Rx for College Algebra
© Julie Spears
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.
There are free online courses or modules on college algebra topics at Purplemath, Algebra - ThinkQuest, College Algebra Modules, Exercises in Math Readiness, ExploreMath Multimedia Activities, Math Planet, Interactive Algebra and Welcome to Zona Land.
Math.com offers $25.00 worth of online tutoring free for joining if you register now for a free membership. That is just one of the benefits available to members. "One Minute Math Lessons" and online calculators, both in a variety of flavors, are here to help you.
Web sites that specialize in explaining and visualizing important topics in College Algebra include Derivation of the Quadratic Formula, Multiple Types of Factoring, Quadratic Formula, Symmetry Around a Point in the Plane and Using Logarithms in Soil Science.
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