In New College Algebra Approach, Computers Take Over
Alexzandria Siprian, a senior at the University of Texas at Arlington who is double majoring in Spanish and theater, is not a math person. Early in her college career, she squeaked through her required algebra course with a D.
Siprian said that her professor was very difficult to understand, but she also blames herself “because I never tried to get help,” she said. “They have tutoring services, but I never took advantage of it.”
Her experience is not unique. Of the 1,041 UT-Arlington students who took college algebra in the spring 2011 semester, only about 47 percent earned a ...
Comments (6)
Papa Ray
I don't pretend to know if Computer Based Learning is better or not. But let me say this:
Until College/Family (or any higher learning) can convince kids that they should be learning, studying and preparing and mastering learning skills to support themselves AND learning Personal Responsibility...nothing is going to work.
The same applies for K-12, perhaps more so. If you don't have a good grasp on basic math, reading, comprehension, writing and a good dose of American History you might as well go to a tech school and learn something that you can earn a living at and support your family. But all of that depends still on acknowledging and practicing Personal Responsibility.
Papa Ray
P.S. Many kids (adults too) waste their time and talents on University when they are better suited and better served by other careers that pay in some cases more than what they would learn in university. I had a thirty year career in diagnosing, repairing large computer systems and made good money and enjoyed going to work every day. Actually I worked from can to can't, 24/7 and the overtime was almost as much as my hourly wages. But I didn't have to - but did because I enjoyed helping people.
Mohawk-John Woods via Texas Tribune on Facebook
The Virginia Tech Math Emporium -- on which UT-Arlington's is based -- single-handedly turned me from someone who loved math to someone who did not.
The solution is probably to make sure that people who want to attend interactive classes are able to do so. At Virginia Tech, this was limited to honors students, and then only occasional semesters.
John Woods
The Virginia Tech Math Emporium -- on which UT-Arlington's is based -- single-handedly turned me from someone who loved math to someone who did not.
The solution is probably to make sure that people who want to attend interactive classes are able to do so. At Virginia Tech, this was limited to honors students, and then only occasional semesters.
Hank Walker via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Why are university students taking algebra? I learned it in the 7th grade, as did my children.
V Marshall
Algebra is an 9th grade class in Texas, Algebra II is a 11th grade class for level students. Why are college kids taking it? Even the math challenged kids here take pre-Calc before they leave high school and about 15%-20% of students in my kids' classes had AP credit for Intro Calculus. Even those without AP credit sometimes get it through college placement testing once they get to their university. If you are still having trouble understanding income disparity, this might be part of your answer. How are kids who are several years behind going to compete for the same scarce jobs when they graduate college with kids who make sure they are accelerating their educations?
Stuart Greenfield
I would hope that by improving the success rate in college algebra, the state's college 6-year graduation would improve, http://www.higheredinfo.org/stateprofile/index.php?state=48&years[]=2010&years[]=2009&years[]=2008&years[]=2007&measures[]=27&measures[]=224&columns[]=State+Ranking&columns[]=State+Value&columns[]=U.S.+Value&columns[]=Lowest+Value+Among+States&columns[]=Highest+Value+Among+States&columns[]=Data+Year . Maybe these guys should consider better integrating Khan Academy tutorials into their instruction methodology. Can't remember if I took algebra in 9th or 10th grade, but that was 50 years ago.