Instructor: Dr. Farshid Hajir
Office: Lederle 1623C
Phone: 545-6025
Email: hajir atsymbol math.umass.edu

Office Hours: Current office hours are Tuesday & Thursday 11-12 , and Wednesday 2-3, subject to change. You are always welcome to set up an appointment by sending me an e-mail or calling me on the phone.

Text: A Problem Solving Approach to Mathematics for Elementary School Teachers by Billstein et all, tenth edition, Addison-Wesley (Pearson), 2010.

The textbook (in either printed form or e-book form) is required. The MyMathLab (MML) access code is also required. The latter includes an e-book. The option I recommend is the package that includes MML code and three-hole punch textbook (IBN: 9780321650160). The book, and MML code, may be purchased at the UMass Textbook Annex. The code, alone, costs approximately $80, whereas the package sells for approximately $110. The prices may have changed recently. The code, alone, may be purchased if you feel you do not need a hard copy of the textbook. The code, alone, may also be purchased when registering for MML on the coursecompass website . Note that access to an electronic version of the text (e-book) is included upon registering for MML, the online homework system, but once the course ends, so does your access to the e-book! If you feel you may want a copy of the text for future reference as an elementary school teacher, I recommend purchasing the full package above.

How To Register For MML: Registration for MML is required and should be done immediately. You may register for MML using either the temporary code, initially, which allows access for the first twenty-one days of the semester (and then you would need to purchase and register using the long-term code to continue MML access), or you may register using the long-term code you purchase right from the start (without needing the temporary access code). The temporary access code is available for students who either don't know if they will continue in the course past add/drop (and thus won't be penalized financially for dropping the course after registering for and starting assignments in MML) or who need more time to purchase the long-term code. Remember that if you choose to use the temporary access code, it will expire after the first twenty-one days of the semester, and you will be shut out of MML unless you register again with a long-term code. To register for MML, you will need two items: 1) MML access code (long string of capital letters) 2) MML course number (I will provide you with this… it begins with my last name) Also, while registering for MML, enter your UMass umail username as your MML username, and enter your umail adress as your MML e-mail address. The former will help in calculating your grade; the latter will help in course correspondence.

Homework: Homework will primarily be assigned and completed through MML; additionally, there may occasionally be homework assigned to be handed in on paper -- those will be announced in class and posted on the Course Webpage.

MML is an online homework and course study system. It also contains an e-book of your textbook with links to multimedia resources, such as video clips of lessons and step-by-step solutions of problems. If you choose to work through the pre-existing sample tests on MML, then a personalized study plan will be automatically generated for you. This study plan links you to unlimited tutorial exercises for further study, so you can practice until you have mastered the skills. There is no grade attached to the sample tests. [Disclaimer: some sample test questions may cover material not covered in this course.]

One of the benefits of using MML is the instant feedback you receive on homework problems. You will be given three attempts at each problem. If you are unsuccessful after three attempts, another problem can be accessed through the "similar problem" button. If, again, after three attempts you are unsuccessful, you can access a third problem (with three more attempts). So, in essence, you get nine chances for each question on an assignment, if needed, as long as you are still working before the homework deadline.

Each assignment has its own due date which you are responsible for knowing. I strongly recommend attempting homework early and not waiting until the night it's due. Some assignments require you to learn to use specific MML tools. Extensions will not be granted due to last minute technical problems with MML unless the issue is thoroughly documented with contact from MML support.

MyMathLab will operate on a PC or a Macintosh computer. If you do not have your own, you will be able to access MML on all OIT computers on campus. Look here to find these OIT computers:

http://www.oit.umass.edu/classrooms/info/locations.html.

Please register and begin your assignments within the first week of classes.

If you ever have any technical problems with MML, call the Course Compass student help line at : 1-800-677-6337.

Attendance: Attendance is required during lectures. I consider attendance AND participation important ingredients for your success in the course. Frequent absences will be reflected in your grade.

Quizzes: I might give an occasional 10-15 minute quiz in class. Each of these will count as one homework assignment. There will be no make-up quizzes.

Exams: There will be two midterms and one final exam. The midterms will take place during regular class time on Thursday October 6 and Thursday November 10. The final will be on a date to be determined later by the Registrar; it will take place during the regular final-exam period. Please make travel plans accordingly -- see next item.

Make-up Exam Policy: If you have a legitimate (e.g. multiple exams at the same exact time, medical problems, emergency absences, religious observances) scheduling conflict with any of the exams, it is your responsibility to notify me of the conflict as soon as you become aware of it. The final decision regarding allowing a make-up exam is mine, subject to University regulations, of course. Please note that previously arranged travel plans are not a valid reason to be given a make-up exam.

Grading:
   homework, quizzes, participation - 25%
   2 midterms - 25% each
   Final exam - 25%