Dec. 17, 2008 - Product Review -- ALEKS online math curriculum
ALEKS online math curriculum
Finally, an on-line curriculum I can start and walk away from without worrying about content. That was my first thought when we started a 30 day trial of ALEKS for my children for the purposes of this review. This curriculum is just math; no excessive graphics, no animation or oral presentation of material, no jokes or character interaction; just math education. I would like to mention that I have completed a 30 day trial of this program in the past; so I was already familiar with the basics when we started.
What's Included: ALEKS is a web-based (all on-line) comprehensive math curriculum from grades 3 through college level. Each student starts with a level you assign, which can be altered as necessary. Then each student completes a comprehensive entrance exam to determine what material on that level they have already mastered (if any). At the end of the entrance exam, the students can view a pie chart revealing exactly how they scored in each section. Students can then choose which section of the pie they want to work on; or allow ALEKS to choose for them. Beyond this, students can also use Quick Tables for memorizing multiplication facts. Both of my children (ages 7 and 9) are in level 3 (which also happens to be the first level, and corresponds to grade 3), and topics included multiplication, division, addition, subtraction, fractions, decimals, estimation and place value, and geometry. Cost is $19.95 per month; and you can get a discount for purchasing 6 months or a year at a time. You can get a one month free trial here.
What I LIke: I really like the fact that this is all straightforward content. I don't have to worry that when I walk away, my children are going to encounter anti-Christian content. I think the content is very well-organized and comprehensive. My children love using ALEKS, both the first time we tried it with my oldest, and this time -- when in the first sitting my seven year old boy worked for 2 hours and completely lost track of time. I will normally limit that to 45 minutes by the way :). I like the fact that ALEKS is for the most part completely independent once your children get used to the system.
What I Don't Like: A few things. One, the program starts with an explanation at the beginning and then from problem to problem with no teaching. If your child is struggling after the very first explanation, they really need to stop and click on a link for more explanation. My children did not get this on their own; and kept trying to just power through material. This doesn't work, and if they do finally get the material correct this way they move on even if they haven't learned. It doesn't take much to explain this to children though; so I don't consider this a huge problem. I just needed how to explain how the system worked. Two, while the material is comprehensive, the programming itself is not overly intuitive. My daughter, for instance, had no idea that she could click on the pie and choose which subject to work on. She wanted to work on multiplication, ALEKS told her to work on something else, and she got frustrated very quickly. As soon as I explained to her how to choose for herself, she was very happy with the program. Three, ALEKS requires a great deal of reading; which is mostly how the material is taught. A non-reader ready for 3rd grade level math would struggle to use this program, and I often have to remind my children to read the material -- not just start with the problem. They try to start working the problem and then get frustrated when they don't understand it! For these three reasons, I would not use ALEKS as my main Math curriculum. Which brings me to my final dislike -- Price! I cannot fathom paying $20 per month for an on-line curriculum to supplement my current math curriculum.
My Bottom Line: I am definitely planning to purchase a month or two of ALEKS when the twins arrive so the older children have some independent learning, we are all truly enjoying the free trial, but I cannot see it working for us long term as our main math curriculum or as an overpriced math supplement. If the price were cut to 1/3 of the current price, I would start considering it for full time use as a supplement. I can see how it would work in some families as the only math curriculum; especially with older, highly independent children who can self teach and figure programming and material out from reading and experimenting.
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