Welcome...
This course is both innovative and traditional.
It is traditional in its content and emphasis on skill development. Most of your
time will be spent learning about the standard contents of intermediate algebra.
Among these are: solving linear equations and inequalities, solving systems of equations
and inequalities (both linear and nonlinear), solving quadratic equations, real
number exponents and their properties, functions of all sorts, solving exponential
and logarithmic equations and the properties of logarithms. There will be a few
(meaty) assignments where you will exercise some of these skills/concepts.
It is innovative in its method of delivery. Most of your time will be spent
interacting with ALEKS. This java-based software is an assessment and learning
engine. At the beginning of the semester you will take a preliminary diagnostic
exam on ALEKS. The software will build an individual profile of you knowledge
of intermediate algebra and will then guide your learning accordingly (Try this
link for more information: Information
about ALEKS) In addition to individualized instruction, you will know exactly
how far along through the course you are by means of an easy to read pie chart
of your progress; fill the pie chart and you are done. Another advantage is
the ease with which I can monitor each student's progress.
At any point in time I can tell exactly how many hours per week each student is
spending on ALEKS and the number of items mastered per ALEKS hour. I also have access
to each student's pie chart so I can tell how far along each student is through
the course.
One of the biggest advantages, probably the reason most of you are taking this web-based
version, is the flexibility of the schedule. By this I mean that you choose how
to apportion your week to study mathematics and this apportionment can change week
to week. However, as some of you will find, this strength can be a great weakness.
Another advantage is that you don't have to commute to campus each day. For those
students for which commuting is difficult, this course provides a good opportunity.
In order to be successful in this course, you have to be a good manager of your
time. It is very easy get behind. The flexibility allowed by this course can be
a great detriment to those who are not self-motivated learners and lack the discipline
to set aside some block of time each day to do their math. You get to chose when
that block will be but you must make sure to have that time available each day.
You also don't have the advantage of the classroom experience. Interacting with
your fellow students and the teacher face to face is a beneficial learning experience.
It is easiest to communicate your ideas, express difficulty your having and get
your questions answered when you're talking to one another in the same room whether
it be the class room or the instructors office.
Communicating mathematically (using mathematical
symbols) is somewhat difficult through email text. For the level of mathematical
abstraction we deal with in this course, it's not too bad though.
Let me end by emphasizing that a classroom based mathematics course will be a better
learning experience than this web-based version, especially if you need the structure
provided by the set schedule of a classroom environment.