Typer Shark for Algebra?
August 25, 2015 10:59 PM Subscribe
I want to take a pre-calculus class, but I’m not prepared.
I would find it easier to prepare with some kind of program or system to refresh my math skills and learn some of what I missed in high school. I, like most mammals, am motivated by immediate rewards. Is there an online game where the math gets progressively harder and you earn rewards for completing problem sets? I was more willing to practice typing when I was defeating sharks than when I worked from a book. Does such a gamified system exist for math?
I have a bachelor’s degree in International Relations, which I managed to obtain without taking much real math. I’m now trying to position myself to make a career change into a science-based field, and the linchpin in getting to my other prerequisites is taking pre-calculus, but since I only took statistics and formal logic in college, I need to place into pre-calculus (or take some lower level prerequisites).
More than 18 months ago, I said I was going to do some independent studying to get myself up to speed to place into pre-calc. I did really well for about six weeks, then totally lost momentum. I've heard of Khan Academy - though I admit I haven't spent any time on there - and I have Saxon’s Algebra I and Algebra II books. I made it about ⅓ of the way into Algebra I, but haven’t touched it since May 2014.
I’d also love to hear from others who, like me, needed to bulk up your math skills in your late twenties/early thirties. What worked for you? Am I best off just signing up for the lower level algebra course I’m likely to place into now, knowing I’ll then be ready for pre-calc in a couple of quarters? In a related topic, I'm also willing to hear advice for maintaining motivation on a long-term project you want to complete but are having trouble staying focused on.
Some similarities to this question, though I’m starting from a much lower level, and maybe some to this one, though I'm pretty focused on algebra and these answers appear more scattershot.
I have a bachelor’s degree in International Relations, which I managed to obtain without taking much real math. I’m now trying to position myself to make a career change into a science-based field, and the linchpin in getting to my other prerequisites is taking pre-calculus, but since I only took statistics and formal logic in college, I need to place into pre-calculus (or take some lower level prerequisites).
More than 18 months ago, I said I was going to do some independent studying to get myself up to speed to place into pre-calc. I did really well for about six weeks, then totally lost momentum. I've heard of Khan Academy - though I admit I haven't spent any time on there - and I have Saxon’s Algebra I and Algebra II books. I made it about ⅓ of the way into Algebra I, but haven’t touched it since May 2014.
I’d also love to hear from others who, like me, needed to bulk up your math skills in your late twenties/early thirties. What worked for you? Am I best off just signing up for the lower level algebra course I’m likely to place into now, knowing I’ll then be ready for pre-calc in a couple of quarters? In a related topic, I'm also willing to hear advice for maintaining motivation on a long-term project you want to complete but are having trouble staying focused on.
Some similarities to this question, though I’m starting from a much lower level, and maybe some to this one, though I'm pretty focused on algebra and these answers appear more scattershot.
Best answer: Khan Academy is slightly more gamified than Aleks.
Both are high quality. Khan is free. Aleks is not, but has a free trial.
I've used and like both in our homeschool. Similar concept, slightly different presentation of instruction. (If I had to quantify that, I'd say Khan's instruction is easier to use because it's inline with questions, in other words, not so easily skipped - and Aleks has better entry tools, depending on exactly what type of math you're doing at the moment.
Both are used by public schools, and both can identify specific skills that need to be learned. Both adapt to the user.
posted by stormyteal at 1:35 AM on August 26, 2015 [1 favorite]
Both are high quality. Khan is free. Aleks is not, but has a free trial.
I've used and like both in our homeschool. Similar concept, slightly different presentation of instruction. (If I had to quantify that, I'd say Khan's instruction is easier to use because it's inline with questions, in other words, not so easily skipped - and Aleks has better entry tools, depending on exactly what type of math you're doing at the moment.
Both are used by public schools, and both can identify specific skills that need to be learned. Both adapt to the user.
posted by stormyteal at 1:35 AM on August 26, 2015 [1 favorite]
Dragonbox is so gamified it doesn't even look like algebra, but it kind of is.
posted by escabeche at 5:04 AM on August 26, 2015
posted by escabeche at 5:04 AM on August 26, 2015
Best answer: It's not as game-like as you want, but I have to say: Khan is pretty amazing. I'm in the sciences, and I still use it to refresh myself from time to time. I also go to it anytime my kids have questions that I want to beef up on before helping them with homework.
Algebra is quite easy to pick up on your own, with tools like these. I wouldn't suggest you rush to take courses in them at a traditional school--you might feel likeit's taking too long (especially if you've already had statistics and logic, you'll surprise yourself at how much algebra you already know or will pick up easily). Pre-calc might be the level where you want to take a traditional course, but you've always got Khan et alia to prepare yourself with and use as an adjunct to any courses you take.
For motivation, try the old fashioned way: pick a GRE test date for your area in the near future (don't sign up, just pick the date), mark it on your calendar, and cross off days on the calendar leading up to the exam to indicate you're studied/practiced at least an hour per day. Like Seinfeld says, watching those little X marks add up means more than you expect--don't break the chain!
posted by late afternoon dreaming hotel at 9:14 AM on August 26, 2015 [1 favorite]
Algebra is quite easy to pick up on your own, with tools like these. I wouldn't suggest you rush to take courses in them at a traditional school--you might feel likeit's taking too long (especially if you've already had statistics and logic, you'll surprise yourself at how much algebra you already know or will pick up easily). Pre-calc might be the level where you want to take a traditional course, but you've always got Khan et alia to prepare yourself with and use as an adjunct to any courses you take.
For motivation, try the old fashioned way: pick a GRE test date for your area in the near future (don't sign up, just pick the date), mark it on your calendar, and cross off days on the calendar leading up to the exam to indicate you're studied/practiced at least an hour per day. Like Seinfeld says, watching those little X marks add up means more than you expect--don't break the chain!
posted by late afternoon dreaming hotel at 9:14 AM on August 26, 2015 [1 favorite]
« Older Books Like Helter Skelter and Going Clear | Help me find the source of my Lepidopterophobia Newer »
This thread is closed to new comments.
It will tell you if you've gotten the problems right, and it will tell you what you need to study next. No sharks, but you get to fill in a pie...
It works on computers, and also various mobile devices.
I've used it teaching a precalculus class, and I was impressed by it.
posted by leahwrenn at 11:30 PM on August 25, 2015