On The Road To Failing Calc

[Greenday]

Well, it's not really failing, as the grading scale here is you have to get below a 60 to fail the class and that isn't happening. But I have to take Calc II and to take Calc II, I have to get at least a C which is at least a 73. I don't know If I'm going to be able to pull that off. My quiz average is probably about a low-mid 80. My first test I got a 69.5. The second test I got a 79. I just took my third test today. Didn't even finish every problem. No one in my class finished the test without writing in guesses. No one in the other class finished. While we have our second calc class today at 2, there's no way she's going to give us more time to work on the test as the other class only has one class today so it'd be unfair to them. And my teacher doesn't curve grades either. I talked to other kids in the class who took Calc in high school and got A's in it too and they are doing horrible too. This teacher gives us problems on test and quizzes that she's never gone over in class. She gives us questions that aren't even math problems like True/False, explain this, explain why this answer is correct, etc. It's a load of crap. It's funny how now that I've gotten here, people are starting to tell me how my college's math department is one of the worst rated ones in the state. Great. Even my friend who studies all the time and does great in all our other classes is worried about trying to get a C in this class. It's ridiculous. I'm going to try to talk to my teacher and ask her if there is any way she can bump me up to a C since that's what I need for Calc II but I don't know if she will do it.

[Ryu]

i hate when teachers do that
not only is it harmful to your gpa and possibly prevents you from taking other classes, but its a waste of time and money if you arent really learning or at least being exposed to the material in a learnable manner

[Tanasi]

The only way I got through Calc, II and III was to take them during the summer from TAs. I guess my big problem with math in general is if I can't apply it to a real world situation that I'm going to run into then I couldn't learn it. The wife on the other hand is a math and science genius. I'm more of an applied learning type of guy. Anyways good luck.

[KuzcoLlama]

Greenday, I'm one step ahead of you. Failed calc four years ago. Of course, that was all my fault, as no one could get me understand those concept whatsoever.

:: shrug:: What can I say? I'm not a math sort of person. :lol:

[Primer]

As a math teacher, I have a few questions:

1. Are you reading the text before you go to class?

2. Are you working out all the homework assigned?

3. Are you utilizing the teacher's office hours?

4. Are you utilizing all resources the school has to offer--tutors, etc?

5. Have you honestly allocated enough time to devote to math? Generally, you need to allow at least three hours out of class for every one hour you spend in class, so one four-hour credit class would require at least an additional 12 hours for homework and studying.

6. Do you ask questions?

It's not always the teacher's fault...
Sometimes it is, though, sometimes it is.

[Ringtail Z28]

At least you guys made it that far. I'm in college and still haven't taken calc.

[Worker-Intellectual]

If you need help, I've taken Calc II... twice! ;)

But it was my own fault I failed it the first time. I couldn't stay awake in class. Then when I took it in summer, I got an A+ :D

Now, I'm failing Math Methods for Engineers I :(

[Zombi]

If she's testing you on things that aren't covered in class, and also aren't in your required reading (do you even have required reading for math? Sorry, I'm a humanities major ;)), does your college allow you any recourse? At my university, you could appeal against your results if you felt that they were unfair, and it would be examined by a third party.

[Greenday]

If I have problems, I ask them. I almost always understand what she's teaching and when I don't, I just ask for more explanations. The teacher has office hours once a week and I have classes during them. It's just we lose so many points for the dumbest stuff ever. A problem is worth 6 points. You get the right answer, but you lose 5 points because she doesn't really like the work. Losing 4 points because I don't know the square root of 289? I'm sorry I only learned up to 13 squared. Really, why didn't someone tell me BEFORE I got here my school has the worst math section in PA? One of the teachers just got off his probation from no one passing his classes. Apparently another math teacher's Calc II class, the highest grade is a 76, then a 48...this is a class of about 20 too.

[ArenaBoy]

Heh, math is my worst subject ever. I'm kind of like Tanasi, if I can't use it in real life then it's useless. As far as I know I've only needed math for taxes, tips, and other various everyday things.