.

Please carefully consider what you're getting into before you sign up for this class!  Many students think that online math will be easier than on-campus math.  For most students, the opposite is true.  In our experience, fewer than half of the students who start the class actually complete it.  This is NOT a self-paced course.  For the Spring Semester, you should plan to spend at least 10 hours per week learning the course material, completing online homework assignments, and studying for on-campus exams.

You will need to register for this course in two places: Through MPC to get credit for the course and also at http://pearsonmylabandmastering.com/

 to access the course materials. 

You will also be required to complete five  ON-CAMPUS exams for this course.  The scheduled exam dates and times for Spring 2011 are shown below. 

•    Thursday, February 23rd,       6pm - 8pm                              Chapters 1 – 3

•  Thursday, March 15,                 6pm - 8pm                              Chapters 4 & 5

•  Thursday, April 19th,                6pm - 8pm                               Chapters 6 & 7

•  Thursday, May 17th ,                 6pm - 8pm                               Chapters 8 & 9

•  Tuesday, May 29th ,                    6pm - 8pm                               Chapter 10 and cumulative Final 

If         If  you have a work or class conflict with these dates and times, it is possible to take the exam the Wednesday before with Tracie Catania's Math 261 class, also from 6 - 8 pm.  Unless you are enrolled with Supportive Services, no other alternate arrangements can be made.  If you can not be on campus on the above dates or times, or the Wednesdays before with Ms. Catania's class, please do NOT sign up for this course!

If you have decided to take this course, please carefully consider your options for obtaining the course materials.  You can:

•  Buy a new textbook bundled with "MyMathLab"  from the MPC bookstore: Blitzer, Intermediate Algebra, 5th edition, ( be sure you get the NEW edition with the purple cover - it's spiral bound)

•  Buy the standalone version of "MyMathLab" 

•  Buy an access code online at the coursecompass website using a credit card  

•  Some students have had success purchasing a MyMathLab access code on  Amazon.  Please be very careful if you do this!  Make sure that there is a guarantee that the access code is unused, and  is for MyMathLab and not a different course

Only the FIRST option includes a printed textbook.  The other two choices give you access to the entire textbook online, but no printed materials.  You may be able to find a cheap used copy of the book on EBay or Amazon, but please remember that you MUST have a MyMathLab access code to take this course.  Please be sure you plan on taking the course before you open the packet and use the access code.   It is NOT returnable!  There are no returns, refunds, or exchanges.  Once your access code is opened and you are registered at Coursecompass, the code is good for one year.  If you need to drop this course and retake it, you can use the same code as long as you retake the course during the next 12 months.  The add code will only work for this course; you will need to purchase a new code if you want to take Statistics or any other class online.

Please e-mail me if you have any questions.

ebishop@mpc.edu