Business mathematics - Course outline for MATH 208 at Concordia University PDF

Preview

Summary

Course outline for MATH 208 at Concordia University ...

Description

���� ��� �������� ���� ������� �� ���� ���� ������������ ��������� �������� ������������� ���� �������� �� ���������������� ������� ���������������� ������� ����������� ������������������������� ������������� ��������� ������������ �������� ���������� ������ ���������� ������������ ������ ��������� ���������

���������� The instructor for this course is Dr. Fred E. Szabo, Department of Mathematics and Statistics. He can be reached by contacting one of the Teaching Assistants of the course.

2

F2017 Math 208 Course Outline.nb

��������

����������

At the beginning of term, all registered students in this course are assigned teaching assistants. They can be reached by e-mail at an address to be announced at the beginning of term. Please allow for a 24-hour response time during the week (Monday-Friday). Teaching assistants check their messages regularly and at least once over a 48-hour weekend period. However, they are not available on statutory or university holidays. Teaching assistants will help you with your studies. However, they are not required to provide technical assistance or to solve hardware and software problems you may encounter. Their main support is through Announcements, the Discussion Board, and individual e-mail communications. So please check the Announcement and Discussion Board sections frequently. Unfortunately, the system does not support automatic notifications of new postings on the Discussion Board.

��������

��������

In order to follow this course, you require a Concordia e-mail address, a computer running the Mathemat ica software, electronic access to MyMathLab, and electronic access to the eConcordia website for this course. ◼ The process for obtaining a Concordia e-mail address is described on your MyConcordia portal. ◼ The process for downloading, installing, and activating Mathematica is also described on your MyConcordia portal. ◼ The process for obtaining access to MyMathLab is integrated into the eConcordia registration process. No additional steps are required. ◼ The Mathematica Companion for Finite Mathematics and Business Calculus can obtainable from the Concordia University Bookstore or the publisher: ◼

Kendall-Hunt (click here)

◼ The video tutorials for the Mathematica Companion can be accessed on the publisher website. ◼ Access to the eConcordia course website requires both a username and password provided automatically to you once you have registered for the course. The URL for the eConcordia website is www.econcordia.com.

������������� You will be communicating with your Teaching Assistant and eConcordia via e-mail. You are required to be polite at all times and to include the following information in all your e-mail communications: ◼ Your full name ◼ Your Concordia University e-mail address ◼ Your Concordia University Student ID ◼ Your course name and number pertaining to your inquiry

F2017 Math 208 Course Outline.nb

3

Save a copy of all e-mail correspondence for the duration of the term and until you have received your final letter grade for the course. We strongly encourage you to use a Concordia University e-mail account or an account from a provider such as Sympatico, Videotron, etc. Free e-mail accounts such as Hotmail, Yahoo, etc. are not recommended and very often lead to communication problems. Your e-mail address must be registered in your MyConcordia Portal as well as in the Student Profile of your My eConcordia Portal.

������������� ◼ Important information regarding the course and some supplementary material, as needed, will be posted in the Announcements section and on MyMathLab linked to the course website. ◼ Please make sure to read the postings frequently, at least twice per week.

���������� ����� The discussion board is a versatile tool in an online course. It is akin to putting your hand up in class, but with a bonus: each and every student can read the questions and the various answers posted. To access your TA’s name, contact information and your group assignment number, click on the Discussion Groups link in the left-hand side menu of your eConcordia account. Once the discussion board is made available, you will be assigned to a group and a TA within 24 hours of obtaining your eConcordia username and password. If you have not been assigned to a group within 24 hours of obtaining your eConcordia username and password, send an e-mail with your name, student ID number and the name of the course youare taking to [email protected] and you will be assigned to a group within 24 hours.

���������� ��� ������� �������� ����� ���������� ����� ◼ Do not post your telephone number, student ID, or any other personal information on the discussion board. ◼ Read the other postings to confirm that your question has not already been answered repeatedly. ◼ The Discussion Board is meant for the academic discussion of the course material. Keep postings pertinent to the course material. ◼ Questions pertaining to grades, technical issues or questions of a personal nature must be addressed directly to your TA via e-mail. Posts of this nature will be removed by the Forum Administrator. ◼ Of vital importance is respectful behavior on the discussion board. Refrain from making offensive statements and derogatory comments. For example, students must never insult another person or teaching assistant in a discussion. ◼ Students who fail to respect these rules will be asked to leave the discussion. It is within our discretion and authority to edit or remove any posting at any time. Please see the http://www.concordia.ca/students/rights.html.

����� ����� The course has no face-to-face office hours. Please consult the Announcement section of the website for special events and activities organized, when appropriate, to enrich your study experience.

4

F2017 Math 208 Course Outline.nb

��������

�����������

������

◼ The objective of the online version of Math 208 is to use technology to make mathematics more learnable, more accessible, and more enjoyable by reducing the time you need to spend on routine manipulations and allowing you to use the gained time to concentrate on the concepts, the context, and the relevant examples in the course material you are required to learn. ◼ The technology required for this course is a combination of hardware, software, and Internet interaction. ◼ The mathematical software used in Math 208 is Mathematica, one of the most powerful and pedagogically rewarding online teaching and learning tool. The software runs both on Windows and OS X based computers. Concordia University has a site license for Mathematica and you can therefore use Mathematica without charge if you are a registered Concordia student. The dictionarylike Mathematica Companion assigned as a reference text in this course illustrates all required Mathematica calculations. The printed version of the Companion is available from the University Bookstore. ◼ The course material for Math 208 is based on the current electronic verison of textbook Finite Mathematics for Business, Economics, Life Sciences, and Social Sciences by Barnett, Ziegler, and Byleen, a Pearson Education publication. The textbook is available from within MyMathLab, the assessment environment in which all assignments, quizzes, and examinations in this course are randomly generated. Access to MyMathLab is a one-step process for all students registered in this course and is automatically provided as part of the eConcordia registration process.

�����

������ ��� �����

������

◼ The first thing you should do each time you login is to check the Announcements section for important messages. After reviewing the announcements, go to the specific lessons. ◼ An essential element to succeeding in an online course is to have good study habits. Working on your own in a distance educationcourse means that greater responsibility is placed on you as the student for successful completion of the course. A learner who is motivated, self-disciplined, and has good organizational skills will develop the study habits essential for normal progress in the course. ◼ While it is enjoyable to have the flexibility of scheduling your course study time, some individuals never develop a successful study routine. This pattern can place the student in a position that may result in non-completion of deadlines or “cramming” for major assessments. Try to consider the following items when developing good study habits in an online course: ◼ Set aside a certain day or time to work on your course. ◼ Try to do this early in the week, so you have time toe-mail your TA if you have any questions. ◼ Get into the habit of checking the Announcements section and Module section of the course in order to get a mental picture of what you will need to do during the week. ◼ Do not wait until the last day before a deadline, to study and complete assessments. ◼ Remember that even though students are not sitting in a classroom for three hours every week, they will be using the three hours of "classroom" time to read and complete assessments. ◼ If you wait until the last minute, you may be stressed when trying to complete the work in an insufficient amount of time.

F2017 Math 208 Course Outline.nb

◼ Odd things happen in cyberspace. ◼ E-mails get lost, servers disconnecttemporarily, loginsare impossible, etc. ◼ Do not wait for the last moment to complete your assessments. ◼ Allow time to meet deadlines. ◼ Reply and check for replieson every e-mail sent and received. ◼ Make sure to keep a copy of all communicationand yourwork (includingthe midterm exam) in Word format before submitting them online.

���� ��� ��������

�������

◼ Use the Agenda. The agenda section clearly sets out the various due dates and examination times that pertain to the course. It is strongly recommend that students visit the agenda section TWICE A WEEK and plan out a strategy for tackling the course requirements. There is a significant amount of work expected from students in this course and planning ahead is crucial. ◼ Plan ahead. This is a university level course and there is a considerable amount of very interesting material. Proper time management and planning will help students succeed. ◼ Write a one-page summary per subject. Having to review only these pages for the final exam will make it much easier.

������� The course material in Math 208 Online is divided into the following lessons: ◼ Lesson 0: Getting Started ◼ Lesson 1: Graphs, Lines, and Sequences ◼ Lesson 2: Quadratic Equations and Functions ◼ Lesson 3: Exponential and Logarithmic Functions ◼ Lesson 4: Simple and Compound Interest ◼ Lesson 5: Present and Future Values ◼ Lesson 6: Linear Equations and Gauss-Jordan Elimination ◼ Lesson 7: Matrices and Leontief Input-Output Analysis ◼ Lesson 8: Linear inequalities and Linear Programming ◼ Lesson 9: Counting Principles, Permutations and Combinations ◼ Lesson 10: Sample Spaces, Probability and Conditional Probability The quickest way of seeing these lessons in action with help of Mathematica is to view the file named Mathematica Tools, repeated on each lesson page in both viewable and portable HTML format and in interactive computable Mathematica CDF format. Each listed item is hyper-linked to examples and Mathematica calculations. The file provides an ideal road-map to the topics covered in this course, both for the learning of the material and for self-assessment.

5

6

F2017 Math 208 Course Outline.nb

�������� ������������� ����� An illustrated Study Plan is posted on the Assessment page of the course website. It uses “arithmetic sequences,” one of the topics in Lesson 1, listed above, to explain the best way of using the resources available on the eConcordia and MyMathLab websites to study the course material. Also posted on the Assessment page of the course website is an illustrated Assessment Plan. It again the uses the example of “arithmetic sequences” to illustrate a quick way of using the posted resources practice for quizzes and examinations and assess how well you have mastered the course material.

������������ �������� ��������������� All assignments, quizzes and examinations are managed on the MyMathLab website. The details are posted on the Announcement page of the course website. The dates and deadlines for the assignments, the quizzes, and the midterm examination are listed on the course agenda posted on the My Agenda page of the website. You must pay specific attention to the dates and time of the two quizzes and the midterm examination, as explained below. The final examination in this course is proctored and the date and time of the examination are scheduled and announced by the University Examination Office.

����������� It is your responsibility to ensure your work is completed as outlined in the assignment instructions. Please contact your TA via e-mail for clarification ifyou have any questions concerning your grades.

����������� The required assignments in this course are based on the Mathematica Companion and the posted Mathematica study material. They are posted on MyMathLab assessment page, together with the remaining practice material and samples examinations.

F2017 Math 208 Course Outline.nb

7

������� The assessment component in this course also contains two required online quizzes. The quizzes are randomized multiple choice MyMathLab examinations with some Mathematica content. The dates and times of the quizzes are specified in the My Agenda section of this outline and cannot be changed. The rules described in the Legal Matters section below apply to these quizzes.

������� ����������� The assessment in this course is also based on one required online midterm examination. The examination is a randomized multiple-choice MyMathLab examination. The date and time of the midterm examination is specified in the My Agenda section of this outline and cannot be changed. The rules described in the Legal Matters section below apply to this examination.

����� ����������� ◼ The final examination is a randomized MyMathLab examination, written with pencil and paper, and coordinated by the Concordia Examination Office. ◼ The date, time, and location of the final examination is scheduled within official examination period. It is the responsibility of the student to verify the date/time/location and room assignment for the final examination posted in their MyConcordia Portal. The final exam date will not be posted on the eConcordia website. ◼ Do not schedule flights or vacations until the official examination date is released. Vacations and travel plans are not considered a valid reason for a deferral request.

�������������� ����������� The final examination in this course counts for 50% of the final grade. You must obtain at least 50/100 total marks on the final examination to pass the course, regardless of the marks obtained on your term work.

������� ������ Your final grade in this course will be a letter grade based on the following components:

1. Four (4) onlineassignments worth 10% of your final mark. 2. Two (2) online quizzes worth 20% of your final mark. 3. One (1) online midterm worth 20% of yourfinal mark. 4. One (1) final pencil-and-paperrandomized MyMathLab examination worth 50% of your final mark. The material covered in these assessments and the dates and deadlines associated with these assessments are specified in your course Agenda. Your final grade in this course will be a letter grade based on the following conversion table:

8

F2017 Math 208 Course Outline.nb

������ ������������ If you have missed a quiz or the midterm examination for an acceptable reason such as an Internet connection failure, you must contact the eConcordia Helpdesk immediately and report your problem. eConcordia tracks all Internet connections and associated IP addresses. This log is used to assess the validity of your claim and what action could be taken to remedy the situation. If you have missed the final examination for a legitimate reason, you must contact the University Registrar for further help at the following address: http://registrar.concordia.ca/exam/faqdef.html.

�������� ������������ If you do not live in the Montreal area and cannot physically attend the final exam at Concordia University, eConcordia can assist you in making arrangements to write your examination at an academic institution in their region. ◼ External exams are written on the exam date set for the course by the Concordia Examinations Office. ◼ You can apply to write an External exam by clicking on the External Exams tab located at the top of the eConcordia website. ◼ Before completing the online form, ensure that you have contacted a school and an invigilator and made the necessary arrangements to write at their institute. ◼ All questions and information regarding external exams should be sent to: [email protected]. ◼ The external exam request deadline for the final exam is set by the Concordia Examination Office. Note that late requests will not be accommodated. All fees incurred to write an external exam are your sole responsibility. Fees vary per academic institution and you should contact your institution for applicable fees. It is your responsibility to inquire about the fee applicable at your institution prior to scheduling the exam.

������ ������ ����������� ���� ������������ ������ ������������ In order to be able to write an ACSD administered examination, you must registered with the Concordia ACSD through the Concordia portal at http://supportservices.concordia.ca/disabilities/registerwithacsd.php.

����������� In order to be eligible for disability-related services from the ACSD, students must satisfy the following conditions: ◼ Be admitted to and currently enrolled for classes at Concordia University

F2017 Math 208 Course Outline.nb

9

◼ Provide the ACSDwith qualifying documentation of a disability

������������ Once you have registered with ACSD eConcordia will received a confirmation of the time additional time allotted from ACSD. You will receive an email from eConcordia confirming the additional time allocated. Allow one week after the DNE date to receive your email confirmation. All assessments except the final exam are done online - you do not needto write at the ACSD office. Assessments are taken on the same date as indicated in the agenda. In the event that you do not receive a confirmation from eConcordia approving/confirming your accommo dations email: [email protected] - include your name, student ID, course and name of your adviser at the Concordia ACSD office.

���������

�������

For technical questions and inquiries such as login and account issues, or if you are having difficulty accessing the eConcordia site, please contact the eConcordia Help Desk electronically at [email protected] or by telephone at (514) 848-8770 or toll-free at 1-888-361-4949.

�������� The eConcordia Help Desk is open Monday to Friday, from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time.

��������� ����������� The eConcordia team takes every possible measure to ensure that your online learning experience runs as smoothly as possible. There may be times, however, when you encounter technical difficulties that are simply beyond our control. This can include unforeseen network or server or connectivity issues.

������������������ It is the responsibility of all students to ensure that they save a copy of all work submitted through the system. This applies to any work sent via e-mail and uploads and submissions to the course website. Students are required to save copies of work both on a computer hard drive and an external storage device (diskette, CD or USB key).
<...