Getting Started

Welcome to Precalculus I.  This course is offered via the Internet. 

You will receive a complete set of class notes via this homepage, as well as supplementary audio-video lectures in CD-Rom format.

• You must have access to a computer with a CD-Rom drive and sufficient resources to play MPEG files.
• You must either have an MPEG player installed on your computer or be prepared to install the shareware player supplied with the first CD.
• You must have an E-mail address and the ability to use E-mail.

The course content is contained in the CD's, the class notes and the assigned on-line materials.

• Many students find the CD format very useful. 
• Typically 6 hours of lecture are compressed into about 90 minutes on the CD. 
• Students who understand everything quickly don't have to spend 6 hours listening to what they can get in 90 minutes. 
• Most students work through the CD's more slowly, sometimes viewing the CD's before and again after reading the materials, often stopping and replaying sections of the lecture.
• The lectures and class notes cover the core material in the course.  The reading assignments and problems go into the details.

Please read the syllabus for complete information about the course.  Some important points:

• This is a challenging course for most students.  Most students succumb to procrastination and never finish the course.  Don't let this happen to you.
• Be sure you have the prerequisites for this course:  high-school Algebra I, Algebra II and Geometry or the equivalent.
• If you haven't done well in the prerequisite courses, be prepared to spend more time on this course.
• You must communicate with the instructor regularly via E-mail.
• You must submit assigned work in E-mail format, as text files.
• You are encouraged to attach files to your E-mail in Excel (if you use a spreadsheet) or Rich Text format.  If you have formatting that can't be transmitted by Rich Text, you may use Word format, but try Rich Text first (it works for just about anything).
• Microsoft Works word processor files are not acceptable.   If you use the Works processor, put everything in Rich Text format or text format.
• You should plan on spending approximately 8 hours per week on this course, corresponding to the 3 hours of class time and 5 hours of homework shown by experience to be sufficient for a student of average college-level ability and average performance in prerequisite courses to achieve the core objectives of the course.
• Very few students are successful unless they are able to adhere to a regular work schedule for this course.  You are advised to set regular times to view the CD's, review the notes and do the homework.
• The schedule for completion of this class is delayed approximately 2 weeks from the schedule of the regular class as posted on the homepage.  This will permit you to become accustomed to the communications protocols and other unfamiliar aspects of the course, and will allow the instructor time to revise and copy the necessary CD's.

Follow the steps outlined below to get started with the course.

1.  Establish contact with the instructor.

• E-mail the instructor at the following two addresses, and include your mailing address:

• dasmith@naxs.com

  dsmith@vh.cc.va.us

• Every time you E-mail the instructor, use both of these addresses.

Suggestion: Create a group for the instructor, and put both addresses in the group. That saves you having to send two E-mails every time you contact the instructor.

• You should get an E-mail back from the instructor within 24 hours. If not, E-mail again and call the instructor and the Science and Engineering Technology Division Office at 628-6094 extension 233.
• You should receive a CD and a set of mailing labels in the mail within 3 working days.

• Mail the instructor:  Dave Smith, Virginia Highlands Community College, Abingdon, Va. 24212-0828, indicating your intent to participate in this course.

2.  Use your Internet browser to access the College’s homepage (www.vh.vccs.edu).

• Click on Academic Programs, then on Distance Learning, then on Fall 1998.
• This will take you to the Spring 1999 homepage.
• From there, click on Precalculus I.
• It is suggested that you bookmark this page.

3.  Click on the syllabus and read it.

4.  Do the first assignment and E-mail the results to the instructor.

• The main goal of the assignment is to learn to communicate mathematical thinking via E-mail and learn to respond to instructor comments.  It will probably take you a few tries, and help from the instructor, before you are completely successful.
• Follow the instructions carefully and completely.
• You will receive a return E-mail with the instructor's critique, usually with instructions on how to revise your work and a request that you resubmit it after revision.
• It typically takes 2 or 3 revisions before most students completely understand and follow all the instructions and begin communicating effectively.

5.  Complete the assignments according to the schedule on the homepage.

• Your assignments and tests will be on a 2-week delay from those indicated on the homepage.