Course Syllabus
Welcome
We are pleased that you selected this course to fulfill your unique educational needs. You are now a member of the Mizzou Academy's global student body.
Course Overview
This pre-algebra course will review topics covered in previous math courses and expand upon that knowledge in order to prepare you for Algebra I. The course will work with order of operations, algebraic terminology, algebraic properties, integers, factors, fractions, and rational numbers. You will also be challenged to write and solve algebraic equations for everyday situations.
Catalog Description: This pre-algebra course helps the student bring together concepts from elementary mathematics courses, such as measurement, arithmetic, fractions, problem-solving, and number sense. It shows how to apply these systematically to both real-life and abstract problems. Lessons introduce the student to number systems, formulas to find areas, scientific notation, mean and median, patterns, and to the language, concepts, and skills the student will use in algebra.
How to Study for This Course
This course lays the foundation for your Algebra I course. Make good use of it by working through every assignment with the goal of completely understanding each new concept. Every new concept will build on previously introduced ideas; therefore, it is very important to totally understand each lesson before proceeding to the next lesson. In order to succeed in a math course, you must approach the course with a positive and confident attitude. You will have this attitude if you work through problems until you understand them. Make sure to compare your answer with the answer in the back of the textbook. If it does not match, examine your answer, and determine if it can be altered to match the textbook’s answer. For example, if your answer is 6/9 and the textbook has 2/3, your answer can be simplified to 2/3. All answers in the textbook and on examinations will be written in lowest terms. Calculators may be used on your assignments to double-check your arithmetic, but they will not be allowed on the exams.
Each chapter of the textbook begins with a Getting Started Prerequisite Skills section. This section reviews knowledge you should already have. If you feel lacking in an area, it gives a section or pages in the text where you can review and brush up on that area. This review will focus your attention in the desired direction for the chapter. The odd numbered answers to the review begin on page R19 of the textbook. At the back of the textbook, beginning on page 704, there is a Student Handbook. Several pages of the handbook give examples of review problems and more problems for you to try. I strongly suggest you use the Getting Started Prerequisite Skills section at the beginning of each chapter. If you do well on the quiz, further review is not necessary. You are ready to begin the chapter! If you have some difficulty, you should then use the Student Handbook.
Just reading the textbook is not enough. The topic read must be digested by your mind in order to completely understand and use the information. Every section of the textbook has a Check for Understanding section. This section questions you and causes you to think about the ideas presented. It is a necessity that you take the Check for Understanding section to heart. The answers to some of the questions can be found in the back of your textbook. Don’t check your answers until you have seriously considered your responses and have written them down. Sometimes the order you write the response in makes a difference, and unless you have written yours down, you will not know for sure if you are correct. For example, 8 − 6 and 6 − 8 are not the same response.
At the end of every chapter in your textbook, there is a Vocabulary and Concept Check section. Make sure to look over the list of terms and quiz yourself on their meanings. Math is not just working with numbers. It is also a language of its own. A math scholar should be able to speak the language of her course. The progress evaluations will check your language skills as well as your mathematical skills.
Required Materials
Pre-Algebra by Malloy, Price, Willard, and Sloan. (New York, New York: McGraw Hill Glencoe, 2005).
Other MAterials
- graph paper
- calculator (standard function)
Recommended Web Browser
- Mozilla Firefox
Quizzes & Assignments
You should submit all assigned work in sequence (Lesson 1, then Lesson 2, etc.) Assignments for the course are listed at the bottom of this syllabus.
Quizzes
Quizzes are taken online. After you submit them, you’ll quickly receive a report on how you did. Unlike exams, you may use any assigned readings, your notes, and other course-related materials to complete graded quizzes and assignments.
Assignments
Assignments may require you to submit your completed work in the form of a file (such as a text document, image, audio or video recording, or multimedia presentation) or a hyperlink for grading.
Reading and Using Feedback
After your work has been graded, you will receive a report that provides individualized feedback and comments on your work. Look carefully at what you missed and read any corresponding feedback. Then study the lesson materials to make certain that you can accomplish the associated learning objectives.
Each lesson provides step-by-step instructions on how to submit your work. Be sure to check submitted work carefully for errors (e.g. spelling, grammar, and punctuation) as they may result in points being deducted.
Exams
You are required to take two proctored exams for this course.
Midterm Exam (covers Lessons 1–5) | Final Exam (covers Lessons 6–10) | |
---|---|---|
When to Request an Exam | after you receive your feedback for Lesson 5 | after you receive your feedback for Lesson 10 |
Questions |
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Points Possible | 160 points | 160 points |
Time Limit | 2 hours | 2 hours |
What to Bring to the Exam Site |
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See the "About Exams" in the policies section for additional information on exams at Mizzou Academy.
Grades
Your final grade will be based on the number of points you earn on assignments and exams. The course grade is weighted as follows:
Source for Grade | Weight |
---|---|
Assignments (Quizzes and Written Assignments) | 38.5% |
Exams | 61.5% |
Total | 100% |
You will be able to see your exam percentage in the "Exams" column in your gradebook.
The following grading scale applies only to students who meet this standard:
Grade | Percentage |
---|---|
A | 90–100 |
B | 80–89 |
C | 70–79 |
D | 60–69 |
F | 0–59 |
After completing the course, you will receive a grade report that gives your percentage and your letter grade for the course.
Technical Requirements
The most up-to-date requirements can be found here:
- Computer Requirements
- Browser Requirements
- Proctoring Requirements
- Microphone (external or internal)
- Webcam
Additional requirements for the course are below:
- audio and video recording capabilities (e.g. smartphone, camera)
Getting Started Resources (Canvas and Other Resources)
View the content below to learn more about each of these elements and how they work in your Mizzou Academy Canvas course.
Academic Integrity
Our academic integrity policy at Mizzou Academy is based on our values of ethical behavior, learning, and giving all stakeholders the benefit of the doubt. Collaboration, research, and technical literacy are vital 21st-century skills when combined with academic integrity.
Definitions
Mizzou Academy's academic integrity policy is aligned with the University of Missouri’s academic integrity policy. The definitions of what constitutes "cheating" and "plagiarism"are posted on the Provost’s Advising Council’s webpage which can be found here: https://advising.missouri.edu/policies/academic-integrity.
Issues Involving Violations of Academic Integrity
If, when completing any of your assignments or exams for this course, you are found to have demonstrated cheating or plagiarism as defined above, this is a violation of academic integrity. At your teacher's discretion, violations of academic integrity may be subject to either or both of the following actions:
- receiving a zero for the assignment or exam
- receiving an F for the course
Accessibility
If you anticipate barriers related to the format or requirements of this course, please let Mizzou Academy know as soon as possible. If disability-related accommodations are necessary (for example, a scribe, reader, extended time on exams, captioning), please contact Mizzou Academy.
About Exams at Mizzou Academy*
*This section describes the policies of exams at Mizzou Academy. This section only applies if you have exams in your course. See the section above to see if you have exams.
ABOUT EXAMS
Your exams are online. It is your responsibility to schedule your exams.
During exams, unless otherwise noted, you are not allowed to navigate away from the exam or use any other resources. If you deviate from the exam guidelines without proper prior permission, it is considered cheating on an exam.
SCHEDULING EXAMS
Global Courses
First, request approval for your proctor. Allow enough time (2 weeks) for our office to receive your request and communicate with your chosen exam site and proctor. Mizzou Academy has approved exam sites throughout the United States and around the world.
Request Exam Date and Proctor Approval Form
- Choose a proctor and make arrangements for taking the exam.
- At least 2 weeks prior to taking your exam, submit your proctor information to Mizzou Academy
- You will be sent an email notice indicating if your chosen proctor has been approved or denied.
- Arrive at your proctor’s testing site at the scheduled time with a photo ID. At testing time, you will log into your Mizzou Academy account and select the exam for your proctor to access and administer.
You can also schedule with an online proctor using Examity. Review the information in the "Getting Started Resources (Canvas and Other Resources)" section under the "Examity" panel. in the course syllabus.
Co-Teach Courses
If you are taking a co-teach course, work with your local teacher to identify your date of the exam and how you will be proctored. You do not need to request an exam date with the above form.
HOW TO PREPARE FOR EXAMS
- Complete and review all assignments.
- Review the learning objectives; make sure you can accomplish them.
- Be prepared to explain any key terms and concepts.
- Review all the lessons, exercises, and study questions.
- Review any feedback and/or comments on your assignments and previous exams; look up answers to any questions you missed.
Additional Course Policies and links
- Course add/drop/transfer
- Examity Online Proctoring**
- Course extensions**
- Course length**
- Flexible and Global format course policy**
- Fees
**Not applicable to World Language courses.
Canvas and Technical Support
Canvas is the where course content, grades, and communication will reside for this course.
- courses.mizzouk12.missouri.edu
- This course is mobile-friendly. Download the mobile apps on your iOS, Android device.
- Getting Started with Canvas
- View the Getting Started Canvas Guides.
- For Canvas, Passwords, or any other computer-related technical support create a ticket in Canvas or contact Mizzou Academy Support.
- How to Get Help in Canvas
- Mizzou Academy Support Phone: +1 855 256-4975
- Tiger Portal login - http://mizzouk12.missouri.edu (Links to an external site.)
- Mizzou Academy Email - mizzouk12online@missouri.edu