Spring Semester 2009

Welcome to
Online Intermediate Algebra !

Math BD 

Starting date:   January 19, 2009          Ending date:   May 15, 2009 

I'll be your professor for this class. Feel free to visit my homepage: Rafael Espericueta, wherein you'll find my schedule.

Also of course, I'm always available to answer questions via email: mathprof@pacbell.net

Be sure to read over the course syllabus carefully!

Getting started

Learning math is much like learning to play a musical instrument, or learning to speak a foreign language.  Just like these other pursuits, learning math requires quite a lot of your time, and (seemingly) endless practice.  The only way to learn algebra is to DO algebra problems, and to do LOTS of them!!!   And there are lots of them for you to do in this class.   When you purchase the course you'll have access to the course and all the problem sets.   All homework is graded, and you may redo the homework to raise your grade.  Indeed, you may redo ANY online test for a better grade!  There are no specific deadlines, but you must complete all the online coursework and take the final exam prior to the end-date of the course.

You may start immediately, even before the official start date for the class.  So why not get a head start?!

Accessing the Course Website

There is no printed textbook associated with this online course and you do not need to visit the bookstore. Instead, you will purchase access to the required Web-based course material which you will use in an online course management system called Blackboard.   

Follow the steps below to access this material.   (You'll need your Bakersfield College student number, from the Office of Admissions & Records.)

1. First you need to purchase your access code ($69.95).  Go to  http://www.codcourses.com/students/BBkeyIA2e.html .

2. An email containing your course access code will be sent to you as
soon as the purchase has been approved.  You'll need this access code

later, keep it in a safe place!

3. AFTER you have your access code, try logging on at  http://coursesites.blackboard.com .
 For your username, use your 2 initials followed by the last 6 digits of your

 student number (issued to you by Bakersfield College). 

For example, if your name is Toshiro Hernandez and your student number is 00123456,
then your username would be TH123456.

 Your password will be the word, student  (you may change that if you wish, in the course website).

 

IMPORTANT:  If the username and password don't work (as described above), then please create your own account in BlackBoard, and then email me your chosen username.  Then I'll enter that in the course so you can see a link to the course when you log on to BlackBoard.

 

 If you have any trouble with this, please email the prof .

4. A link to the Intermediate Algebra Course should be visible when you log on to

http://coursesites.blackboard.com .   When you attempt to access course materials,
you'll be prompted for the access code you received via email after purchasing the
course (step #3 above).   You'll only need to enter this access code this first time.

5. Read the announcements in the Intermediate Algebra Course, which will be visible
when you enter the course website.

Please contact me with any questions or problems.

General Comments

Your success in this class depends upon you setting aside regular time each day to study, being motivated to study on your own, and having self-discipline. You also should have obtained at least a 'C' grade in Elementary Algebra, the prerequisite for this course.

COMMUNICATION:

Clear communication between you and the instructor is vital to the success of an online course.  Here are some tips:

THE EMAIL ADDRESS you entered when you updated your enrollment form (or filled out an application) is the one I use to send occasional email to the class, so if you haven't entered a currently valid email address, you may miss receiving important announcements about the class.  Make sure that Bakersfield College has your current email address. 

ALWAYS sign your full name in emails.

ALWAYS specify Math D Spring 09  in the subject line of emails.

ALWAYS ensure continuity in emails.  This means that you should include any message from me in the body of your email when you reply.  Certain providers, like AOL don't automatically have this facility.  You should then cut and paste my message into your response so that I know what we are talking about!

AOL:  We have had numerous problems with students who use AOL to do online classes.  Well, actually, EVERYONE in the world who has ever offered an online class has had numerous problems with AOL!!  This is due to several factors, the most significant one being the time-out factor that AOL uses, and the inability to incorporate the incoming message into an outgoing response.  Also my email to AOL often bounces.   I encourage you to use another (free) e-mail provider like hotmail or yahoo etc.

NEVER put my name onto your general email lists. I have enough email to deal with, without receiving your virus alert warnings and funnies!

DON'T send me attachments with emails.    I will automatically delete them!

If you need more time to complete the course...

The class is self-paced, but there are some deadlines too.  You must complete the course this semester, but how and when you do so is up to you.   If you don't complete the class by the official end date for the semester, you will receive an 'F'.  Exceptions can be granted, in some circumstances.  An "incomplete" grade may be given, in the following circumstances:

Incomplete academic work for unforeseeable emergency and justifiable reasons at the end of the term may result in an “I” symbol being entered in the student’s record. The instructor must submit a statement of the requirements for clearance of the incomplete and also indicate the grade to be assigned in lieu of the ‘I’ if the requirements are not completed. An ‘I’ must be made up no later than one year following the end of the term in which it was assigned. An ‘I’ may not be assigned as a withdrawal grade. If the work stipulated is not completed within the time limitation, the grade assigned in lieu of the work being completed will be entered on the permanent record.

If something comes up during the semester that you think qualifies you to receive an incomplete, as per the above paragraph, please let me know as soon as possible.  If you qualify for an incomplete, you will have up to a year to complete your coursework.  Please contact me if you think you're going to have trouble completing your coursework by the end of the semester.  Each situation is unique, and I'll do whatever I can to help you successfully complete the class.

If there is anything you don't understand about the course, or any comments or questions you might have, please feel free to e-mail me at any time ( mathprof@pacbell.net ). Also be sure to ask questions if you ever get stuck on any of the course material. There is no such thing as a "dumb" question.   My e-door is always open!

I look forward to having you on-board this class, and will do everything I can to help you succeed in mastering algebra.

Bon Voyage!

Rafael