Online Study Aid For Single Variable Calculus With Step-by-Step Videos, Instructions, and even Flash cards

If you are studying for your degree online, and must take a calculus course, the concepts can be difficult without step-by-step instructions, videos, practice quizzes, and lectures. Single variable calculus step-by-step instructions, videos, practice quizzes, and lectures can all be found at the Studious Workspace site that accompanies the book, Calculus Early Transcendentals 6th Edition by James Stewart, as a companion site. The site is an excellent tool for learning calculus online with step by step videos, instructions, and even premade flash cards. It is worth the extra $15. If you want to try the system out without spending the $15 (because online college courses can be very expensive), try the trial version: http://www.cengage.com/studious/trial/workspace.jsp

Another tool that James Stewart offers his readers is Tools for Enriching Calculus, which allows you trace some graphs and view some math aids for free. This is a nice tool for visualizing some ideas, but very simple in concept.

Something else that you might want to check out when studying Calculus for your online college course are the YouTube videos of MIT online college lectures. You can find these by watching the video above on YouTube. The companion videos will be listed in the sidebar of YouTube. Click Here to watch the videos on YouTube. If you would like to view the entire course at MIT including lecture notes, video notes, assignments, and exams try this link (which can be amazingly helpful to an online college student):
http://ocw.mit.edu/courses/mathematics/18-01-single-variable-calculus-fall-2006/video-lectures/http://ocw.mit.edu/courses/mathematics/18-01-single-variable-calculus-fall-2006/video-lectures/

Happy studying! Calculus is not offered at my online college as an online class, and if it is offered as part of your online college curriculum be aware that this class takes lots of time and discipline!

Studying for the College Level Math Accuplacer

To get into Calculus, I had to study for the College Level Math Accuplacer. The test has to be taken on a computer on campus. The Accuplacer allows you to skip your online or on campus college’s Algebra, PreCalculus, whatever – according to how well you do on the test. One thing I learned from taking this test was that taking a test like this twice can yield a significant improvement from the first time. The first time I scored a 65. Then, with only around 8 days to study, I brought the score up to 98. So, do not be discouraged if you do not do well the first time. Here are some of the resources that I used to pass the test with a 98:

This is the best source:

Houghton Mifflin PreCalculus Quizzes

These PreCalculus quizzes and answers will help you to score higher, especially on the Trigonometry portion.

Here is another one that I found very useful:


This is an actual practice quiz that very closely simulates the Accuplacer. It does not explain the answers, but it will give you a really good idea of what the test is like:

http://academics.utep.edu/Default.aspx?tabid=25202

Some others:


http://professionals.collegeboard.com/profdownload/accuplacer-sample-questions-for-students.pdf

http://webs.anokaramsey.edu/schewe/math/math_practice_tests.pdf

Keep in mind that there are also a lot of useful videos on YouTube. Just query whatever you are confused about, and loads of videos should appear.

How Secure Are Blackboard Tests for Students?

 

Blackboard technology is used across the country to test and teach students online in both online and offline courses, but is it secure?

This is how Blackboard works as far as testing is concerned. The teacher can create an online test with an online password for students to enter to access the test. The students take the test. If the test is graded right away, the student receives the grade and can review the test. If there are essay or short answer questions, the teacher may have to grade and return the test to the students. It is in that instance that the test is insecure to me. The student should be emailed a copy of the answers input on the exam in order to compare the answers and keep a record of her answers. The server could fail. The answers might somehow be changed and not be the answers that the student entered. All kinds of things could happen. Emailing the student a copy of the answers (note: not questions and answers) would satisfy the student that his answers weren’t being changed, lost, etc. similar to taking a test in pen. This may make answers insecure for students who cheat, but it would make the answers input a lot more secure for the rest of us – especially those taking online courses at online colleges a great distance from each other.

 

Blackboard is used at all levels, and the tools are great. Both of my colleges have used Blackboard for online classes and even campus courses. Besides not being emailed copies of exam answers that I have taken while they are being graded and are not visible to me, this is a great tool. Blackboard has even gone mobile.

 

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Georgia Southern University Online

 

Georgia Southern University now offers a vast selection of quality SACS accredited online degrees! I stumbled upon this list in my search for an online Master’s of Science Degree in Computer Programming.

I called this morning and asked if they printed the fact that it was an online degree on the degree itself. THEY DON’T! The Bachelor’s Degree that I am receiving online is a Bachelor of Science in Information Technology instead of a Bachelor’s Degree in Information Technology (B.I.T.) – they’re not quite the same words, huh? To me they shouldn’t need a differentiation, but I am not sure at all if this matters a bit to potential employers. Please comment if you have an opinion. Anyway, this master’s degree doesn’t specify that is online on the degree itself. The online degree also does not specify on the degree itself that it is an online degree, according to the lady that answered the phone.

They also offer a few Bachelor’s Degrees online. The best ways to search for online degrees in Georgia is here:

http://www.georgiaonmyline.org/

They have a variety of degrees in biology, computer related online degrees, online forensic science degrees, online business degrees, online social work degrees, online masters degrees, etc.  - all in Georgia.

 

Georgia Southern Online Programs

Graduate Programs

• M.Ed. in Instructional Technology
• M.Ed. in Accomplished Teaching
• M.Ed. in Instructional Improvement
• M.Ed. Higher Ed. Administration
• M.Ed. Educational Leadership
• M.S. in Kinesiology (Coaching)
• M.S. in Computer Science
• M.S. in Sport Management
• MBA
• Doctor of Nursing Practice
• M.S. in Applied Economics

Undergraduate Programs

• B.S. in IT
• RN-BSN

Blended Programs

• M.S. in Nursing
• M.S. in Kinesiology (P.E.)
• Ed.S. in Teaching & Learning

Philosophy Study Notes

 

 

More flashcards featuring Hume, Descartes, Buddha, consciousness, permanent self,  induction, exam review, ignorance, skepticism, methodological skepticism, radical skepticism, sensory mistakes argument, dream argument, evil demon argument, causality, problem of causation, matters of fact, billiard balls, Kant, Pure Reason

Philosophy Flash Cards » ProProfs flashcards

How to Decide on an Online College

How to Decide on an Online College

In this day and age, picking an online college can be difficult. Not only are there thousands of choices, but many of them are diploma mills that are simply trying to get your money. To avoid paying for an education that is not beneficial in the slightest, take a look at these tips on how to pick the best online college for you:

1. Lookup School Rankings

Maybe school rankings aren't that important to you, but checking them out can't hurt. Most school rankings are based on a variety of criterion (such as retention rate, financial aid, student reviews, and more) that can make your college search much easier. Right now there are merely a few rankings available for online schools, but the ones that are out there are thorough and well-researched. Check out Guide to Online Schools' recent publication "2009 Rankings of Online Colleges and Online Universities."

2. Talk to Current Students

While checking out the brochure for your online school of choice is great, remember that the school is trying to sell you on something. If you want an honest answer, talk to alumni of the school or current students. Most are more than happy to talk to you. You can advertise for students on Craigslist, talk to your peers and see if they know anybody, ask the school to get you in contact with a student (although this is risky because they may put you in touch with somebody they know will give them a good review), or read student reviews of schools.

3. Make Sure the School is Accredited

This is easier said than done, but there are a few tell-tale signs of unaccredited schools that you can look for. If the address of the school is a P.O. Box you are probably dealing with a fly-by-the-night operation. If you've called the school and nobody is answering, you have a problem. If the school is giving you "life credits," be suspicious. You may have a ton of life experience, but sadly, real colleges will not give you credit for it. Finally, if a school you are interested in boasts an absurdly quick time in which you can get your degree, don't trust them. College takes time and so should your online school.

4. Get the Financial Aid You Want

Do not enroll in a school before you get the financial aid you want. This cannot be stressed enough. If the school tells you to start taking classes and then worry about your school funding, pull a D.A.R.E. and just say no. You don’t want to inadvertently get locked into an education you can't pay for. Before signing anything, before agreeing to anything, make sure you have the financial aid packing you want.

5. Check to Make Sure the School has All the Classes You Want

Before deciding a school, make sure that the school has the classes you need. It may be that you are currently undecided on your specific area of study. If this is the case, make sure that the school has the classes you may want to take. You don’t want to have to worry about transferring to a different school later because the program you chose doesn't have the classes you need.

This post was written by Emily Goll, editor of My Dog Ate My Blog and writer for Guide to Online Schools.

How to Survive The Online College Spring Exam Cram

Going to school online is often not as easy as it sounds on television. It is often filled with 10+ hours daily of computer work, study, or writing in which no one is/can be around to communicate with. Going to school online can be as demanding and boring as any regular college campus course(s), and is often more so with little interaction from the outside world save the computer screen. This is how I overcome the Spring Exam Cram boredom streaks that accompany going to college online:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Naps – 10 to 25 minute cat naps can be utilized during extreme periods of boredom. Nap as often as you like as long as it keeps you going.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Starbucks – buy the espresso and make coffee with it. Works like a charm. You can complete endless hours of snore worthy online college exam study tasks just by adding Hershey’s dark chocolate and some cream.

 

 

 

Cats – Get yourself a cat or small, quiet dog to help stave off the boredom. I recommend the local animal shelter. Get one at least three years old so that no potty training is necessary.

 

 

 

 

Play lots of loud rap music. Some folks prefer classical, but rap usually keeps me going. If the above methods do not work, you may want to settle for a “C”.

Stress and Exam Time Coupled With Thoughts of Graduate School and WebMBA

I have been considering graduate school. The University of Georgia system offers a WebMBA program that is supposed to be one of the best distance learning master’s degrees in the nation, but I think I might decide to complement my online Bachelor’s degree with brick and mortar graduate school experience similar to my Associate Degree. I think that would round things off perfectly and give me a change of venue for a bit. If I ever get through midterm exams without having an absolute heart attack!

I am always impatient when it comes to midterm exam grades! I love the teachers who grade your exams the moment you take them. Please! Let me know NOW! That is my opinion. I have made an “F” in community college before – it destroys your GPA, and you can just withdraw before the deadline. The “F” was for not coming to class and not studying, but I know how negatively they can affect your GPA. So, I am always nervous when it comes to exam time. The life of a student can be so annoying. I have yet to learn that patience is a virtue. Sometimes I need a giant stress ball…

Ashford University vs. Clayton State University Online Structure

My cousin is attending Ashford University online, and I attend Clayton State University Online. The structures are completely different. Her classes are composed of quizzes taken from reading material and essays. She says they have no exams.

My university’s structure runs something like this:

1. Read
2. Quizzes
3. Homework and Essays
4. Projects
5. Mostly proctored (supervised) exams.

We were discussing the different structure just the other day. Also, she has just taken this one class so far, and her book was made especially for Ashford University. I hope you’ve enjoyed your peek into our online University structures.

Online College at Ashford University, Reviews, and My Cousin’s G.I. Bill

 

 

My cousin has three children and a G.I. Bill that runs out in like 6 months. She has applied to Ashford University. This is how she tells me that it works:

1. You can take classes one at a time. Once you finish one class, you can go onto the next class.
2. There are lots of military discounts.
3. There is a Bachelor’s degree there that you can get that is the precursor to teaching grades K-3.
4. Disbursements work on a monthly or yearly basis.
5. The school is accredited!
6. Her G.I. Bill pays for the first 2 classes.

This all sounds excellent, but I am always skeptical of online college and bachelor’s degrees. While this school is fully accredited, you should watch out and make sure that you are getting the best degree. For instance, the online Bachelor’s Degree for Early Childhood Education only allows you to teach in Arizona. Just make sure and read the fine print!

Ashford University does have some online Bachelor’s Degrees that I think would be very useful such as Accounting and Criminal Justice, which always seem to be hiring. Criminal Justice is especially great for people that have a background in the military.

You will probably hear more about Ashford University and my cousin’s experiences as time progresses… Stay tuned! I can’t wait to see how it works out for her!

Meanwhile, you can read more real reviews about Ashford University here:
http://www.viewpoints.com/Ashford-University-All-programs-reviews

Coincidentally, the WEBBSIT program that I attend online is also a favorite for the military.

 

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Scholarships for Online College Students and Where to Find Them

Online college students can also find scholarships online. The process is much the same as the scholarship finding process for traditional students. There are millions of scholarships and grants out there that may help to fund your college education. Knowing where to look and what to look for can help. This is a pretty decent financial aid site: http://www.finaid.org/.

Scholarships and grants can be found at Students.gov, which is a pretty reliable site. I like this site because it is funded by the government and not some corporation mainly after your email address. You can search for all kinds of grants and scholarships here. I hope you find one that suits you.

Here are some more sites for those of you who would like to search and apply for everything:

• http://www.fedmoney.org/
• http://www.fastweb.com/
• http://www.collegeboard.com/
• http://www.scholarships.com/
• http://www.college-scholarships.com/

 

I am sure that there are more online sites for scholarships out there, but they all probably regurgitate the same information that these 5 sites display.

Happy scholarship hunting!