This competency-based Algebra course covers one full year of high school Algebra 1 credit. In this course, students will learn about algebraic concepts such as integers, linear equations, inequalities and factoring. As students work through each interactive lesson, they will have the opportunity to complete several self-check activities and journal entries. Ultimately, this course will assist students in developing fundamental algebraic skills that will allow them to use problem-solving strategies in real-world situations as well as using graphing technology to interpret, represent, and communicate mathematical concepts.
This course uses similar lesson content and assessments found in our standard Algebra 1 course, but it employs three elements of a competency-based learning model.
(1) It aligns assessments to relevant Michigan content standards for high school mathematics as well as to objective competency statements adopted by Michigan Virtual, permitting users to better realize the relationship between a given assessment and Michigan’s math standards.
(2) It promotes learning for mastery, permitting multiple avenues and additional attempts at assessing competency, allowing students to show growth over time. For example, students will be assessed on most Algebra 1 competencies within the first half of the course and provided additional instruction and assessment opportunities on each competency in later units. On average, each competency will be assessed in six of the nine units of instruction.
(3) It utilizes the Learning Outcomes features in our learning management system to report student performance on mathematical skill competencies as well as select Portrait of a Learner competencies, while also providing an overall score (a final percentage of total points earned in the course) for transcript purposes. This advanced reporting allows users to easily identify when students have mastered Michigan’s math standards.
Students are encouraged to work with and at times meet with their instructor to set goals, remediate skill gaps, and repeat assessments to improve their performance before moving on in the course.
Prerequisites: Pre-Algebra or 8th Grade Math; 8th grade or higher reading level
Course Objectives: Upon completion of this course, students will be able to...
- Use mathematical reasoning to manipulate symbolic expressions in terms of a given context
- Solve problems using number systems and complex numbers
- Use computational strategies and algorithms
- Develop mathematical arguments to justify and to support formal proofs
- Analyze algebraic functions, in pure and applied situations, in order to support conjectures and conclusions
- Solve problems involving geometry in pure/theoretical and authentic, applied contexts
- Apply statistical methods and reasoning, as well as the rules of probability, to analyze categorical and quantitative data in both authentic and applied scenarios
- Recognize and apply logical reasoning
- Connect and apply learning to the real world
Course Outline:
Unit 1: Introduction to Algebra
Unit 2: Equations and Inequalities
Unit 3: Linear Functions
Unit 4: Systems of Equations and Inequalities
Unit 5: Bivariate Data
Unit 6: Exponents & Polynomials
Unit 7: Factoring Polynomials
Unit 8: Quadratic Functions & Equations
Unit 9: Exponential Functions
Resources Included: Online lesson instruction and activities, opportunities to engage with a certified, online instructor and classmates, when appropriate, and online assessments to measure student performance of course objectives and readiness for subsequent academic pursuits.
Additional Costs: Students will need a Scientific Calculator capable of finding Sin, Cos, Tan, ln|x|, ex, exponents and roots. Free calculators that meet this requirement can be found online. Students may instead use a graphing calculator if they possess one, but a graphing calculator is not required for this course.
Scoring System: Michigan Virtual does not assign letter grades, grant credit for courses, nor issue diplomas. A final score out of total points earned will be submitted to your school mentor for conversion to their own letter grading system.
Time Commitment: Semester sessions are 18-weeks long: Students must be able to spend 1 or more hours per day in the course to be successful. Summer sessions are 10 weeks long: Students must be able to spend a minimum of 2 or more hours per day, or about 90 hours during the summer, for the student to be successful in any course. Trimester sessions are 12-weeks long: Students must be able to spend 1.5 or more hours per day in the course to be successful.
Technology Requirements: Students will require a computer device with headphones, a microphone, webcam, up-to-date Chrome Web Browser, and access to YouTube.
Please review the Michigan Virtual Technology Requirements: https://michiganvirtual.org/about/support/knowledge-base/technical-requirements/
Instructor Support System: For technical issues within your course, contact the Customer Care Center by email at [email protected] or by phone at (888) 889-2840.
Instructor Contact Expectations: Students can use email or the private message system within the Student Learning Portal to access highly qualified teachers when they need instructor assistance. Students will also receive feedback on their work inside the learning management system. The Instructor Info area of their course may describe additional communication options.
Academic Support Available: In addition to access to a highly qualified, Michigan certified teacher, students have access to academic videos and outside resources verified by Michigan Virtual. For technical issues within the course, students can contact the Michigan Virtual Customer Care by email at [email protected] or by phone at (888) 889-2840.
Required Assessment: Online assessments consist of formative and summative assessments represented by computer-graded multiple choice, instructor-graded writing assignments including hands-on projects, model building and other forms of authentic assessments.
Technical Skills Needed: Basic technology skills necessary to locate and share information and files as well as interact with others in a Learning Management System (LMS), include the ability to:
- Download, edit, save, convert, and upload files
- Download and install software
- Use a messaging service similar to email
- Communicate with others in online discussion or message boards, following basic rules of netiquette
- Open attachments shared in messages
- Create, save, and submit files in commonly used word processing program formats and as a PDF
- Edit file share settings in cloud-based applications, such as Google Docs, Sheets, or Slides
- Save a file as a .pdf
- Copy and paste and format text using your mouse, keyboard, or an html editor’s toolbar menu
- Insert images or links into a file or html editor
- Search for information within a document using Ctrl+F or Command+F keyboard shortcuts
- Work in multiple browser windows and tabs simultaneously
- Activate a microphone or webcam on your device, and record and upload or link audio and/or video files
- Use presentation and graphics programs
- Follow an online pacing guide or calendar of due dates
- Use spell-check, citation editors, and tools commonly provided in word processing tool menus
- Create and maintain usernames and passwords
Additional Information: None