INTRODUCTION TO LINEAR ALGEBRA
MATH 361
Southwestern   
Adventist University 
 
   Distance Education Lawrence E. Turner, Jr., Ph.D.  


course syllabus

assignments

materials


request a test

proctor form

grade report form



MATH 361 home

Turner home

ADP Home

 
COURSE SYLLABUS


VII.  STRUCTURE
  1. Schedule

    A schedule of material covered from the text, homework assignments, and tests is provided. This schedule is adopted from the regular lecture oriented course taught on-campus; that is, the expectations, grading scheme, material covered, assignments, and tests are the same as or similar to in number and difficulty as for those on-campus students. The office schedule of the teacher is also available to facilitate telephone calls.

  2. Deadlines

    There are no specific deadlines; however, you should arrange your study time to progress through the material in a regular and orderly fashion that permits sufficient time for assignments to be submitted, graded, and returned and tests taken by the ultimate deadline for the course. Mathematics is best studied in a regular progression. It is best not to allow to much time to elapse between the study of the material. It is best not to attempt to absorb a major portion of the course in a few days. You are urged to plan a regular study time and schedule at the pace that is appropriate you and to adhere to that time schedule.

    Optimum progress through a mathematics course involves study, working on an assignment, getting feedback when the assignment is graded, more study and review, and finally sitting the test. The assignments provide opportunity to practice and prepare for the tests which are the primary determination of how well you understand the material. This is the primary reason that all homework for a particular section is due at or before the time of the test. For a regularly scheduled course on-campus this order is maintained by specific deadlines and class meetings. For the Adult Degree Program course, you have more flexibility. While it is possible to turn in all the homework at the time the test is sat, it is to your advantage to submit the homework as is it done so that it can be graded and returned before sitting the test.

    If it appears that completion of all the requirements of the course will take longer than the normal six-month period, then the student should contact the ADP office. Academic extensions are possible within the general guidelines of the ADP program.

    If after the initial normal six month period there elapses a period of six months without you making progress or communicating with the teacher or without an explicit agreement between you and the teacher concerning a "planned" delay, then your enrollment in the course may be terminated and a grade based upon what you have earned to that point, out of the total possible, turned in.

  3. Communications

    Close communications between the student and teacher are important to success. The teacher has a responsibility to attempt to respond to all questions, assignments sent in for grading, requests for tests, etc. in a quick and timely manner and provide the student with feedback about his or her progress. You have a responsibility to inform the teacher of delays, problems, etc. that might affect either the starting time or the orderly study of the material and completion of the course requirements. If you fail to communicate or delay communicating with the teacher or the ADP office, then your registration in the course may be terminated with an administrative withdrawal or a grade based upon what you have completed. The best learning environment is where both the student and the teacher have an understanding of the pace and progress.

    The teacher may be contacted via mail, phone, or e-mail (see above).

    Contact points:

      Videos   Request and return directly to the ADP office.
      Homework Assignments   Sent directly to the teacher.
      Test Requests   Made to the teacher.
      Time Extensions   Request made to the ADP office.

  4. Proctor

    Your proctor is an important part of the total process. It is important to select a proctor that is responsible to the needs of academic security and respectability. Each test that is mailed to your proctor will be enclosed in a sealed inner envelope that is to be opened only at the time you sit the test. Also enclosed is a Test Administration Form that is to be filled out by the proctor and returned with the test in the enclosed addressed envelope. The Test Administration Form must be filled out, signed, and returned in order for the test to be permanently recorded.

    If for some reason, you do not sit the test, then the test in its original sealed inner envelope should be returned to the teacher.

  5. Tutors

    You may desire to arrange for a local private tutor to help with the study of the material. This practice is recommended. However, it is important that the role of any tutor is only to help you understand the material. The tutor should not work homework assignments or "grade" them. It is a good study strategy to work other problems for practice with answers in the back of the book or to have the tutor check them; however, the assigned homework problems are part of the grading process. The tutor's role is only to explain, answer questions, work example problems, etc.

  6. Calculator

    A calculator may be used as an assistance for homework, tests, and the final exam. Usually, the answer will need to be expressed in terms of algebraic variables, and numerical values will need to be expressed in terms of integers, fractional values, or roots of integers. However, there are sections where a calculator will be useful. Any scientific calculator that includes the usual mathematical functions may be used.

  7. Academic Honesty

    All work turned in for credit including homework assignments, tests, and the final exam is to be the work of the individual. For homework, you ask questions, discuss the problem and solution, and provide or obtain minimal assistance. Copying of written answers, and solutions is contrary to the accepted procedure for this course. For the tests and the final exam, no consultation is permitted. Violation of the conditions for academic honesty will be dealt with according to the policies of Southwestern Adventist University and may result in an F being recorded for the course grade or other penalties.


 
© 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003 by Lawrence Turner