Virtual Proctored Exams 

Proctored exams are one of the many assessment tools used in MTH/STAT courses to assess student learning. For in-person sections, exams are proctored in-person on campus during class time. For remote sections, exams are primarily proctored virtually by the instructor in Zoom during remote class time. For online/web sections, exams are primarily proctored virtually by the instructor in Zoom on dates/times scheduled by the instructor. 

This class is an online/web class. Assuming there is no change who is assigned this class, the exams for this class will be proctored virtually by me (your instructor, Michele Marden) on the following dates and times. If you will be taking the exams virtually, please make every concerted effort to attend my virtually proctored exams listed below and "check your setup" date.

• Check Your Setup for Virtual Exams on Monday, April 15 from 6 pm to 7:15 pm on zoom (only suggested if you will be taking the exams virtually)
• Exam 1 on Monday, April 22 from 6 pm to 8:30 pm on zoom
• Exam 2 on Monday, May 13 from 6 pm to 8:30 pm on zoom
• Optional Exam 3 on Wednesday, May 29 from 6 pm to 8:30 pm on zoom
  Note: This exam is highly encouraged if the competency part of the course hasn't been met yet - see #1 under "Grading" below
• Final Exam on Monday, June 10 from 6 pm to 8:30 pm on zoom

To have your exam proctored virtually, you must fully read and understand the Student Guide to Virtually Proctored Exams in Zoom and meet the technology/environment requirements; technology support will not be provided on exam day. Virtual proctoring was designed and piloted in collaboration between Math, Online Learning, and the Testing Center. 

If you do not meet the requirements for virtually proctored exams, prefer to take your exams in-person, and/or have an unavoidable scheduling conflict, please contact me as soon as possible (during the term). Alternative testing arrangements can be made for virtual or in-person proctoring at a testing center given adequate notice and depending on testing center capacity and availability. Scheduling appointments with a testing center and communicating with the instructor is the responsibility of the student, as well as paying any associated fees with using a non-PCC testing center. 

If you have accommodations through Accessible Ed & Disability Resources at PCC, please contact me so we can discuss your specific accommodations and how I can best support you. 

If you have any questions or concerns about virtually proctored exams, please feel free to contact me.

Grading

Grading in this course is a mix of competency-based grading and traditional percentage-based. Students can adjust grading, within limits, by setting up a "contract" with me for what they feel is the best for their learning if a learning activity does not support their learning. Item #1 and #2 below can not be adjusted, but #3 can.

1. Competency-based: Show correct work for specific skills that are critical for the next math course (MTH 95) and beyond (including some skills needed for science or other courses)
   Correct work for these skills must be shown on the proctored exams to pass the class with a C or higher.
   
   Failure to show most of these skills during the quarter will adversely affect course grade and completion. There are at least 2 opportunities to show correct work for these problems on a proctored exam, most problems have 3 or 4 opportunities (if the optional Exam 3 is taken).
    

2. Final Exam Score
   Additionally, to pass the course with a C or higher the final exam score needs to be higher than the minimum percentage given in the syllabus.
   
   

3. Determination of A, B, C
   If the above two items have been met, the determination of the letter grade A, B, or C is from having the course average met a minimum percentage (or select parts of the course). Course work may include the following: MyLabMath Homework, Discussion Boards, Worksheets, MyLabMath Quizzes, proctored Exams. MyLabMath is the online homework system for the course.

Fast-Paced Course (may not be "review")

The name of this course, "Review of Introductory Algebra" can be misleading. If it has been several years since you have taken algebra, you may find this course is NOT a "review" because you have forgotten too much -- it may feel like most everything is new. It is a "review" for...

• students who typically like math and pick it up quickly.

• students who have had MTH 60 and 65 recently (typically in the last year) and feel they need more practice before taking MTH 95.

This course is very fast-paced. In fact, it is basically a year's worth of high school algebra in 10 weeks. In terms of PCC courses, this course covers most of the MTH 60 and MTH 65 material but with added "umph." The "umph" factor has two components:

• Heavy use of function notation

• The book is written more conceptually than the MTH 60/65 book (it is actually an intermediate algebra text like the MTH 95 book, but over MTH 60/65 material)

If you are concerned with your placement into this course, please email me and we can discuss your concerns and try to ensure this course is the right one for you. There will also be an optional "placement check" quiz in D2L. This placement check won't remove students from the course, but hopefully will help students make a plan to review more during the term or change to another course.

How To Be Successful In This Course (from prior students)

Years ago, I started asking students to share about the course. Click here to read what some of my most recent prior MTH 70 students say they wish they had known about this course at the start of the quarter. 

Textbook and MyLabMath (MLM)

This course has an electronic text (etext) and access to the publisher's online homework system, MyLabMath (MLM), assuming you "opt-in" at the start of the term. When you register for this course, the fee for this access is automatically added to your tuition (it is around $40). 

 

There will be information in D2L for how to create your Pearson account to access the etext and MLM. At the start of the term, there is an opt-out period if a student believes they can find these required course materials cheaper elsewhere; however, if you opt-out, your MLM grades won't sync automatically in D2L (and the MyLabMath part of the exams will also be handwritten). If you opt-out,  please let me know so we can make a plan for the term (and check to make sure the fee is reimbursed).

 

If you have concerns about using an etext, please let me know. The publisher does have an option for purchasing a reduced cost for a physical copy of the book (or you might be able to find a used book to purchase).   

Financial Concerns?

If you are concerned about the course fee for the etext and MyLabMath (MLM) access (around $40), we can make a plan for you to submit work written by hand for MLM homework and any MLM quizzes/exams. Be sure you can find a copy of the book at price that is less than the fee.

Check out the “Links for SUPPORTS” info below. PCC may have options to help financially. 

Is MTH 70 the right course for your college goals?

Most STEM degrees such as engineering, physics, computer programming, math, etc, require algebra. If your degree or career plans require MTH 111 (College Algebra) or MTH 112 (Trigonometry) or MTH 251 (Calculus I), this is the right class for you!

 

If you do not need MTH 111, this class may NOT be the best option. See the info below and email me to discuss this (or contact an academic advisor)

• If you only need credit for MTH 65 for your degree/certificate, this course may NOT be the best option for you. There is a competency exam that might work for you or taking MTH 65 might be better than this course. There are ALC courses that can be taken before taking a competency exam if wanted.

• If you need MTH 105 (Math in Society) or MTH 243 (Statistics) for your degree, MTH 58/98 may be the better sequence for you. This sequence has more "real life"  for math as compared to most algebra courses. Most students really enjoy this course (even those who have had bad math experiences in the past). If MTH 58/98 sounds interesting to you, ask an academic advisor if the Math Literacy pathway will work for your degree/career goals. This pathway is still fairly new at PCC (and nationally), but each year more and more programs/degrees are moving their math prerequisites from algebra to math literacy (or allowing both). Here is a video about MTH 58/98. 

Web Course (but it is not self-paced) 

This class is a "web" or online class - which means we don't have any scheduled meeting times (outside of the proctored exams required by the math department at PCC). 

 

The course will be in the PCC online learning system: Desire2Learn Brightspace (D2L). 

 

For "lecture," there are readings and/or videos I've chosen for students to watch that are in the course (and there is a link to the videos made by the publisher of the book we are using). If there are questions about the material, students can post to a discussion board, email me, or come to office hours. PCC also has free tutoring.

 

Although web/online courses allow a bit more flexibility than face-to-face courses, the course is not self-paced. Be prepared to give the course between 15 and 25 hours per week (or more, depending on how quickly math comes to you). Also, since math is a detail-oriented subject, it is best to study daily and review regularly (plan for at least 2 hours most every day of the quarter where at least 30 minutes is spent reviewing). 

 

If you have any questions about this course as a fully online "web" course with proctored exam times, please email me. 

Deletion For No Payment Plan

The college requires a payment plan to be set up before classes begin. Students without payment plans will be deleted from the course. If this happens, you will lose your place in the class and may be at the bottom of a very long waitlist when trying to re-register. Read more here.

I want to support you in your learning

Given the many ways life stressors can affect students, I run this course with as much flexibility as possible.

 

Please let me know what is going on for you. The sooner I know about issues that affect your course progress, the more likely it is we can find an option that is best for you (and ideally complete the course successfully).

Links for SUPPORTS

Financial and Other Resources

PCC wants you to be successful and have resources that may help.  If you face challenges affording food or housing, or if you need access to technology, this will naturally affect your classwork.  Check out PCC Emergency Funds (www.pcc.edu/enroll/paying-for-college/emergency-funds.html). 

 

ASPCC student leadership compiled the list with your needs in mind: Resource list with information about childcare, work opportunities, unemployment benefits, food resources, health resources, and more that may help you navigate changes in your life this quarter.

 

The PCC Counseling Department has created this video about their remote telehealth services: If you are experiencing a mental health crisis, contact:

• Multnomah County Crisis 1.800.716.9769

• Clackamas County Crisis 503.655.8585

• Washington County Crisis 503.291.9111 (se habla espanol) / TDD 1-800-735-2900

• Crisis Text Line text "HOME" to 741741

• Call to Safety (Domestic Violence/sexual assault) 1.888.235.5333

• Trevor Project LGBTQ Support 1.866.488.7386

• Suicide Lifeline/Lines for Life 800.273.8255

Didn't find what you need?  You can also contact a campus Student Conduct and Retention Coordinator at conductandcare@pcc.edu or contact one of PCC's Identity-based Centers:

• Multicultural Centers

• Queer Resource Centers; QRC slide-show 

• Veterans Resource Centers

• Women’s Resource Centers.

• Dream Resource Center

 

Students will need the following technology and technology skills:

• Technical Skills (if you have trouble with any of these, check out Tech @ PCC or Technology Requirements for Online Learning at PCC)

  • Ability to download/upload documents

  • Ability to use PCC's email system

  • Ability to type and/or use mouse (or use adaptive technologies). This includes using toolbar in MyMathLab to enter fractions, exponents, etc. If support is needed for adaptive technologies, contact Accessible Ed & Disability Resources

• A PDF reader (such as Adobe Acrobat Reader)

• Familiarity with file management

• Ability to save multiple pages as a single pdf file and upload to D2L. There are several options to create a single pdf file: 

  • “Scanner” phone apps that save as pdf (such as Adobe or Scanner Pro)

  • Actual physical scanner

  • Copiers at the PCC library or other libraries that can scan documents and send to email. 

  • Note: If you have a tablet you can write on, it may be possible to share a different file format (as long as the file can be opened in D2L). If you wish to try this, please let me know at the start of the term and we can test it out.

• To participate in the virtually proctored exams the following is needed: 1) Access to a modern computer system with a supported operating system (OS) installed, 2) a broadband internet provider or mobile carrier with LTE or better service, 3) a microphone, and 4) a detachable webcam and/or mobile device (such as a smartphone, tablet, etc.).

Internet Access

Students will need to have computer and reliable internet access at least several times per week.

A supported web browser (chrome or firefox may be more stable for MyLabMath and D2L than other web browsers)

Printing

There are assignments in this course where it may be helpful to print these materials and hand-write your work on the print out (then upload the work as a single pdf file into D2L).

It is also ok to use your own paper and keep problems numbered and in order.

If you don't have access to a printer, here is information about printing at PCC. You may wish to check out community libraries to see if they have free or reduced cost printing