Bridge Program 
 Computer and Math Syllabus 2002-2003

 

Goals | Required Assignments | Class Formats | Tentative Schedule 



Goals

Our goals in this course are:
  • to become independent, self-directed learners of math and computers
  • to strengthen basic computer skills
  • to review K-12 math topics up to but not including trigonometry
  • to apply our math and computer skills in planning how to pay for college: 
    • applying for financial aid, 
    • creating or adjusting personal budgets, and 
    • applying for educational tax credits
  • to accumulate a set of reference tools for college math and computer courses


Required Assignments

To graduate from this course, you must do the following no later than May 13 (except where noted):
  • complete a computer self-inventory on Orientation Night and again on May 20
  • attend regularly and keep a log of how you spend your time in class
  • get/keep an e-mail address and check it at least once a week 
  • complete a database table with 50 new vocabulary words, queried for subsets
  • participate in one group data project, including writing a report with graphs
  • complete a FAFSA (showing Pat your PIN number or other verification that it has been received) OR provide a short written explanation of why you are not applying for financial aid 
  • complete the required homework for at least six of the twelve units in the Rainbow Guide
  • take a second CPT AccuPlacer test at the end of May and personally hand your scores to Pat, Carole, or Linda


Class Formats

Our Tuesday classes will not all be of the same format. We will have:
  • 2-3 Special Events, such as a workshop on speaking and college etiquette and a guest speaker on financial aid.
  • 4 Beginning Computer Labs, meant only for students who have had little prior contact with computers. Anyone who passes the computer assessment will be exempt from taking these labs and can either skip class without it counting against them or can do independent study in math while the labs are being held.
  • 9-12 Group Math Nights, one to introduce each unit of the Rainbow Guide
  • 2-5 Open Labs, for self-directed study
  • 1 College Finance Night, during which we will complete FAFSAs, look at budgets, and learn how to apply for educational tax credits
  • 3-4 Half-and-Half Computer Labs, required for all. Half of the class will be in the lab at a time for work on Excel spreadsheets, PowerPoint presentations, and Access database queries; the other half of the class will do self-directed study.
  • 1 Group Review
  • 1 Test Night


Tentative Schedule

This is an idealized version of what topics will be covered in what order. Much hinges upon the readiness of the computer lab, the availability of guest speakers, and the like, so be prepared for this to change according to our needs as the course progresses. 

October 15 Orientation to Bridge
  • Computer Lab Rules
  • Acceptable Use Policy
  • Computer Skills Self-Inventory
October 22 Overview of Computer and Math Course
  • Review of Syllabus
  • Review of Personal Data/Discussion of Data Privacy
  • Introduction to the Rainbow Guide
  • Seat Assignments for Computer Lab
  • (Perhaps) Time to try computer assessment for those who wish
October 29 Group Math Night 1: Numbers and Numeration
  • (Perhaps) Time to try computer assessment for those who wish
November 5 Group Math Night 2: Arithmetic Operations
November 12 Open Lab: for work on numbers and numeration and arithmetic operations
  • Last time to try computer assessment for those who wish
November 19 Special Event: Speaking and College Etiquette
November 26  Beginning Computer Lab1: Basic Operations
December 3 Beginning Computer Lab 2: Word
December 10 Beginning Computer Lab 3: Word continued
December 17 Beginning Computer Lab 4: e-mail and Internet basic
December 24 VACATION
December 31 VACATION
January 7 Group Math Night 3: Fractions
January 14 Group Math Night 4: Decimals
January 21 Group Math Night 5: Percents
January 28 Half-and-Half Computer Lab 1: spreadsheet and graphing basics
February 4 Open Lab (math and computers)
February 11  Group Math Night 6: Ratios and Proportions
February 18 VACATION
February 25 Group Math Night 7: Measurement
March 4 Group Math Night 8: Data and Probability
March 11 Half-and-Half Computer Lab 2: group data project
March 18 Open Lab (math or group data project)
March 25 Special Event: guest speaker on financial aid
April 1 College Finance Night: FAFSAs, budgets, tax credits
April 8 Group Math Night 9: Set Theory
April 15 Half-and-Half Computer Lab 3: Databases and Queries
April 22 VACATION
April 29 either Open Lab or Group Math Night 10
May 6 Half-and-Half Computer Lab 4: PowerPoint presentations
May 13 Open Lab
FINAL DAY TO TURN IN REQUIRED PROJECTS (except for turning in second CPT scores)
May 20 Group Review
May 27 Test Night


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