Math Lab

Courses: Intermediate Algebra

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The Laney College Math Lab offers you the opportunity to take Intermediate Algebra (Math 211 ABCD) in a self-paced format. The course is set up in four 1-unit modules. To earn a unit of credit, you are expected to demonstrate that you have mastered the material for that unit by passing a series of tests and a unit final exam. Each test covers about half of a chapter in the assigned textbook, and the unit final covers the material in all the chapters for that unit.

What You Will Need:
For this course you will need:

• A copy of the assigned textbook and the accompanying CD
  Textbook: D. Franklin Wright. Intermediate Algebra, Fourth Edition
• A blank floppy diskette formatted for a PC
• A scientific calculator
• Graph paper (we recommend 4 or 5 boxes to the inch)

Computer Tutorial Software:
When you purchase your textbook, it comes with a CD which has a tutorial for the course. By using the software tutorial you can get help with learning the algebra material before you take any tests. You can use the CD to access the software on any Windows-based PC. The tutorial software is also available on all the computers in the Math Computer Lab (G-203) as well as on some other computers on the Laney campus.

The Math Computer Lab is opened the same hours as the Math Lab.

Instructions to help you get started using the software are available in the Math Lab.

The tutorial software includes:

• an introduction to, or basic overview of, the material in a section (Demonstrate option);
  
• a lecture/demonstration about the topic (Instruct option);
  
• opportunities to practice skills, with feedback about how you are doing and help when your answers are incorrect (Practice option); and
  
• opportunities to test yourself before we test you (Certifications option).

Practice Tests, Tests for Credit, and Certifications:
How much time you spend preparing to take a Test is up to you. Although we do not require you to do specific problems from the textbook, there is a recommended set of problems which should help you prepare to take the tests. We do not ordinarily require you to study the material using the tutorial software, although we strongly recommend that you do use it.

Before you take any of the Elementary Algebra tests for credit, you will be required to take a practice test. The practice test may be taken in the Lab or at home. If you do not score at least 80% on the practice test, you will be assigned work using the computer tutorial software that you must complete (called Certifications) before the Lab staff will permit you to take the test for credit. When you successfully finish a certification on the computer, you will be able to save a record of your having completed it on a floppy disk. If a certification has been assigned as a result of your score on a practice test or actual test, you must bring the floppy disk with the records of your completed certifications with you to the Math Lab.

In order to take a test for credit, you must:

• first complete a practice test with a score of at least 80%, or
• if you have been assigned certifications to complete, demonstrate that you have completed them.

Also, if you score below 70% on any test, you must retake the test, but you will first have to complete a certifications assignment using the computer tutorial software. There is no penalty for retaking the test. Your highest score will count.

In general, any test you take will be graded by the next school day.

Grades:
Your grade in your Math Lab course is solely based on a weighted average of your scores on tests and unit final exams. The tests count for 80% of the grade while the unit finals count for 20% of the grade. Your letter grade will correspond to your numerical weighted average as follows:

Scores on tests for partially completed units will not be considered when computing the average for your grades.