Information for Math Emporium Students

Check your email for reminders from your teacher.

Emporium Mode Courses:

Emporium mode courses offer maximum flexibility in that there are only suggested due dates for assignment and assessments since we want you to take the time you need to learn the material before you test on it. While this sounds amazing, depending on the kind of student you are, this could also lead to a failed class (W or F) since it is easy to continually put off your math in favor of something else with a strict due date. You do have the ability to save work from one semester to the next semester, but it will mean paying for an additional semester of the course and another official enrollment (Maximum three attempts at any course per college district.) More information on how progress is kept from one semester to the next consecutive semester later on in the syllabus.

This mode uses a variation on a standards based grading model. Using this model, your grade is primarily based on the number of course standards that you meet by the end of the semester. Traditional grading systems encourage students to work for points rather than learn the material. Standards based grading puts the emphasis on learning and understanding the material as it should be. This model offers a more equitable, more transparent, more accurate course grade, and also promotes a growth mindset.

1. Encourage and reward ongoing learning throughout the semester. Reviewing and fixing your mistakes on standards quizzes directly increases your grade in the class.
2. Reduce the stress of exams while maintaining their academic rigor. You can initially score a 0% on each standard quiz, and with reattempts earn a 100%.
3. Make grading more equitable by primarily basing it on demonstrated understanding of course material. Your grade in the course relies on the number of standards you show proficiency in by the end of the course.

Attendance/Participation:

Attendance - The instructor may drop students who miss the first meeting of a course. Students are required to attend every class period. Students who do not log into their Canvas course and complete all of their orientation assignments in Canvas by the third day of classes will be dropped. Students who miss 4 consecutive hours or 6 cumulative hours of class time may be dropped. For a hybrid course, students who are inactive for 2 weeks during Fall or Spring semester, or 1 week during summer session may be dropped. 

Always communicate with your instructor if you are going to miss class or expect a lapse in activity.

Syllabus lists dates specific to each semester for the above guidelines. 

Note: Students’ hours are tracked not only by attendance but by making progress in the course material. This means that students may be dropped if they have not submitted work for 2 weeks during Fall/Spring, or 1 week during the summer session, in BOTH of the following categories: 

• Participation (Discussion boards and Check-ins)
         AND
• Math Assignments (Labs, Homework, and/or Standards quizzes)

Merely coming to class, but not making progress will not keep you enrolled in the course.

If, at any point during the semester, you cannot meet these requirements, then please contact your instructor.

Participation - Each week you will earn participation credit in the course by completing the following assignments:

• completing a weekly check-in assignment where you will submit some information at the end of each week that summarizes your progress for the week and what you plan to complete the following week. This is communication between you and your instructor only.
• completing the working together discussion boards assignments where you will post a question about what you’re working on and then reply to at least one classmate to help answer their question. 

More detailed directions for these assignments will be given in Canvas.

Course Materials:

• Emporium courses use Open Educational Resources that are free to students. The book and online homework system information will be provided on the first day of class in your Canvas course. Nothing to purchase at this time.
• Mandatory: Official picture ID (driver’s license, LPC student ID, passport, state ID) -- IDs are check before being allowed to take any assessment.
• Mandatory: Calculator (these are provided for in-class use - no need to purchase)
  • Math 39, 21, 47, 1 - A scientific calculator is allowed on exams.
  • STAT C1000 (formerly Math 40) - a TI-83/84 (graphing) calculator is allowed on exams.
  • When working in the classroom you will be able to borrow a scientific or graphing calculator during class and exams.
  •  
• Course Materials Packet: The packet will be distributed in the classroom on the first day of class.
• Recommended: A binder for your packet with loose-leaf paper or a notebook. (1.5in to 2in is recommended)
• Recommended: Headphones for video lectures. If you are in the classroom on campus, we do have some that you may borrow. If you bring your own, please make sure they have a standard audio jack to connect to the computer.
• The following are mandatory:
  
  • A way to scan handwritten documents to pdfs for submission.
    • Cellphone with scanning software (directions given on first day of class)
    • A printer/scanner with the ability to scan multiple pages into a single pdf file.
    • We can assist with this need in the classroom. 
  • A computer/laptop for online work.
  • A reliable internet connection.
  • A Webcam and Microphone (In-Person optional, Hybrid Mandatory).
• Testing: Testing room attached to the Emporium classroom.

If you do not have the required technology to take an online course, then please visit the Library Technology page as soon as possible. 

Learning/Practice Assignments:

Lecture Videos and Notes - Each section has a video with a set of follow-along lecture notes that must be completely filled in. Completed notes will be checked before you are allowed to take your module test. 

Homework - You must master each section with 80% or more to move on to the next section in the module. Homework does not count towards your overall course grade.

Lab Assignments (Math 47 and STAT C1000 (formerly Math 40)) - The score earned on a lab grade is a part of your course grade, so work carefully. These assignments will primarily be done through Canvas and Google sheets.

*Note: Learning assignments and homework do not count towards your course grade. They demonstrate preparation for the standard quizzes. Only the standards quizzes count towards your course grade along with the final exam and participation.

Assessments: 

Standards Quizzes

• Quiz dates are listed in your Canvas course.
• On quiz dates, you will test on the standards covered in the prerequisite lecture notes and homework you have completed.
• The quizzes will replicate the problems you find in lectures and homework assignments. This is where you will be assessed on the standards to see if you grasped the concept.
• Each quiz will consist of three questions that focus on the concept of the standard.
  1. 1. You must correctly answer at least 2 of the 3 questions correctly.
     2. Each quiz will have 20 minutes to complete.
• If you do not demonstrate proficiency with a standard, then you will be given a correction assignment. Completing the correction assignment allows you to retake the standard quiz to earn credit for the standard.
• Quiz Corrections for a reattempt should be completed and turned in as soon as possible following their standard quiz. Reattempts are given on subsequent scheduled quiz days.
• Work must be uploaded to the Standard Quiz Work Upload assignment in Canvas before leaving the proctoring room. Any questions that do not have work to support their answers will not be given credit, so your overall score could drop.
• One of the best ways to learn material and demonstrate understanding is to be prepared to present it to someone else, in your own words communicating the concepts in a clear way. Upon review of your quizzes with your instructor, you may be asked to explain the work that leads to your answer. Therefore, please approach the quizzes with the understanding that you may be asked to explain, in your own words, every detail of your solution and thought process to ensure learning. This oral explanation can also affect your grade on the quizzes since the goal is to assess your understanding of the process.

Final

• The Final is comprehensive.
• This exam can only be taken once.
• One question from each of your standards quizzes will be selected to be on your final exam. What does this mean for your course grade?
  • If your work and answer for a question are correct, then for that corresponding standard quiz:
    • If you already earned credit, then you will keep that credit.
    • If you have not yet earned credit, then you will earn credit for the standard.
  • If your work and answer for a question are unsatisfactory, then for that corresponding standards quiz:
    • If you already earned credit, then your credit score will be reduced from a 1 to 0.7.
    • If you have not yet earned credit, then your score will not change.
• If you have not taken all of your standards quizzes but you do complete all of the prerequisite lecture notes and homework leading up to it, then you may still take your final exam. However, doing this is strongly discouraged since you only have one question per standard to demonstrate your understanding instead of three.
• The score you earn after your instructor reviews your work is what you get since there is typically no time for review after final exams, so carefully show all of your work and thinking.
• Work must be uploaded to the corresponding work upload assignment in Canvas before leaving the proctoring room. Any questions that do not have work to support their answers will not be given credit, so your overall score could drop.
• Upon review of your final exam your instructor may reach out to you and ask you to explain the work that leads to your answer. Therefore, please approach this exam with the understanding that you may be asked to explain, in your own words, every detail of your solution and thought process to ensure learning. This oral explanation can also affect your grade on the exam since the goal is to assess your understanding of the process.

* If you miss the final exam for any reason, you will receive a failing grade in the course regardless of the grade you have going into the final exam. The final exam demonstrates your retention of the material you’ve learned throughout the semester.

Progress in an Emporium Mode:

During the semester,

• In the event a student does not complete the course material up to and including the final exam, then work will be saved up to a student's furthest passed standard quiz. As long as the student enrolls in the Emporium mode the next semester (Fall to Spring, Spring to Summer/Fall or Summer to Fall) then the student will pick-up where they left off. However, the student will receive a failing grade for the current semester if the student did not choose to withdraw from the course.
  • Note: Progress is only maintained from semester-to-semester if additional standard quizzes are passed each semester.
• In the event a student completes more course material than they signed up for, then work will be saved up to a student’s furthest passed standard quiz. As long as the student enrolls in the Emporium mode the next semester (Fall to Spring, Spring to Summer/Fall or Summer to Fall) then the student will pick-up where they left off.
  • Note: Progress is only maintained from semester-to-semester if additional standard quizzes are passed each semester.

Withdrawal:

While instructors can use the Campus drop policy to withdrawal students from the course, resulting in a grade of W, students are responsible for officially withdrawing from classes by the deadline date listed in the current Class Schedule if that is their intention. There is no automatic withdrawal process. Failure to follow the proper withdrawal procedures may result in a grade of “F”.  

Repeatability:

A student is allowed to attempt a course (or courses equivalent to it) a total of THREE TIMES. If the first attempt is unsuccessful (W, D, F, or No Pass) a student has two additional attempts to complete the course with a passing grade (A, B, C or Pass).