Portland Community College | Portland, Oregon

Just a few details to start.

• I am running this class as a flipped course.  Please look at the following video to familiarize yourself with a flipped class. Flipped Class Video Introduction 
• Here is another video of a KGW news report on two instructors at PCC who are flipping their classes.  News Story on Flipped Classroom at PCC

With a flipped class, you will be working on the content before we meet as a class.  You will have a "pre-assignment" in Webworks which includes videos of the content we will be studying mixed with some practice problems.  When we gather as a class there will be group activities where you will reinforce the content, working with and helping others in your group will reinforce the concepts.  As an instructor, I will be going around the classroom and clarifying/answering any questions your group may have.  After the activities, you will work on the "homework" now to be called classwork from that section within the ORCCA e-text.  I will be there to answer and help with any problems you may have.  You will also have your classmates to help you with your homework.  The goal is to get your homework completed in the last half of the class so that you can focus on the next class lecture material.  As I will be grading these, it will also give you an idea of how I will be grading exams, using correct formatting, and where you may have to get extra practice/tutoring before the exam.

Why a flipped class? Many of you have "seen" the material before in high school or previous math courses. Therefore, I am hoping that as you watch the video notes, you can get a good review of topics you already know. Also, if you are a bit "rusty" with some topics, video notes allow you to go through the material at your own pace. You can also rewatch videos to reinforce the concepts. The hardest information to convey to students is "what do you really know how to do?" I find students tell me they already know how to do "all of this stuff," but when it comes to a test, they might not do well because they don't really understand how to do algebra. I hope to correct this. When we are in class, we will be practicing by doing a lot of problems in groups, pairs, etc. Finally, you will work by yourself to complete problems as well, so you can really see what you do understand and what you don't.

Plan on spending between 10 to 13 hours outside of our class time to be successful in this course.  If your schedule doesn't allow for that time, consider taking this course when you have more time available.

You will need to have good internet for the online homework.  The homework is very hard to do on a smartphone, so if you can gain access to a tablet, laptop, or desktop, it will be easier to complete the notes and assignments.  We will work on "classwork" for the last portion of the class, which will be done on computers. However, if you don't complete the homework within the allotted time, please ensure you have a device other than your smartphone.

Math 60 is a foundational course.  To be successful in future math classes requires that you have a strong foundation in basic math, which means: you are comfortable working with fractions, you have your times tables memorized, and you have good basic algebra skills.  This course is intended to give you those foundational math skills.  Students need to have a good grasp of basic math skills and not rely on their calculators for basic computations. We will work on these skills in class so that you can be successful in future courses.  Multiplication facts/skills are fundamental to your success. Feeling comfortable working with fractions is also important without a calculator. Seems like easy things but it so important. Part of the course will require you to learn/become proficient with your multiplication facts/skills.

You will need a 3-ring binder with dividers to organize the material, a basic calculator, and a straightedge for the class.