Good or Bad Idea?

[rphfan2009]

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I am thinking of taking Pre-Calculus this summer as an online class. Has anyone here ever taken their math class online? I have never taken any course online. (I plan to take Calculus I in the fall--not online).

If you are wondering why I am contemplating this, it is because I will be taking 2 science class (with labs) at a college over the summer. These courses won't be online and I just don't know how I can fit another class in. I will also be working over the summer 🙁

Tell me what you all think--Thanks in advance!

 

[meowmeow]

It depends - are you good at math? Are you able to motivate yourself to study? For me, I like to be forced to go to class so I can learn materials. Its a good way to find study buddies too. I took 2 online classes that were supposed to be easy but ended up getting B's in them. Since they are online, the tests will be considered as "open book" so they kind of ask you ANYTHING.. making the test harder than if you were to actually take one in a real classroom.

Just dont overwhelm yourself... science classes will take up most of your time in the summer already. Dont try to rush everything with the chance of getting bad grades when you can take it easy with the chance of getting good grades. I always stuck with only one class in the summer.

 

[rphfan2009]

It depends - are you good at math? Are you able to motivate yourself to study? For me, I like to be forced to go to class so I can learn materials. Its a good way to find study buddies too. I took 2 online classes that were supposed to be easy but ended up getting B's in them. Since they are online, the tests will be considered as "open book" so they kind of ask you ANYTHING.. making the test harder than if you were to actually take one in a real classroom.

Just dont overwhelm yourself... science classes will take up most of your time in the summer already. Dont try to rush everything with the chance of getting bad grades when you can take it easy with the chance of getting good grades. I always stuck with only one class in the summer.

I'm okay at Math...I was a "B" student in high school. My 2 summer classes are going to eat up a large portion of my time 🙁 Maybe I will just stick to those 2 courses and then head into pre-calculus (in a real classroom) come fall.

 

[eightonesix]

I'd actually recommend pre-calculus INSIDE a classroom. To me, math is a visual kind of thing where, and I'm not sure how your online class would be done or anything, but that teacher-to-student presence helps especially in math. If you feel you can learn without the teacher's presence or with a book or something, then by all means, do it! 👍

 

[danado]

Honestly, it kind of depends on which math book your school uses. Mine uses one that comes with software called MathXL, which is a really good self-teaching tool. You can either have the program show you a problem worked out step by step, do an example where you fill in the intermediate answers step by step, or watch a video with someone working it out on a whiteboard and explaining it out loud at the same time.
I have done a couple of math classes online and find that I learn it about as well as I would in a classroom. It requires a lot of self-discipline, but if your college provides the right tools to do it, you should be fine. Like other people have said, it does depend on you, as well.
You might want to talk to people at your school who have taken online math courses and see what they thought of the software and books used for the course.

 

[Pharm08]

I took Calculus as an online class from San Francisco State. I am very glad that I did. The lectures were all videotaped and we could stream them anytime. There was help available and a discussion forum and participation was part of the grade. There were two assignments due every week and since I had not done any math for several years, it really made you take the time and do the problems. The trick is to take every assignment seriously and not get behind.

If you are confident in your ability to stay motivated, I'd say go for it. It is definitely more convenient.

 

[bmb0787]

I took pre-calc online last summer and then calculus in the fall (at school). For me, it was terrible. I was taking another class and working 30+ hours/wk. I think it depends on how it is set up. For mine, all they did was give me due dates for the homework. I had to read the book to figure it out on my own. I hadn't taken math since high school, so it wsa rough. I depended on friends to tutor me. That's the only way I got through it. However, I've heard of other schools doing taped online lectures. That would be much better.

 

[UAMShopeful]

I've taken several classes online, including Cal I. It was pretty tough, but I also work 40+ hrs/week and have a family to take care of. I also was taking Hist 2 online at the same time. It really just depends on how good you are at math and how well you self-regulate. I'd say go for it, online classes have been a big hepl for me.

 

[triumphbr]

I took several classes online. I took 1 math class online. Calc I... NEVER again!

The video stuff was a different instructor and actually had very little to do with what was actually on the test I took.

Bombed the first test badly... went to the current instructor like WTF was that? None of the things on the video were on the tests. He said "Oh yeah, the videos don't help much.. let me show you what you need to know...."

DOI!

I ended up having to go to his office once a week and never watched anymore of the vids. I pulled an A out of the class... He actually told me I had a 88 average but he knew I could do the stuff and the only reason my average was low was because of the crappy first test.

Long story short... don't take math classes by video/online. Go to class and learn it. ... for me anyway.

 

[Jdario86]

i personally tried to learn how to do calculus on my own and it was not feasible.

I say take pre-calc in a classroom.

 

[tootoo30]

I took precalculus algebra online and it wasn't bad at all. We used the software MyMathLab which is awesome. It literally works the problems out for you and you also get the book for free with the software. If your comprehension is good and you don't need alot of instructions, I say go for it.

HTH