Welcome to Math Concepts

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Welcome to Math Concepts!!
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Introductions

• David Woolpert
• Room 211C
• 246-6568
• dwoolpert_at_madison.tec.wi.us

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The Syllabus

• Read the Course Description
• Math Problem Solving Skills
• Using (and not using) a calculator
• Study Organizational Skills
• Classroom Learning Skills
• Academic Advisement
• You may attend any of the listed classes

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Textbook

• Basic College Mathematics, Fourth Edition
• Prentice Hall, Jeffrey Slater, John Toby
• The MATC Foundation Short Term Loan Program
• Room 141C on the Truax campus and Room 109 on the
  Downtown campus
• Students must qualify for the loan but
  essentially we can help most enrolled students
  who are taking at least 6 credits, have an
  approved co-signer and do not receive Financial
  Aid during the first week of classes.
• 243-4003

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Textbook

• The Used Bookstore is out of used copies of this
  text
• Underground Textbook Exchange
• 664 State St
• 251-4444

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Websites

• For this course
• www.madison.tec.wi.us/is/ald/dwoolpert
• For the text
• www.prenhall.com/tobey_basic

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Supplies

• Scientific Calculator
• Texas Instruments TI-30Xa Solar (16.95)
• Casio fx-300-w (16.50).
• Clear Plastic Ruler
• Media Access
• Web Access

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Attendance

• Talk to me!
• Good Attendance Good Grades
• Good Grades Better Math Skills

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Grading

• 6 Exams
• Final Exam is comprehensive, but counts no more
  or less than other exams
• May take up to two exams a second time
• Quizzes
• Unnanounced
• Two lowest quiz scores are ignored

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Grading

• Homework
• Problem assignment sheets
• Selected Problems to be turned in as Homework
• Will be checked for completeness, neatness
  organization
• Often source of Exam/Quiz items
• Special Homework Handouts
• Graded and contribute 15 to grade

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Fill out forms

• Client Reporting Form
• Stuff Your Instructor Needs to Know
• Take home and bring with you tomorrow

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Other Handouts

• Math Success
• Math Anxiety Bill of Rights
• TLC Resources

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Improving speed and accuracy with the basics

• Chapter 1
• why
• how

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Study Habits

• Work on the assignments in frequent, short study
  sessions, 20 30 minutes each.
• Do some problems every day
• Treat the text like you would a cookbook
• Read completely through a section of the book
• Go back and closely examine a few of the example
  problems
• Try a few assigned problems, checking for correct
  answers each problem
• Refer back to the text if you are unsure of what
  you should be doing or if you are frequently
  incorrect.

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Frustration

• If you get frustrated, STOP!
• Take a break and get your mind off math for a
  while. Reward yourself for having displayed
  discipline and fortitude with something nice like
  chocolate, a relaxing hot bath, playtime with
  your kids, watching TV, etc.
• When you return to continue, first do some
  problems from a previous section that you do well
  to restore your confidence, then begin again.

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See You Tomorrow!