Most of us relate 911 to the US emergency number. In our house, we seem to operate in a perpetual state of Mathematics emergency. I just never feel like we are fully equipped, especially for higher math. Therefore, I was thrilled to discover the aid offered by Professor Martin Weissman and his Math 911 tutorial software!
Professor Weissman has been teaching Mathematics since 1963 and his passion for it has not waned. He says, “Each start of a new year gives me an opportunity to incorporate new ideas and methods to help my students overcome their fears of Mathematics and finally master the subject.” I appreciate the fact that he acknowledges that Math unsettles some of us, even to the point that we may fear it.
He also validates my own teaching approach, Mastery Learning, by utilizing the same method in his software program – the keep-trying-until-you-get-it approach. Wrong answers don’t count! The end result of the knowledge gained and retained is the ultimate goal.
Math 911 is geared for ages 12 through adult. It is designed to actually generate problems for students, furnishing unlimited Mathematical problems with detailed solutions. Lots of practice to achieve mastery! Professor Weissman believes students need more practice problems and less lecture or teaching. He supplies problems for students to solve in –
Introductory Algebra
Intermediate Algebra
College Algebra
Statistics
Trigonometry
and Pre-Calculus
The Standard Version of Math 911 can be downloaded from the upper left side of the website, where it says, “Complete Introductory Algebra Course, Click Here, Download, Install…” It’s FREE! Then, you can upgrade to the Premier Version, where you receive access to all the additional Mathematics Courses listed above. The Premier Version includes separate grade reports, printable or copied to Word, for each user in the family; and lifetime updates.
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For my review of this software, I chose to use the program myself. I’ve sort of been limping along for years, teaching Math to my children; so I decided they would benefit first by my education and then by direct application. I really like Math 911! It suits my temperament. After it is downloaded, a desktop icon appears on the computer and it’s through this gateway that one gains access to a course. I started with Introductory Algebra, knowing that I could move through the lessons at my own pace. I was pleasantly surprised to see how quickly I mastered many of the lessons based on previous knowledge. You complete a problem and press enter. If correct, you see a green check and the word Right! If incorrect, the correct answer is shown, and you are given the option to click a button to see how the problem was worked or click new problem. If I lacked any assurance of how I arrived at an answer or if I just didn’t remember a concept, I viewed the step-by-step solution. Answers aren’t marked wrong. You work through problems until you get enough correct to count the level as mastered, then you move on. The Introductory Algebra course is the only one that has instructional PDF-formatted modules available [see Intro To Whole Numbers, Addition & Subtraction, Multiplication Factors, and More directly under Screen Shots on the left side of the webpage] giving you the benefit of Professor Weissman’s teaching. He maintains, though, that one learns best by working problems and seeing examples of their solutions, over and over again, as needed. Practice. Clear. Simple. No gaming or flashy graphics. The fun is in the learning!
I am still working through the 11 chapters of Introductory Algebra, because I added Statistics, too. It’s easy to switch to a new course. Each one of the Six Courses offered is listed on your home page, along with other data: What Version of the program you’re using, how many minutes you’ve spent on the program, what course you’re presently using, which lessons are available; and which ones you’ve completed. When you click on a new course, Math 911 acknowledges it and proceeds to close, while directing you to click on the desktop icon again. The program re-opens on the new course. I’ve never taken a Statistics course before, and it is consuming. I’m really trying to apply myself to the study. I’ve written pages of notes from solutions, and the only problem I have with Math 911 is finding the time to do it. It’s my goal to ace the courses, hoping to pass CLEP Exams for college credit after completing them.
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Math 911 is on sale, as a Student Special that includes a FREE USB Version, for $49.95. This is a great value, but more remarkably, for a limited time Professor Weissman is offering a Homeschool promotion – follow this link: www.AlgebraInAFlash.com > buy now and enter the code homeschool at Google checkout – you’ll receive the flash version for just $9.95.
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Professor Weissman is personally accessible and generously tries to respond to comments, suggestions or questions within 24 hours. His level of Customer Service is noteworthy. He is understanding, kind and helpful. You can contact him by email ~ mathprof@math911.com, phone ~ 347.528.7837, or standard mail ~ Professor Martin Weissman, Professor Weissman’s Software, 246 Crafton Avenue, Staten Island, NY 10314.
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You can also gather information when you click the banner below and
read what my Crew mates have to say about Math 911.
Blessings,
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