Online Mathematics @ Southern State Community College Professor: Jon Davidson
Welcome! The is the home page for online math courses at SSCC. Below is the schedule for online math courses for 2007-08 taught by me. Math 117 Elementary Algebra is being offered online for the first time this fall by Linda Chamblin. When I get a link to information to Math 117 online I will provide it here, or you can contact Ms. Chamblin directly about it. | ||
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If you have signed up . . . If you have signed up for one of these classes for next quarter but have not yet contacted me please do so right away so that you won't lose your place in the class. Below are links to information. Math 118 Intermediate Algebra Course Information Math 124 Finite Math Course Information Math 135 Allied Health Math Information Math 141 College Algebra Information
If you’d like to visit a math online web site . . . I do not use WebCT or BlackBoard. My online web sites are open to everyone. Feel free to use them if they can be of any help. A printed version of my web site materials is currently available in the bookstore for Math 118 ($18.50), Math 124 ($14.45), Math 135 ($11.44), and Math 141 ($19.09). My videos are free on the web site (for those with a broadband connection), or may be purchased in the bookstore on DVD for $10 starting spring quarter. Below are the class web sites for the online courses currently developed. What is it like to take a math course online? Trust me on this: To do well in an online course requires more of your time and is harder work than coming to a traditional class. The purpose of online instruction is to provide a more convenient way for students to take a course who might otherwise not be able to schedule it. Think about it. Math is one of the hardest subjects for many people, and we’ve now created a more difficult learning environment than a live, interactive class. This is not to say that some people will not succeed. Students have earned A’s and B’s in each of my online classes, but thus far only about a half have persevered and finished their course. We expect to improve this completion rate over time as more resources are added to these courses, but the fact remains that you need to be dedicated and motivated to learn by reading, willing to communicate questions when you don’t understand something, and apply yourself to this task four to six days a week. My current recommendation is that only students who earned an A or a B in their previous math class, and who have taken that previous course in the past year sign up for online math. This doesn't mean that others cannot succeed, but current statistics show that success is unlikely. If you do not fit into recent A or B category then please expect to devote extra time to study. I have written my own materials, the equivalent of a book, for each math online course. Students have mostly found them easier to read and understand than textbooks. That is because the writing is less technical and more focused than textbooks. You will still need to purchase the regular course textbook as you would for a face-to-face class because that is where the practice and the assignments are. You must also be willing to check your e-mail frequently and your e-mail must be reliable, as I communicate often this way. Your willingness to help yourself by asking questions or getting help through e-mail will make a difference. I share responses to all math questions or other relevant non-personal class information with the entire class so that others may benefit from the information. Tests will be given on all our four campuses. I proctor tests at Central Campus; at other campuses tests are taken through the LRCs (library centers). You have several options for turning in weekly homework assignments: dropping them off at my mailbox at Central Campus, faxing from your home or work or from one of the other three campuses, or scanning and e-mailing. Typing homework is acceptable, but discouraged. Please feel free to visit any of the web sites for the online courses I have developed thus far. I continue to work towards improving these sites, but you can get a feel for reading my examples and commentary. Even if you decide not to take an online math course this material is free and open to anyone on the web, or the optional print versions will be available in the bookstore each quarter.
Who should take a math online course? The following are current recommendations.
Who should not take a math online course?
Questions? Feel free to e-mail me if you have questions or concerns: math@sscc.edu. My phone extension is 2648 at Central Campus.
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