Chemeketa Community
College
MLC - Building 3
Room 277
MTuWTh 8:30 am - 9 pm and Fri 8:30 am - 3:30 pm
(Summer Hrs: MTuW 8:30 am - 9 pm and Th 8:30 am - 3:30 pm)
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Chemeketa Community
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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT THE MATH LEARNING CENTER |
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Click on a question to view answer.
1. What is the nature of taking classes in the Math Learning Center (MLC)? All courses in the Math Learning Center (MLC) are Individualized-Study Math Courses and cover the same material as the lecture sections. Students are expected to work independently, but may be required to do some group work. There is no lecture presentation of material. Students may come to the MLC at any time the center is open to ask questions about reading and homework assignments, turn in homework, and take tests. An instructor or lab assistant is available to answer questions during open lab hours. The student is responsible for completing reading and written assignments, and taking the tests. The recommended timeline allows flexibility on a daily basis, however, to earn a passing grade in the class, minimum progress goals must be met. Early completion is allowed. The individualized format requires self-discipline because, even though daily attendance is recommended, it is not required. Students may do as much work outside the MLC as they wish. A one-time orientation session is required at the time indicated in the schedule of classes.
2. What are the positive things about taking MLC Individualized Study Classes in the MLC?
Flexibility is one of the primary benefits. You can
work around your schedule and use the MLC facility whenever we are open
and whenever it works out for you. If you know a particular week is
going to be hectic for you with your other obligations, you can work
ahead in your math class. You set your schedule within the two constraints:
1) You may take no more than one module test per week and 2) All
work must be completed by the end of term deadline. Tests are not timed,
which is a significant benefit to some students.
3. What are the drawbacks of taking MLC Individualized Study classes?
The primary drawback to taking classes in the MLC is
it requires self-discipline to not procrastinate. No one is
standing over you telling when to do things. And since the burden is on
you to read the book, do homework and seek help when you get stuck, you
need to be able to learn math concepts from a math textbook without
needing all the concepts explained orally to you as in a lecture class.
4. Are there due dates?
Yes, there are “suggested” due dates to help you stay
on schedule. There is also an end of term due date that is not flexible.
5. Do I have to come to class during the times I signed up?
There is an orientation on the first day of class. At
the orientation you receive important information about the course you
are taking and procedures in the MLC. After that, there are no
attendance requirements. You are free to use the MLC any time it is open
as often and for as long as you wish. Some successful students work in
the MLC several hours per day, three or four days per week.
6. What courses are offered in the MLC? The table below lists the courses offered in the MLC and groups them by the sequence to which they belong.
7. What course(s) will prepare me for a 100 level math class?
The algebra sequence Mth060, Mth070, Mth095 is
designed to prepare you for College Algebra (Mth111) or for Contemporary
Math (Mth105).
8. If I start with Mth020, should I take Mth052 and Mth053 before taking Mth060?
Generally, no. If you need to take Mth060 and you
start with Mth020, you would take Mth060 immediately after finishing
Mth020. Mth052 and Mth053 are not designed to prepare you for Mth060.
Mth052 and Mth053 are courses designed for particular programs
(see question below).
9. Who should take Mth052 and Mth053?
Generally, you would take Mth052 and Mth053 only if
your program requires it. Automotive Technology Building Inspection Technology Computer Aided Design/Computer Aided Manufacturing (Mth081 or Mth111 optional) Vineyard Operations (Vineyard Management requires Mth060) Welding Programs that require MTH053: Building Inspection Technology Computer Aided Design/Computer Aided Manufacturing (Mth082 or Mth112 optional) Welding
10. Who should take Mth075, Mth076, Mth078 and Mth079? The Mth075 and Mth076 (one credit each) geometry courses are for anyone wanting or needing a background in geometry who did not get to take geometry in high school. Note: Geometry is a prerequisite for Trigonometry. The Mth075 and Mth076 geometry classes are also for students who have had high school geometry but need to, or just want to, refresh their geometry skills. The Mth078 and Mth079 courses (one credit each) cover applied trigonometry and meet the need of a small number of students who need Mth053 (Algebra and Trigonometry) but already have a strong algebra background. In such cases it is sometimes possible to take Mth078 and Mth079 in lieu of taking Mth053 (must be arranged with your program director).
Taking one or more of these one credit courses can
also help students fill out their required number of credit hours for a
particular term.
11. May MLC students use the Tutoring Center in building 2?
Yes.
12. May math lecture students receive help in the MLC?
No. Lecture students are to use the tutoring center.
MLC students may use both.
13. When do I need to see my instructor?
The instructor assigned to the CRN for which you are
registered is your instructor of record. All the instructors and
teaching assistants working in the MLC are here to help all students
equally. You do not need to wait for "your" instructor. The only time
you "need" to see your instructor is if you want to ask for an exception
to policy. For example if you were going to be out of town for a couple
of weeks and you wanted to take more than one test during the week
before you left, you would need to ask your instructor of record.
14. What math should I take after taking Mth095? If you know you need to, or just want to, take more math after Mth095, the question arises as to what to take. After Mth095 you have a choice of either Mth111, College Algebra, or Mth105, Contemporary Math. Both require Mth095 as a prerequisite. In addition, if you are preparing to be an elementary school teacher, you can go directly into the Mth211 sequence from Mth095. It is important to realize Mth105 and Mth111 are not in a sequence. That is, Mth105 is not required in order to take Mth111 and actually does not prepare you for Mth111. Both meet the 100 level math requirement for a transfer block. So which should you take? Mth111, College Algebra, is a 5 credit course designed to give you a solid foundation in functions and modeling, and also to prepare you to move on to higher level math classes. From Mth111 you can go on to Mth243, Statistics, or Mth241, Elementary Calculus, or Mth112, Trigonometry (and then the engineering calculus sequence starting with Mth251). Mth111 is a prerequisite for all the higher level math classes (except the Mth211 sequence for the elementary school teacher program). Mth105 is a 4 credit course designed for students who do not need college algebra or any other higher math requirement for their two year or four year degree. It meets the 100 level math requirement for the transfer block, but does not prepare you to take any other higher level math. It is considered a "terminal" course because it is not a prerequisite for any other course. If you know you will never need to take any higher level math courses, then Mth105 may be right for you.
Since the Oregon
public universities have agreed to accept the two-year transfer
block from Chemeketa, and Mth105 is all that is required for the
two-year transfer block, you may get by with taking Mth105 at
Chemeketa even though Mth111 would have been required had you taken
your first two years at one of the Oregon public four-year universities.
However, make sure you realize even though the four-year
university accepts Mth105 as your lower division math requirement,
they may still require you to take Mth111 if the program you go into
requires it. Students are sometimes surprised when this happens to
them. They are sometimes under the false impression that if the
four-year school accepts Mth105 as the lower division math
requirement they will never have to take Mth111. It depends on
the major you select at your four year university.
So, bottom line is
taking Mth111 opens up a lot more possibilities. If you know or
suspect that you will someday need more math (statistics or calculus
or both), then you should take Mth111. If in fact you will never
need to take Mth111 and don't want to, then Mth105 would work for
you. It is one credit less and is some students consider it to be less
rigorous than Mth111.
15. Can I ask for an incomplete?
Incompletes are automatically given when certain
criteria have been met. If you complete the first three modules but do not get to complete
the entire course, you will given an Incomplete. The process is
automatic in the sense that you do not need to ask for the incomplete
nor fill out any special forms.
16. How long do I have to complete an incomplete?
If you received an incomplete in an individualized
math class you have five weeks into the following term to complete the
remaining work. An exception is if the incomplete was received during a
Spring term. In this case you have five weeks into the following Fall
term.
17. What if extenuating circumstances prevent me from meeting some requirement, like no more than one module test during a week? The possibility of any deviation from policy needs to
be discussed with your instructor of record. Your instructor of record
is the math instructor assigned to the section for which you signed up.
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