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
• The MATC Short Term Book Loan process will be
  available for qualified students beginning August
  26 from 900am-430pm in Truax Room 141C. The
  loan office will be staffed August 26, 27, 28,
  29, 30, and September 3 as long as loan funds are
  available. Loans will only be processed in
  Madison at the Truax campus. Checks will be
  available to students beginning Thursday, August
  29th. These are the only days on which book
  loans will be available this fall. 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 the text
• www.prenhall.com/tobey_basic
• For the Course
• TBA

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Supplies

• Scientific Calculator
• Texas Instruments TI-30Xa (11.95)
• Casio fx-300-w (14.50)
• Sharp EL-531V (9.95)
• 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!