Rx for College Algebra

Adults contemplating returning to college generally perceive two looming barriers to overcome: financing their education and passing college algebra--and not necessarily in that order.

If you should do poorly in a course, check with the Registrar of your college. There is usually an option to repeat a course once, called "duplication" that allows you to replace the grade you received from the first time you take a course with the grade you receive the second time. This procedure is generally limited to the second time you take a course, so be prepared.

Taking an online course, active participation in a study group and hiring a good tutor can help you improve your grade, pass a course, and raise your grade point average. Self-efficacy is a strong indicator of how well you do in a course. Take action to promote your self-confidence and sense of preparation.

Online Math Courses, designed by Nancy Parham, a college mathematics and computer science instructor, are excellent courses for helping adult students understand mathematics. The Algebra II Online Math Course parallels the topics found in most college algebra classrooms, and breaks them down into modules that may be completed at your own pace. These modules introduce mathematical information in understandable terms and provide good examples of problems along with step-by-step instructions for solving them. Effective use of animated graphics points out important relationships and concepts. Every new type of problem has interactive problems for the student to solve online with immediate feedback to reinforce learning. This course is not free, but it is less than the amount you would have to pay for a college algebra textbook. All of the information you need for this course is online. There is a demo of one of the modules available at the web site.

by Julie Spears

Elizabeth

I really liked you explanations and formulas for decimals and percents. However, it occurred to me that either the chart formula or the big number-little number formula can work on any problem. It just reverses the order of the equation. Instead of getting something like 26(x/100) = 96, the other one reads 96 = (26 x/100). they both work, and I am really grateful for those tips. I've been confused by the different types of problems for years. Your chart/formula ideas have not only given me a way to solve the problems but, incidentally provided me with clear insight into what is going on with those troublemakers. You don't need to answer this. I just wanted to say thanks.

Robert

I would like for you to know that this course is accomplishing what so many books on algebra that I have purchased have failed to do--and that is communicate algebra to me in a language that I understand. I have been taking a college course and my instructor is very good. However, I found that the progress from listening to classroom lectures was undone by the confusion I felt after reading my textbook. I think that one of the biggest barriers for adults that are contemplating completing or starting college is the lack of a mathematical foundation that is need to fulfill the core curriculum of most colleges. I am very pleased that you have made your courses accessible online to help bridge that gap and communicate so clearly the range of topics we need to understand in order to learn algebra.

You may quote me on that, too, Nancy.
Thank you

I haven't forgot about the course, I've just had a tremendous work load for the last four weeks, can't really go into much detail as to the nature of the work but I've been doing the course when ever I can. I'm on the last lesson in the course and should take the test sometime this week. Thanks for being interested though. I'm learning more than I did in High School. Take Care.

Sincerely,
T.K.

Thank you for the encouraging words. I think the class is helping me a lot. Math is not one of my best subjects and I like the way you teach it step-by-step with examples. I also like the self-paced aspect. I want to take beginning algebra again (took it twenty years ago) and also intermmediate algebra so I can take some programming classes. I'm very interested in computers and want to know how programming is done. The pre-algebra brush up will help me greatly (especially the fractions).

Thanks again.
Sincerely, Francine

In response to your first E-mail, I work as a paramedic fulltime and teach part of the paramedic program at a community college. I was looking to brush up on my math for the nursing degree I was working on. Since that time, I have decided to pursue a business degree in a web based BS degree progam that combines Political Science, Economics, and philosophy into one degree. So, I know I will be needing more math in the future. I use to hate math, but with your review and some self-directed texts I am starting to think I may have found a new hobby. Trying to balance time with a sociology class. Your program is great!

See Ya!
Scott

Thank you for calling me today. I have completed the final math test. I am awaiting my certificate, and thank you for letting me into your class, I really appreciated it. I learned alot of things.

Thank You,
Gregory

Last night I took the final in Basic Math Review. I was not as bad off in math as I thought. You are a great teacher. I understood everything except one or two problems here and there. I figure I am about three weeks ahead of my daughter's 8th grade math class. I would like to go ahead and sign up for Algebra 1.

Stacey

IAM PLEASED TO SAY MY CLASSES ARE OVER AND YOUR PROGRAM HAS HELPED ME TO GET MY DEGREE IN ELECTRONICS. I LOOK FORWARD TO USING YOUR SERVICES IN THE FUTURE. THANK YOU

A PLEASED STUDENT IN ILL[INOIS].

JOSEPH

A student from Kuwait, Shaymaa