- #1
DrCrowbar
- 15
- 0
Hello,
I think this is my first post here, but I've lurked for quite a while as a silent user and even before then as a non-user.
I'm currently enrolled and majoring in pre-engineering at a community college in Mississippi. So far, I've taken Algebra, Trig, and calculus 1, and I'm currently taking calculus 2, and having a hard time so far.
I took Calculus 1 from a teacher (TeacherA) in the summer and got a B. I liked M's teaching style quite a bit, but I still felt that the application/theory in the class was weak. It was mostly composed of: "NAME OF PROCESS, HOW TO DO IT." All these procedures and NO theory or proofs! It feels like everything I find neat about calculus and that I enjoy learning about HERE (PhysicsForums and online by MIT OCW Scholar) is completely different (i.e. not neat, not fun, not cohesive). I feel like it is nearly impossible to learn all these little things without understanding the theory. Maybe it's the combination of a poor calculus curriculum and the fact that I learn best by studying by myself with a good textbook (the textbook I have isn't very good, but I intend to purchase/library request one or two that I found highly recommended here! Can't wait to get them.
That's the backstory, I suppose. Here's the problem. I recently took my first calculus 2 test in calculus 2 by another teacher (TeacherB) on the properties of logarithms and how to use them to simplify differentiation and integration. I made the mistake of relying on my teacher's lectures and not enough on my textbook or my online resources (MIT OCW or Khan Academy). I got a 33% on the test.
I want to excuse the failure, but outside of over-reliance on my prof's lectures, I didn't make the time to prepare... I was busy, but I could have made time if I had really wanted to. Only thing I can say is that I get excited when I study calculus online or in a good book, and I get bored and disinterested when in class with TeacherB (and a bit with TeacherA).
This is getting too long.
Basically, I can't stand being bored by professors. I want to learn calculus because it'll allow me to build cool stuff as an engineer later on. I also want to learn it because it'll allow me to understand higher physics studies. My first thought was that I would just attend class, learn as much as I can from the lectures, and study real calculus in my off-time. The trouble is that I have four other classes to study for, and unfortunately for me I don't have enough time to get A's in all my classes and then spend hours a week studying calculus on my own.
I don't understand my calculus professor. I don't understand why he teaches the way he does when what I can learn from MIT OCW Scholar online program without any personal instruction is about 3 times what more than I can learn in a week in class. Not only do I learn how to apply the information, it's actually consistent with what I read in the textbook! I am 100% sure I will not be able to finish the class with anything higher than a B (if that).
It's not too late to withdraw the class without a grade. If I do, I have two options:
1. take calculus 2 again but with instructor A instead of instructor B
2. Study on MIT OCW and with my personal textbooks and take the CLEP for Calculus and bypass the poor teaching.
I think I mentioned it, but my desire is to get my first two years of study finished in pre-engineering (aerospace/aeronautical/astronautical/mechanical :D) but I'm also interested in pursuing higher physics after I get my masters degree. I don't want to learn calculus for the next test, dangit.
Please give me your thoughts. I'm not in a hurry to graduate this Spring. I intend to retake a class or two in Fall 2013 to replace some B's with A's.
I think this is my first post here, but I've lurked for quite a while as a silent user and even before then as a non-user.
I'm currently enrolled and majoring in pre-engineering at a community college in Mississippi. So far, I've taken Algebra, Trig, and calculus 1, and I'm currently taking calculus 2, and having a hard time so far.
I took Calculus 1 from a teacher (TeacherA) in the summer and got a B. I liked M's teaching style quite a bit, but I still felt that the application/theory in the class was weak. It was mostly composed of: "NAME OF PROCESS, HOW TO DO IT." All these procedures and NO theory or proofs! It feels like everything I find neat about calculus and that I enjoy learning about HERE (PhysicsForums and online by MIT OCW Scholar) is completely different (i.e. not neat, not fun, not cohesive). I feel like it is nearly impossible to learn all these little things without understanding the theory. Maybe it's the combination of a poor calculus curriculum and the fact that I learn best by studying by myself with a good textbook (the textbook I have isn't very good, but I intend to purchase/library request one or two that I found highly recommended here! Can't wait to get them.
That's the backstory, I suppose. Here's the problem. I recently took my first calculus 2 test in calculus 2 by another teacher (TeacherB) on the properties of logarithms and how to use them to simplify differentiation and integration. I made the mistake of relying on my teacher's lectures and not enough on my textbook or my online resources (MIT OCW or Khan Academy). I got a 33% on the test.
I want to excuse the failure, but outside of over-reliance on my prof's lectures, I didn't make the time to prepare... I was busy, but I could have made time if I had really wanted to. Only thing I can say is that I get excited when I study calculus online or in a good book, and I get bored and disinterested when in class with TeacherB (and a bit with TeacherA).
This is getting too long.
Basically, I can't stand being bored by professors. I want to learn calculus because it'll allow me to build cool stuff as an engineer later on. I also want to learn it because it'll allow me to understand higher physics studies. My first thought was that I would just attend class, learn as much as I can from the lectures, and study real calculus in my off-time. The trouble is that I have four other classes to study for, and unfortunately for me I don't have enough time to get A's in all my classes and then spend hours a week studying calculus on my own.
I don't understand my calculus professor. I don't understand why he teaches the way he does when what I can learn from MIT OCW Scholar online program without any personal instruction is about 3 times what more than I can learn in a week in class. Not only do I learn how to apply the information, it's actually consistent with what I read in the textbook! I am 100% sure I will not be able to finish the class with anything higher than a B (if that).
It's not too late to withdraw the class without a grade. If I do, I have two options:
1. take calculus 2 again but with instructor A instead of instructor B
2. Study on MIT OCW and with my personal textbooks and take the CLEP for Calculus and bypass the poor teaching.
I think I mentioned it, but my desire is to get my first two years of study finished in pre-engineering (aerospace/aeronautical/astronautical/mechanical :D) but I'm also interested in pursuing higher physics after I get my masters degree. I don't want to learn calculus for the next test, dangit.
Please give me your thoughts. I'm not in a hurry to graduate this Spring. I intend to retake a class or two in Fall 2013 to replace some B's with A's.