Part I Step 3: Previous Students' Advice

The following prompt was given to my previous summer online math students at the end of the 6-week session:

"Please offer advice for future students who are considering taking this class (assume that they will also be taking this course in a 6 week summer session)."

Here is their advice to you. Please read and consider the advice.

There are advantages and disadvantages to consider when taking this specific course.

  • It is, after all, both non-traditional in format and a full semester of material crammed into six weeks . Yes, you can accomplish a goal quickly. No, you can't do it easily. "Quick" and "easy" don't equate for most students.  Some enroll in online math to "save time" - which might be a mistake . Self-study, even at your own pace, will probably require more time investment on a weekly basis. The biggest "time" advantage in this course is a certain degree of flexibility in managing a daily or weekly schedule. Yes, you can go to the beach on those beautiful San Diego days instead of reporting to campus for class. No, you can't do it most says, or all day, and hope to stay current with daily assignments and deadlines. Your personal schedule will still be constructed around class requirements and deadlines if you hope to succeed, as with any course. If you work full time, and study at night - this course may work well for you. (See "Self-discipline" below...)  

  • Some folks do better in a traditional classroom environment, where feedback to questions, clarification of misconceptions, etc., is immediate - and usually accompanied by examples worked out on the blackboard, further questions, more examples, etc., until you "get it". In this online course there are several useful tools – Tracked Tutorial Exercises, Discussion Boards, Lecture Videos, etc. - that can compensate for some of the missing "live classroom" elements, but that may not be enough for some students. Plus, the questions posed by other students help answer questions and clarify points in cases where you didn't know you had weaknesses or confusion. And, of course, many students simply enjoy the personal relationships and social aspects of the classroom. You don't have to be a hermit to enjoy this course, but if you need the stimulation of a classroom environment to stick out a class, you may not find what you need here.  

  • Technology vs. "Old School": All of the neat tech-tools available for students in this class do not substitute for the old reliable pencil and paper. Your most important information resource is the text. Your most valuable learning resource will be pencil and paper. The midterm and final exams are pencil and paper for a reason. If you don't know how to work out solutions on paper, you won't be able to show your work on the written tests. So use the computer and online tools and calculator to supplement the "old school" methods. Working each problem and exercise out, step-by-step, on paper is critical to learning the processes and forms and functions, and is also the principle key to retention. Having the video lectures is great - Having it in your head is better. 

  • Self-discipline: Get a ruler and whack your own knuckles if necessary, but stay current with assignments, study all the required material, do all the exercises, use all the tools for reinforcement and - especially - assistance from the instructor and fellow students, and stick it out. Six weeks goes amazingly fast for those who persist.

Well, if you want to succeed in an Internet class you really need to read the syllabus before hand, and make sure you understand EVERY SINGLE WORD, and also make sure that figure out how to work everything like your homework and discussion board. Also, make sure constantly check the message board, and keep up on homework (since it's really easy to fall behind, due to the fact that you don't have anyone telling you what to do). Make sure that you really understand each section and sub-section before opening homework, it will take less time to complete and your scores will be a lot better. Good Luck!

Only if you know that you can commit to this class then take it. If not then you should wait until the fall or spring semester when you have more time. I learned that this class is the summer is no joke.

As I've stated throughout the course of this six weeks, this is one of the best classes I've taken online. This is coming from someone who has a natural fear for math.  The best advice I can give to anyone who will be taking in class in the future is to purchase all material as soon as you are sure that you will be taking the class.  Start early in preparing for the class (e.g. Reivew, Visit the Math Learning Center, Tutoring, etc.).  Make sure that your personal schedule doesn’t interfere with the time you need to spend on the class. 

In the beginning of the class I asked myself, "why is there a discussion board included with a math class?" I didn't understand it in the beginning, but it turned out to be a great asset to the class.  I highly encourage anyone taking this class in the future to read all of the discussion boards and messages daily.  There you will find both motivation and help from your fellow students and Instructor. 

Continuously review everything to the left (from the APC to the Multimedia Library).  There you will find your bread and butter. Pace yourself on the course! Don't go to fast or to slow.  Last but least, I have been a violator of some of the advice that I am now passing on to others.  If my mistakes will help someone in the future to do better in this class, I proudly pass this on. Although my grade my not reflect when I've learned, I've learned a lot. BEST OF LUCK AND KEEP CHARGING!!!!! 

It is in fact very important for students to read over their syllabus and spend an ample amount of time on their studies.  I think that proves especially important with the practice exercises and practice tests and listening to the videos.  When I was looking over the syllabus, I thought it was abnormal that Mrs. Apalatea would suggest 5 hours daily to the math class.  I now see that the time is true if you think of how much work there is to do and how time consuming it can be.  You must definitely have time, because if not, you will not accomplish the class with a good grade.

Math is not the easiest subject for many students.  Online learning is not the easiest for many students.  Condensed classes are really not easy for most students.  What if one was to add all of those components together and create a six week online math course?  How do I think students would do?

Well, the reality it has been done.  I am living proof that it can be done, but it is very difficult. 

I am not the world's best student. I am not a mathematician but I do well on the computer.  I think that if a student is considering taking an online class they must first consider why that is. 

Online classes do not mean that there is no work involved.  Unfortunately an online class actually means that there is more work involved.  When one takes an online class they are accountable only to themselves.  It is often very easy to "slack off" and forget to do your assignments, or put assignments off until the very last minute.  If this is you, then an online class may not be the most beneficial way of attending school.

Online math requires that you are constantly keeping up on your assignments, practicing and you must be accountable to yourself.  This program is self paced, but requires that you work relatively fast, and that you are able to do a lot of self instruction.

You instructor is available, but if you are "going to school" at 9 pm, there may not be another student or instructor available to you.  It is important that you think of how you work best.

If you fail to do assignments in a traditional classroom, or are to easily bothered at home, then an online class may not the best way to go.

Personally, I am a mother of two young children and there is no better way for me than this.  I work on my studies at nap and after bed time.  It works for me, but it can sometimes be tough.  I don't get to lay down right away, and sometimes on the weekends, I have to pass up "fun stuff" to work on homework if I fall at all behind during the week.

I think that if you are able to be self motivated, devote a great amount of time and energy and are looking to complete your studies, this is the program for you.  If you are lookin to just take the class, you don't care for school and need a lot of directions and instruction you should try the traditional environment. 

Going to school in pj's is not for everyone, but it works great for me....

Some advice I could give future math online students would be to not procrastinate and put assignments off until the day or night they are due. I have run into problems with my computer or internet connection at times and ended up with missing assignment and earning a zero on it. Another would be to make sure and use a reliable internet connection so that you don't lose your work before you submit it and then end up with a zero for that assignment. Knowing how to plan your time according to the assignment due dates is essential.Overall, make sure you have enough time to let yourself fully understand what you are studying and practice the new concepts you learn a lot.

The following is advice that I would give to anyone who decides to take this online math class over the summer:

  1. Before you Register- If you’re shaky on your math skills, purchase or borrow a textbook for practice.  I recommend a book one level lower than the class.  This is what I did before I registered to get a strong foundation for this class.  It also helps you overcome math anxiety.  Also, print out your syllabus as soon as possible so that you will have an understanding of what this class entails.  The syllabus is by far the most important tool you will need to succeed in this class.  Read it as many times as you need until you have a sound understanding of the material.  It is available before you even register (see class schedule for details).

  2. Plan Ahead- Make sure that you will have plenty of time to dedicate to your studies while in this class because you will never know how much time you will need to spend in this class since everybody is different.  (I found myself spending more time than I thought I was going to spend).  Also, it is so easy to fall behind in this condensed summer session. 

  3. Don't wait until the Last Minute - Install all of the programs/plug-ins you will need on your computer for this class ASAP so that it is ready ahead of time. This class moves quick starting the first day.

  4. Study in a quiet room - Study in a quiet area of your house (e.g. your room) and let your family know you will be studying so that they will not interrupt you.

  5. Take Breaks during Studying/Homework-  Take breaks every few minutes so that your brain doesn't shut down.  This will also allow your brain to absorb the new information that it is learning.  Do things that will make you forget about your homework even for a little while (e.g. Do your laundry, Talk on the phone etc. etc.....)

  6. Comprehend the Material- Math builds on itself, so try your best to comprehend every piece of homework before you move on.

  7. Communicate with your Professor and Classmates-  Communication in this online class is very important.  When you communicate, not only do you provide support and give advice to your classmates but you learn new things from each other and are able to ask questions if there is something you don't understand.  Your fellow students and the Professor will do their best to answer your math questions via the discussion boards.  Check your MyMathLab .announcements and discussion board daily in case you have any messages from your Professor or there are questions that you can answer.  I have also found that when I go on the Discussion Boards and I read my classmates' postings it motivates me to continue and not give up.  It's a great help.

Do NOT to wait at the last minute to do a homework assignment or a quiz. Your computer may have technical difficulties, the power may go out, or your Internet service provider may crap out on you. None of these are excuses for missing an assignment. You never know if something might happen, so do all of your work early! Also, sometimes you’re going to have to study and work, even if you don’t feel like it.

For the future students for online math classes or any other online course:  First you got to have an understanding of the basics because the class moves very quickly.  Remember its only six weeks long so everything is crammed into together or that's what it seems like.  You got to have self-discipline, motivation, and most of all have positive thinking know you can do it even if it gets real hard. There is always help whenever you need you can always go to your instructor or ask other classmates.  I notice that you always get a response from fellow students or the instructor the very next day. Another thing to remember is that you do not have to rush, take your time slow down take your time no one is looking over your shoulder. The best thing about taking it online is that you work at your pace and can make your own method of learning. The final thing is that time management is the key. It recommends at least six hours of computer time but if you break it up into 30 or 45 minute sessions throughout the day you should have no problem. Hope you guys enjoy the class.

If you stay on top of your work and study frequently, a person will succeed. It is also very important to keep a neat, organized note book to write down notes and work out problems. It's kind of a given, you get out of it what you put into it. I used a whole 300 page notebook for this class. Put notes and practice sets high on your list of priorities. It's the only way I learn!

FIRST AND FOREMOST BE PREPARED TO HAVE A FULL 6 WEEK SESSION. IT MAY BE ON YOUR OWN TIME. BUT BE PREPARED TO SACRIFICE AND SET SOME TIME ASIDE DEDICATED STRICTLY MATH. IN THIS CLASS YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR YOUR OWN TIMEMANAGEMENT. IT CAN BE REALLY FRUSTRATING. THE INSTRUCTOR HAS PROVIDED YOU WITH SO MANY TOOLS TO HELP ADD TO YOUR SUCCESS IN THIS CLASS. DO ALL OF THE EXERCISES AND TAKE NOTES. KEEP UP WITH THE CALENDAR (ASSIGNMENT DUE DATES) IT'S VERY HELPFUL. BE PATIENT AND GET HELP IF YOU NEED IT.

The mid-term and final will kick your butt if you don't know how to work out the problems. So, be sure that you are doing your homework and quizzes without assistance. Yeah, we know that since your homeworks and quizzes are done at home, you can take a peek at your notes or book while completing those assignments. But, by doing that, you’re not only cheating, you are cheating yourself and setting yourself up to fail the midterm and final.

If you are thinking about taking online math next summer, you really need to consider a few things:

  • First, make sure you have enough time to study.   If the class says you will need to study five or more hours a day, expect to do so.  Make sure your summer job and summer fun won't get in the way of this class because if you don't put the time in, you won't get a good grade in return. 

  • Second, don't procrastinate . Do whatever you can ahead of time because if you wait until the last minute, anything that can go wrong will, especially with computers. 

  • Third, don't be afraid to contact your classmates and instructor for help. Everyone is there to help each other out, so you don't have to be shy.  The instructor is nice, too, so don't be afraid to contact her when you need to talk to her about something.

  • Lastly, don't be nervous about taking this class online. If you know you have the time and motivation, you'll do just fine.  You'll learn how to use the new programs very quickly, and you'll see that "showing up to class" online and doing math on your terms can be a whole lot better than taking math in a classroom setting.

As much as you read up on taking "online courses" you still sometimes don't believe a lot of what is says...BELIEVE IT!!  Taking a math class in such a short amount of time was a bit difficult for me.  I think my biggest problem was my time management.  I would sit there and tell myself I could put an assignment off for another day because I wouldn't have a problem getting it done.  Boy was I wrong!  Sometimes I would catch on to the material really fast and then other times I felt like I would never be able comprehend it.  Make sure you give yourself enough time to get everything done.  There is nothing worse than rushing through this material.  You'll only realize after the fact that if you had given yourself just one more hour you would have known the material without a problem.  So, that's my advice - make sure you allow yourself enough time to gain knowledge of this material and become confident in the work you are doing.

Online means "read, read, read" - the information is there, but no one will read it for you. The same is true for the online text and the online resources and tools. I've put many more hours into reading in this course than I would have in a traditional classroom-based course. It is incredibly important to have a complete understanding of the syllabus and all of its components.  It is very easy to jump into a class and just assume that you will do well.  Unfortunately in a class like this it is very easy to fall behind or barely squeak by.  Future students really need to make sure to thoroughly read the syllabus. Our syllabus is like our roadmap to success in this class!

My advice for someone thinking of taking this class online for the summer session would be to listen to Mrs. Apalatea.  When I was contemplating taking this class, I read all of her warnings, and I thought that she was trying to almost discourage anyone from taking this class that had any doubts at all, but I didn't understand why.  I also couldn't possibly see how I could spend 6 hours a day studying any single subject. Any potential students have to realize that first of all, the absence of any classroom time has to be made up by students sitting in front of their computer.  I think the summer session on campus section of this class that met on campus was 4 nights per week for almost 3 hours a night. 

I would suggest for anyone who would like to take this same summer math class, to first of all be sure you have the time to spend learning the material. It may even be more time than is suggested in the syllabus).  That means if you need to take any trips, you have to plan out everything around the course, which are its deadlines and on campus exams.  And the next best piece of advice I can give is to get help when you feel you need it.  Although you are learning "alone", there are a wide variety of resources available even in the form live people.  And just to take breaks and totally not think about equations for times of high stress.  Most of all I would tell anyone that this was a great experience, and I learned more than I ever thought or imagined that I would :)

I think taking this class over the summer is a very big commitment.  It is very fast pace too.  If you have problems with math to begin with, I do not suggest taking this class is 6 weeks.  I didn’t' have a problem with that the class is online.  My biggest issue was that I really need to spend a big portion of my day doing math.  I don't have the attention span for it. I get distracted very easily.

Those who are planning on scamming the system by using your books and notes will have a difficult time unless you truly know the material.  Every problem is different and is not solved exactly the same way as all the others.  Be on top of your game and just learn the material instead of slacking. Using books and notes during the homework and quizzes is only really screwing yourself later.

I thought that 5 hours of studying a day was a huge amount and never thought I would actually be studying that much, but it is definitely true.  I would also suggest only taking this class, not with any other classes because it is really time consuming. You can only procrastinate so much in this class. There are deadlines and if you wait till the last day, you will never get your work done on time.  There are plenty of resources and we have also formed study groups. Don't be afraid to make friends in the class. They always know things you don't and you can teach them some things too

I would give the advice of what has worked for me.  Stay ahead of schedule!!!  I can't stress this enough.  In the very beginning I got more than a week ahead of schedule and wouldn't you know the week my father-in-law came to visit I didn't get much studying done.  So even though I had missed about 4 days of work, I was still ahead of the game.  Had I not done this early on, it would have really hurt me.  This doesn't mean work ahead and then don't work for a few days.  It just means work ahead in the areas you are most confident with and this gives you plenty of extra time in the areas that are most difficult for you. 

I would also advise future online math students to read the syllabus before enrolling in the course and make sure they are able to put in enough time.

I had done more than a few homework assignments before I realized just how important it was to go into Tracked Tutorial Exercises and really work the problems over and over.  Even though I worked the problem sets in the online book, it wasn't the same. 

My advice for people wishing to take this class in the future would be:
1. Be motivated... Very motivated.   
2. Don't wait until the last minute to complete assignments, chances are you'll forget and not do them (or something unexpected comes up).   
3. Study! Study! Study! If you don't study you'll probably fail, or do just as bad as you thought you were doing.    
4. Stay on top of everything. Prioritize your day so you have a comfortable amount of time to do your work and understand it! Learn it when you have time so when you go back to study it doesn't look completely foreign!   
5. Have faith in yourself. If you think you can do it you can!

Self-discipline is not just something you should have in order to complete this class; it is something you must have.  It's so easy to be lost in space somewhere when you should be working on your math.  It is also extremely important to be able to work out all of your math problems on paper with your pencil using no aids (not looking at the book while you do it, not having any help while you do it, etc.)..  Doing it on your own is what is used to measure your knowledge. You don’t really know the information unless you can work the problems out neatly on paper showing all steps with absolutely no help.

You definitely need to read through the syllabus and if you don't think this class is for you, you really shouldn't take it.  Also, keep up with the homework or else you will find yourself falling behind very fast!

Believe in yourself. The only person that can really pump you up or really let you down is yourself.  As long as you believe that you are doing your best and keeping up with the work that is all that matters.  Everything else will just fall into place. Be gung ho at the beginning of the class when you are more amped to do more. That way in case something keeps you from the work, you are already ahead and don't get behind.

Students must understand that they will be spending the time they would spend in a traditional class in front of a computer instead of in front of a teacher.  I think that this is good for students to realize. I also think that it is important for others to learn how to effectively manage their time.  We take online classes so that our school can work around our personal schedules but we need to make sure that we make an ample amount of time for our school work as well.

I would recommend that anyone wishing to take an online math course to take the class when they can put in enough hours online. Math is pretty hard for most people, but it is not impossible. It just takes dedication and self-discipline. You have to focus yourself and not get discouraged. All of the resources that you need are there, but you have to take the time to use them.

First of all, stay on top of the work. Also keep a neat notebook to do practice problems, homework, quizzes. Then go back and review/study with that. I also kept a separate section in my notes to write down questions to ask the tutor when I went once a week. I used note cards to help me remember the different formulas/rules/definitions too.

I would advise anybody wishing to take an online math class to read the syllabus before enrolling in the course and to make sure they put in enough time.

Time management is extremely important in this course. If a student misses an assignment there's no way to make it up. I can't believe just how much time that I have put into this class. The syllabus was a great tool throughout the course especially at the beginning

Make sure you put in enough time.  That is really important because there is so much information that students have to learn in this class and it's not easy all the time.  It's so easy to become discouraged.  That's why it is so important to just stay focused and try our best.

Get the class materials and look into things as soon as you can.  I got my materials about a week before class started but I did not do any homework, I waited until class began to really start going over the information.  Future students should look into the syllabus and online materials and the class to get a "heads up" on what is really expected.  I wish I would have started earlier, it would have allowed me the opportunity to have more study time on the midterm and the final.  I have learned, and now I will be working so much harder in my next math class this fall. 

I would recommend to future online math students to pace themselves. Organization and pacing yourself really helps out. If you pace yourself, you will be guaranteed to pass the course with a high score along with, enough time to go over each section carefully. Also, organizing all the information and practicing it gives you a feel for how the class is going to be.

The Discussion boards and announcements are important because they're the only way of communicating with other students and getting class information (other than the syllabus). The discussion boards can keep you motivated and it helps to know what everyone else in your class is doing/thinking as well. The online tutorial exercises also great for practice.

It is very important to pacing oneself. At first, I went after the assignments in a heated rush, but by the time I got into Ch 3 I couldn't remember the details reviewed and presented in Ch's 1 and 2. I was blowing basic arithmetic functions. So I had to slow down, go back, and pace myself. I went over and over some material before I was confident that I had it down cold, and even got behind on the daily homework assignments a couple of times while I reviewed for retention before moving on. That ensured far better retention - and my wife and I started having dinner together again once I got caught up. (I think she actually enjoyed being placed in charge of the TV remote on my study nights... :) I don’t always follow my own advice, but when I do it has worked well in this class. I envy those folks who can hit the books a bit and then jump into homework and quizzes with good results. I can't, so I have to be persistent.

I think this was a great class, and I was very fearful that I would not be able to keep up.  This has taught me a lot about myself, and made me realize that all my hard work does pay off. Even though we have had our ups and downs, overall, it has been a wonderful learning experience for all of us.

Finally, I would tell anyone that they must be totally focused on this class, and try not to have a lot of other things going on in their lives, which is not easy.  I found this class so rewarding, because I accomplished things that I didn't think I was capable of, and this has carried over to other areas of my life.  Good luck to everyone!

I think that it was a good thing that Mrs. Apalatea offered all of the warnings that she did.  It helps students who may not be doing well or may have wrong motives for staying out of the class.  I think that reading should be more inclusive- I think that too often people think it will be much easier than it is.  I would recommend that anyone wishing to take an online math course to read instructions carefully and to pace themselves.

You have to devote many hours in this class on the computer.  I had to make all of my life plans around this class so not to fall behind.  I agree with the warnings given by Mrs. Apalatea.  It almost seemed like "enter at your own risk" type thing, but now I understand, it's just no fooling around in here.

You most certainly need to make sure you read all of Mrs. Apalatea's warnings.  She isn't doing them to scare you; they are 100% the truth.

Self-motivation, personal accountability, and work. This class requires more work and personal effort to succeed than a traditional on-campus class, where you share a certain degree of accountability with the instructor. Yes, there are some advantages with scheduling flexibility. Yes, I like to sit here unshaved in my funky cut-off sweats. And yes, I do have to sit here a lot longer than I would in a classroom, and almost every day, if I'm going to do well.

My advice for incoming students is to stay motivated and make yourself a schedule to follow to keep on top of things or you might fall behind. Be sure to get ahead when you can so things won't get too stressful.  Mainly just do your best, because it's always worth it and don't give up.  Everyone's best cannot be measured the same.  You have to know your own heart and abilities.  A "C" for someone could mean the same as an "A" to someone else. 

Being highly motivated and not falling behind is a necessary trait for success in the class. There are no makeups for any assignments so if a student falls behind they're out of luck. Pacing yourself is important.

It is very important to be on a schedule.  There is a better chance of passing a class like this one when you organized yourself. I believe that anyone wishing to take an online math course should only enroll if they can put in enough time each week.

It's true about needing to have lots of time to spend learning the material.  When I first registered for this class, I thought I was going to only spend a "certain" amount of hours.  Boy was I wrong!  That is why it is so important to have a flexible schedule to work with.  I think that we have all had a wonderful learning experience in this class.

This class is great for on the go people or someone with a multiple array of duties to perform in a single day. Not only is it convenient for time-constrained persons; it has a free vibe forum that appeals to any subconscious person. It gives us (too embarrassed to raise a hand and ask a question in class) students the freedom to ask away without being ridiculed for asking too many things on a subject we're not clear on. I mean take me for example; I have a better understanding of certain math subjects due to the online environment. As anyone can attest to, the text books are sometimes confusing. Not to say this class is an easy run, but with just a little effort and dedication; you'll pass without any problems.

I would advise future students to make sure their learning style fits the format of an online class. It's also important to get the most out of the learning materials that are provided. Getting the most out of the eBook, lecture videos, practice exercises, practice tests, PowerPoint slides, tutors and any other resources will help in being successful in the class. I would also advise any future students not to rely on your calculator too much because you may not get to use it on the midterm. Time management is also a skill needed to succeed in the class.

I was overwhelmed by the amount of learning materials that come with this class. It really is important that you learn to use at least some of them, which ever ones work best with your learning style. Time management in this 6 week online course is really really important.

The best advice I could give on future students for this course is to have good time management.  My work schedule changed several times while I have been in this class but I always set aside a certain amount of time in my week for the course.  To stay as current as possible you really have to be able to dedicate the time and that time will be up to you.  It’s much different than a class with a set schedule; it really does require a lot of self discipline to do well.  Another important thing is to enjoy it, don't look at it as just work, look at it as a great way to improve yourself and have fun while you are doing it.

This class instructed us to work 5-6 hours a day, and that's pretty realistic.  It is good to take this into consideration when deciding on whether or not an online class is right for you. This is a full load class and takes a lot of time and patience. Taking notes helps and just trying to read everyday helped also. Also, for some students, it is challenging to not have a professor and fellow students in-person.

Asking for help is is very important. I think a lot of the students may feel that they have to learn everything on their own and teach themselves, when really others can help you understand concepts in ways other than your own.

Putting time aside everyday to work on math was my hardest objective. I would always wait until the weekend and wonder why I don’t understand. Being able to go get help by posting (and answering) questions in the discussion board is very important. It is important in math to understand each step before moving on or you’ll only get more and more confused.

Seriously! I wasn't expecting the work load we got, so 6 full weeks (including weekends) is pretty accurate... I was a little disappointed when realized I had to keep working on school stuff through the weekend, but I sucked it up and got it done! But since there was a work load on the weekend I found it harder and harder to keep up with my work, and even harder to try to catch up come Monday!

The advice I would give is do not slack off! The summer courses, especially the math ones are very fast paced. Those that choose to not follow directions will have a very difficult time on the real midterm and finals. Work very hard and stay on top of things. DO NOT put the work off, it takes time to learn and complete. This is a class to be taken very seriously!

Even though there is no one ‘watching’ you, using your notes and book while doing the graded online assignments is a very bad idea.  You really have to know what you’re doing and do the everyday work without these resources to prepare yourself for the mid and final.  If you can't get through the assignments with just what's in your head, you won't get through!

This defiantly is not a slack off course as some other online courses seem to be. There is a lot of work and study time involved and it’s not an easy thing to do when you have other activities. You can't slack off. This class is not one that you can breeze through. You have to do the work. Work is one thing that this class is not lacking. Good luck to all the newbies!

There is definitely no room for slacking off in this class. It’s an all or nothing sort of thing. Either you commit to it and follow through or don't bother at all. Kind of harsh!

This class was awesome. I definitely like the short class because it really made me buckle down and keep on top of my work. I would recommend this class because there are a lot of good concepts to know. Don't be weary of online classes. There is more than enough help whenever you need it. There are practice problems, discussion boards, Tutoring, the MLC, and we have formed study groups as well. All the help we needed was always there, but it is up to the student to use it. This is a great class and it has been very useful and fun. Just stay on top of your work and don't fall behind. You will be completely lost if you do.

This has been a great class!  I love online classes now, whereas I was terrified of them before.  I even signed up for another one this fall!  Mrs. Apalatea gave us so many resources too.  As long as you are on top of everything, you'll be OK.  : )

All of the online material that came with the class are very helpful but there is still a lot of information to cover in a short period of time. I suggest that if you aren’t good in math or confident in math that you wait till a normal class arises to take this class - not online it may become extremely frustrating.

I believe that the most helpful tip is to always stay on top of things. I fell behind in some parts of the course and it would take me all day on the weekends to catch up. I would see that my grades were lower when I did this more and more often. If you are doing this for the first time don’t be scared. The material isn’t difficult but the planning is. Just remember that you can use anything you want to learn more. I used my old textbook, internet sites, people, siblings, lots of practice, and my determination to get through the course. They all helped me in their own ways. SO when thinking about taking this course, just remember to treat and take it like a REAL class. Good luck to all who are thinking about this course.

Motivation is the key. If you don’t want to be in the class you may drop it whenever you would like. haha. So if you’re in it, why not work hard? Also, being ahead of the schedule is very good. Because if something out of the norm arises than you are able to do it and not fall behind. But it sure is hard to quiet the voice in my head that says "I'll do it tomorrow…" Good luck!

I finished all my work a week early so I would have all this week to study for the final.  I probably could have taken it earlier, but as long as I had the time might as well use it to improve myself before taking the final.  And yes, it was hard to stay ahead with an infant and a 7 year old.  Let's just say I think my kids are more excited about me being done for the summer then I am.  Good luck!

I went out of town and was stuck in an airport for two days so I was just glad I was ahead a couple of days. The stress of the airport was enough.

I would only suggest taking this class if you have a lot of time since there is such a short period of time that you are taking it in (one month). It’s important to have a few hours a day to work on the class work and study for the exams. I found myself rushing to get thru the chapters on time that I didn’t completely understand the last chapter before moving on. When you don’t get the last chapter very well, it all becomes like a big blur! And you are pretty much lost until you re-learn what you didn’t know before. It all has something to do with the next thing! Math is definitely not my favorite subject, and I know how it is to get lost on something and get lost for a looong while. You barely grasp one chapter, but then move on to the next, and soon the aspects you don't understand seem to pile up pretty fast. Just be sure that you have the time to put into this class!

My advice for anyone taking this class over the summer is to read every day. Be prepared for anything that can happen and it usually will. Know ahead up time that you have days set aside to just study. If you go out of town for the summer make sure you have a backup plan for the computer because not all computers can handle MyMathLab and not all internets stay connected while you all trying to study. Try to stay ahead so if something does happen, you are not knocked completely off schedule by loosing precious time studying.  Last piece of advice is to always check the calendar and communication messages from students and teacher for what is due, because days can go fast like summer does and before you know it, you make think it is due on a Monday and everything may be due on a Sunday.

My advice to anyone wanting to take this course is to make sure that you do not have anything else going on in your life. Also don't think that once you are getting to the last week, don't think that you see the light at the end of the tunnel until final exam day. Some weeks I wasn't even been able to go to work because all I did was homework from the time I got up until the time I went to bed. This class is very doable but it is a lot of work. It is a battle to the end.

I have a few pieces of advice to give to people who might be considering taking the same class. My first piece of advice, make sure you are the right fit to take this class. Meaning, you must be a self starter with an ample amount of time to devote to the class pretty much every day. My next piece of advice is make sure you take into consideration that because this is summer school the course moves at an accelerated pace, which means there is no time for mistakes, you have to stay on top of things and be ready to learn the next concept very quickly. Especially in Math, all the material builds on the last thing you learned so if you get stuck contact help quickly! Basically if you want to take this course you really have to know what you're getting into and know if it is the right thing for you, if accelerated learning 6 hours a day, 5 days a week, for 6 weeks isn’t your thing...please don’t take this class, you'll be wasting your time! Good Luck to anyone who wants to take the course!! It's been REAL!

If I learned anything it is that you have to read every day and do something every day because if you don't it is so easy to get behind by just taking a break. This was a crash course and it is easy to crash.

My advice is to start early. Get familiar with the computer stuff before the class starts.  Also, I would look over the first few chapters early.  When I was trying to figure out the computers and the math before the first deadline was due I was overwhelmed and thought that I was going to have to drop the class. 

You have to have a reliable computer because I put off things until the last minute, but when my computer acted up that last minute put off got me in trouble. I took my computer for granted when in fact computers mess up to.

Well this class was hard for me only because it was my first time doing an online course and I wasn't really ready for the "non-hands-on" atmosphere that an online course requires. I’m more of a hands-on person so this was a very different experience for me. I also wasn't able to manage my time as good as I thought I was going to be able to. I ended up doing better towards the end. It’s easier for me working with other students like in a classroom setting and also being able to talk to a live teacher one on one...so advice would be just make sure you are ready for it and make sure that you know what to expect when u join an online course. So just make sure you are good at time management and are able to a VERY independent learner.

To any students planning to take online math class during a six-week online session, I would suggest you think really hard about it first. If you are not comfortable doing math and problem-solving on your own, this probably is not the best method of taking this class. This course demands self-discipline and proficiency in using the Internet and following written directions accurately and promptly. It really is A LOT of material to cover in such a short time. Also, to succeed in this course, I would say you have to spend a notable amount of time in the Math Learning Center getting some actual face time. If these things sounds reasonable, then I'd say go for it, but be prepared to work on it several hours a day.

You really do have to think about this class before you enroll. You're not going to have time to do much else if you're taking this math class. Think about it!

Do all the work! This class you need devotion and discipline and the willingness to learn.