EKS Posted March 12, 2011 Share Posted March 12, 2011 I am thinking of enrolling my son in Derek Owens' precalculus course next year and I'm wondering what your experience has been. It doesn't have to be just for precalculus, any course will do. Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
abbeyej Posted March 12, 2011 Share Posted March 12, 2011 We're doing his geometry class this year. Ds is in a "real" class for an hour a week, but most of the teaching and all of the grading is done just as if he were in the online class. It means it's a little easier for ds to ask a question (though Derek is very responsive via email) and he feels like he "knows" Derek, but overall, the teaching is the same. It's been great for us. I'm really very, very pleased. Next year we'll be continuing with him for Algebra II and one of the science courses. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sunshine State Sue Posted March 12, 2011 Share Posted March 12, 2011 My 9th grade son is using Derek Owens for Physics this year via distance learning. Overall, I have been pleased. You may read my review here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gwen in VA Posted March 12, 2011 Share Posted March 12, 2011 We signed my ds2, a jiunior, up for Derek Owens' physics class. We were so unhappy with it we agreed he could drop the class after thirty minutes and we sold the workbook a few days later! We were hoping for something reasonably rigorous that would provide an overview of physics to help ds prepare for taking calculus-based physics at the CC next fall. My older kids have used Giancoli, and I was hoping the class would be easier than using the textbook alone but still have some of the content. Our complaints -- 1) We looked through the workbook. Ds knew almost everything in the first semester workbook already. It was extremely easy, and bore no relation to the materials covered in Giancoli. The workbook for the second semester would undoubtedly cover content he didn't know, but the first semester would be almost entirely review. 2) The videos are done in isty-bitsy segments and must be uploaded individually. My son had to upload for a minute or two, watch for three or four, upload for another one or two, and so on. We have DSL, so we are not as up-to-date as we would like (nothing faster is offered in our area), but this business of uploading for a bit, watching for a bit, and then uploading again would drive anyone insane! If there is a way to upload them all at once, my computer-geek son and my computer geek dh couldn't find it. (We didn't fuss at this overly long, since we were unhappy about the content, but it was the straw that broke the proverbial back.....) And the videos can't be skipped, since in order to do some of the sheets you need to get the information from the videos. I have heard good things about the course, and I'm sure it is great for people with different expectations and better uploading speed, but it didn't work for us. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
abbeyej Posted March 12, 2011 Share Posted March 12, 2011 You can get all of the videos on CD from Derek, if internet is unavailable or slow. We have not done this, but other kids in the classes at our location have done so when they were going to be traveling. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Julie in MN Posted March 12, 2011 Share Posted March 12, 2011 We tried Derek Owens for Geometry, at Sue's recommendation. (I was so grateful for that!) We only used it for a little over a month, but I would recommend it as a great addition to Jacob's textbook alone. It is far more than Jacobs alone, and the only other videos I found were Callahan, which are tiny and not nearly as well organized. As for his workbook, we didn't try it. But in Geometry, he assigns some from the textbook and some from the workbook. Instead, we just used his videos to do our usual textbook problems (mostly using the MFW guide for Jacobs). Mr. Owens' customer service is great, too. Mr. Owens answered all emails promptly, helped with any geometry questions we had, gave good advice on grading, etc. He also allowed me to pay half price for just the videos (because he didn't have to correct my son's work), and threw in his tests & test answers in case I found them useful (which I did use). He's been very generous with access to his site now, even though we are unsure we'll go back to Jacob's geometry (am trying TT). Julie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sunshine State Sue Posted March 15, 2011 Share Posted March 15, 2011 1) We looked through the workbook. Ds knew almost everything in the first semester workbook already. It was extremely easy, and bore no relation to the materials covered in Giancoli. The workbook for the second semester would undoubtedly cover content he didn't know, but the first semester would be almost entirely review. Hey Gwen, A few questions if you don't mind? What has your ds used for Physics previously if he already knew the material covered in the first semester? I'm curious because I don't feel like I slacked off in junior high, and ds is finding this class quite challenging. Is there a strong math/science bent in this ds inherited from mother and/or father? Of course, it could be that as a junior your son has had a few more years of math than my son. I dunno. Thank you for helping me get a clearer understanding of the different experiences we've had. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nissi Posted March 15, 2011 Share Posted March 15, 2011 Ds.1 is doing Precalculus with Mr. Owens. The first semester was mostly review(this seems to be normal for any Precalculus course) but the second semester has all new material. He is happy with the course. Mr. Owens has been prompt with tests, homework assignments, etc. The main reason we chose Mr. Owens over others is because he could complete the material at his own pace. Other Precalculus courses that we considered seriously last year but could not fit into our schedule were the Potter's School Precalculus course and Scholars Online course. HTH! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gwen in VA Posted March 15, 2011 Share Posted March 15, 2011 What has your ds used for Physics previously if he already knew the material covered in the first semester? I'm curious because I don't feel like I slacked off in junior high, and ds is finding this class quite challenging. Is there a strong math/science bent in this ds inherited from mother and/or father? Ds has not studied physics previously, but he is currently acing Calculus 1 at the community college. In that class, he is dealing with vectors, force/distance stuff, etc. He is quite strong in math. He also reads engineering magazines, keeps up with the latest in sail design, and is fascinated by industrial technology. He is very much an engineer -- he designs and builds kites. In order to help himself understand how to approach designing the templates more easily, he taught himself trig a few years ago. And yes, um, he does have some genetic predisposition to engineering -- dh and I have a combined total of four degrees in engineering. :tongue_smilie: I'm sorry I didn't know that we could get the videos on CD. That might not have made a difference, but certainly the videos were what made the decision to drop the class so easy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EKS Posted March 16, 2011 Author Share Posted March 16, 2011 Ds.1 is doing Precalculus with Mr. Owens. The first semester was mostly review(this seems to be normal for any Precalculus course) but the second semester has all new material. He is happy with the course. Mr. Owens has been prompt with tests, homework assignments, etc. The main reason we chose Mr. Owens over others is because he could complete the material at his own pace.Other Precalculus courses that we considered seriously last year but could not fit into our schedule were the Potter's School Precalculus course and Scholars Online course. HTH! Does he actually use the book indicated on the website? I read somewhere that one of the courses lists a book that is not, in fact, used. Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nissi Posted March 16, 2011 Share Posted March 16, 2011 Yes, all the assignments for each lesson is from the Precalculus text. Some courses use the text and others don't. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nynyny Posted March 16, 2011 Share Posted March 16, 2011 We're doing his geometry class this year. Ds is in a "real" class for an hour a week, but most of the teaching and all of the grading is done just as if he were in the online class. It means it's a little easier for ds to ask a question (though Derek is very responsive via email) and he feels like he "knows" Derek, but overall, the teaching is the same. It's been great for us. I'm really very, very pleased. Next year we'll be continuing with him for Algebra II and one of the science courses. Are you saying your son is in the online class or in the actual class? Thanks. Katie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sunshine State Sue Posted March 16, 2011 Share Posted March 16, 2011 Ds has not studied physics previously, but he is currently acing Calculus 1 at the community college. In that class, he is dealing with vectors, force/distance stuff, etc. He is quite strong in math. He also reads engineering magazines, keeps up with the latest in sail design, and is fascinated by industrial technology. He is very much an engineer -- he designs and builds kites. In order to help himself understand how to approach designing the templates more easily, he taught himself trig a few years ago. And yes, um, he does have some genetic predisposition to engineering -- dh and I have a combined total of four degrees in engineering. :tongue_smilie: Thanks, Gwen. Since ds is working on Geometry now and typically unmotivated about school work in general, that explains the difference in experiences. :seeya: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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