhoffman@cuesta.edu
Office Phone Number: 546-3231 ext. 2777
Office Location: SLO campus, Building 2600, second floor, room 2704.
The best and fastest way to contact me is email. I will generally respond to your emails within 24 hours during weekdays only, and when school is in session.
STARTING THE COURSE
The week prior to the beginning of the semester, I will send an email to enrolled students to your my.cuesta.edu email address reminding you that that class will be starting soon. Once the semester begins, the course will be accessible though the CANVAS portal. If you are on the wait list for the course you will need to email me once the semester starts to request an add code. Add codes will be granted only if a spot in the course opens up.
If you are enrolled in Disabled Students Programs and Services (DSPS) at Cuesta College, you may arrange proctoring through them (see more information about DSPS below).
COURSE TIME COMMITMENT
You should expect to spend at least as much time, if not more on this course as you would on a course that meets face to face. Much of this time will be self-directed and there will be a substantial amount of reading, viewing, and studying, required. Since this is a 3 unit class, be prepared to spend at least 9 hours per week on coursework.
ONLINE LEARNING/CANVAS
If you have never taken an online class, please be patient with yourself. Online classes are not inherently easier, although they may be much more convenient for many students.
This course will be delivered using the Web-based Course Management System (CMS) called CANVAS. Make sure that you have the appropriate computer system requirements to run CANVAS before the semester begins. You can check system requirements by clicking on the following link:
If you have trouble with CANVAS you can contact Cuesta College CANVAS support at 805-546-3100 ext. 2802.
I also strongly recommend that you familiarize yourself with the following CANVAS basics prior to the beginning of the course.
PROCTORED EXAMS
There are 5 major exams plus the final exam that will be proctored within the CANVAS learning management system using a system called Proctorio. Students will be required to use the Chrome browser and dowload the Proctorio plugin to take exams. This also requires you have a web cam or a camera in your computer.
ONLINE GROUP DISCUSSIONS AND OFFICE HOURS
Students will be required to complete group discussions using a video conferencing software called Pronto. Office hours will be conducted using a video conferencing software called Zoom.
PREREQUISITE SKILLS AND REVIEW
The prerequisite for this course is Intermediate Algebra (Math 127) or Applied Algebra (Math 128). If you have determined that you need this course to fulfill the requirements of you major, it is important to make sure that your algebra skills are solid.
Once you have been accepted as a student at Cuesta, and you have access to CANVAS, you can self enroll in the College Algebra Prep course prior to the beginning of the semester by clicking on the following link:
I have specifically identified these review skills to be essential to your success in College Algebra. If you find these skills too difficult to complete on your own, then this is a good sign that you need to take or retake Intermediate Algebra, Math 127, a course that I also teach on-line.
REGULAR AND EFFECTIVE CONTACT POLICY
Regular and Effective Instructor Contact will be met through on-line announcements to students; timely and effective feedback on student assignments; email, phone or messaging to individuals; and virtual office hours, if requested. On-line student to student contact is also a feature of this course in the form of audio or video chat recordings.
COURSE DESCRIPTION/STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES
Math 232 presents a study of college algebra and analytic geometry with an emphasis on mathematical modeling. The course covers such topics as algebraic equations and inequalities, functions and graphs, zeros of functions, rational functions, exponential and logarithmic functions, conic sections, and systems of equations. You can review the official Course Outline of Record as well as the Student Learning Outcomes on the Cuesta College CurricUnet site, which you can access by clicking on the following link:
TEXTBOOK/MATERIALS
The following materials are required for the course. Any other products the bookstore may promote are NOT required for the course. The bookstore does have an on-line purchasing and delivery system.
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Digital access to College Algebra, Building Concepts and Connections, second edition, by Narasimhan. Digital access also includes on-line homework integrated into CANVAS. Access can be purchased from within CANVAS once the course begins. The cost for this access is about $45.00. If you prefer, a you can buy a hard copy of the textbook and/or a digital access code through the Cuesta College Bookstore.
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Math 232 Workbook – you can buy this through the the Cuesta College bookstore. The cost for the workbook is about $30.00.
- Scanner Technology - You will be required to scan and submit documents as a pdf file in CANVAS. If you don't have a scanner then there are free phone apps. that you can download and use.
I recommend Scannable by Evernote for Apple phones and Genius Scan for Android phones.
- Ti-83 or Ti-84 model graphing calculator. There are calculators available for you to check out for the entire semester for free at the SLO campus library. You just need to show proof of enrollment in the course to be able to check out a calculator. Here is a downloadable version you can install on your computer:
Virtual ti-83Links to an external site.
If you choose to buy a calculator, they are about $125 new.
ACCOMMODATIONS
This course is designed using an accessible Course Management System, and course materials have been created with ADA compliance in mind. If you have a disability and possible need accommodations in this class contact Disabled Student Programs & Services (DSPS) as soon as possible, preferable before the semester begins. Here is the contact information:
If you have any questions about the course, please feel free to contact me via email.
Hope to "see" you in class soon!
Julie Hoffman-Rose
Math 232 Instructor
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