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Some pretty good algebra news!
Mar. 8th, 2006 11:02 pmI didn't complete my pre-algebra class (sort of an advanced intro) last semester for two reasons. First, I wanted to get my final project in photography in on time as it absolutely had to be in on time: no projects were being accepted late. I got it in on time, I also got four extra prints done which counted as extra credit and I pulled an A- in the class, probably would have been a B+ otherwise. Second, I was pretty much incapable of passing the class. I'd missed one test and would have had to re-take it like two days before the final, and regardless of whether I'd passed the test, I wasn't comfortable with my grasp of the subject and would have retaken it this semester anyway. One interesting thing about this particular class is that you have to have a C in order to pass: there is no D, if you don't pull a C you fail. They've found that people with a D generally don't pass the next level of class.
Well, we had our second test last Wednesday and got the scores back today. On both tests I got the second highest score in the class, so that was cool! I got a 90 on the first test, the best score was a 91. On the second test I got an 88, best was an 89. The instructor gives us a detailed score breakdown of what you scored on all homework and other scored assignments. I'm currently running an 87%, and that's before lowest scores are thrown out, so I might actually pull an A in this class which would be majorly cool.
I think I needed to take this class twice to shake off the rust from that miniscule part of my brain that had algebra still lurking in it. I don't regret it, but hell, I had an amazing amount of frustration with it last semester! And now this semester it's coming together so much more easily.
One interesting thing in this class is that you can re-take any test short of the final. They have an A form and B form of the test. You have to complete a self-review and turn it in at the test session, you're then given the A form. After that, you have one week to go over your missed questions with the instructor or a math lab aide, do a written explanation of what your mistakes were, and you can then take the B form. However, you can score a max of 95 on the B.
This is the first time that I've seen a class that's really structured to help you succeed. They do a huge amount of work to help you succeed in the class.
Now here's the cool thing. They finally finished processing my transcripts from Phoenix, mapping everything that I've taken to their course numbers. My algebra class that I took in 1979 maps to the course AFTER the one that I'm taking right now! So that saves me one course for my continuing edjumacayshun.
So I now have something like 120 hours at NMSU! But once again, they're not mapped into exactly what I need for a degree, but it'll come. One thing that I thought was really cool was that a poetry class that I took many moons ago mapped to a 300-level class!
I need to sit down with my processed transcript and load it into a database so that I have a ready summary of what applies where. Maybe I'll do it over spring break, the computer lab'll be open and I'll want to put in my massive 19 hours since I won't be working this weekend -- we leave for Phoenix in the morning for the Arizona Renaissance Festival! WOOT!
Well, we had our second test last Wednesday and got the scores back today. On both tests I got the second highest score in the class, so that was cool! I got a 90 on the first test, the best score was a 91. On the second test I got an 88, best was an 89. The instructor gives us a detailed score breakdown of what you scored on all homework and other scored assignments. I'm currently running an 87%, and that's before lowest scores are thrown out, so I might actually pull an A in this class which would be majorly cool.
I think I needed to take this class twice to shake off the rust from that miniscule part of my brain that had algebra still lurking in it. I don't regret it, but hell, I had an amazing amount of frustration with it last semester! And now this semester it's coming together so much more easily.
One interesting thing in this class is that you can re-take any test short of the final. They have an A form and B form of the test. You have to complete a self-review and turn it in at the test session, you're then given the A form. After that, you have one week to go over your missed questions with the instructor or a math lab aide, do a written explanation of what your mistakes were, and you can then take the B form. However, you can score a max of 95 on the B.
This is the first time that I've seen a class that's really structured to help you succeed. They do a huge amount of work to help you succeed in the class.
Now here's the cool thing. They finally finished processing my transcripts from Phoenix, mapping everything that I've taken to their course numbers. My algebra class that I took in 1979 maps to the course AFTER the one that I'm taking right now! So that saves me one course for my continuing edjumacayshun.
So I now have something like 120 hours at NMSU! But once again, they're not mapped into exactly what I need for a degree, but it'll come. One thing that I thought was really cool was that a poetry class that I took many moons ago mapped to a 300-level class!
I need to sit down with my processed transcript and load it into a database so that I have a ready summary of what applies where. Maybe I'll do it over spring break, the computer lab'll be open and I'll want to put in my massive 19 hours since I won't be working this weekend -- we leave for Phoenix in the morning for the Arizona Renaissance Festival! WOOT!
