Pre-Algebra 2

Credit Value: Full-year course 1 credit

Anticipated Grade Level(s): Grade 8

Prerequisites: Satisfactory completion of grade 7 mathematics

 Course Description:

The grade 8 curriculum is designed to provide an integrated course for students of all abilities. Students enrolled in this course are assumed to have mastered those concepts outlined in the grade 7 curriculum. A thorough treatment of advanced algebraic concepts is provided. Emphasis will be placed on practical applications and modeling throughout the course of study. Oral and written communication concerning the language of algebra, logic of procedures, and interpretation of results also should permeate the course.

Graphing utilities (graphing calculators or computer graphing simulators), computers, spreadsheets, and other appropriate technology tools will be used to assist in teaching and learning. They also provide an effective tool for solving/verifying equations and inequalities. Any other available technology that will enhance student learning should be used.

Innovative Interactive Instruction

In our self-paced courses, students work their way through carefully scripted interactive lessons. These automated lessons lead students in mathematical conversations designed to engage, entertain, and educate. Each lesson reacts to student input, guiding them step-by-step through problems and tackling common misconceptions along the way. When students need extra help, they can turn to the class message board where instructors provide additional assistance.

Active Learning

Learning is not a spectator sport. Students best learn by tackling hard problems themselves, not by watching others do the work. Therefore, we start lessons with questions, challenging the students to find the key insights on their own. This teaches students how to create new mathematical strategies as needed. When students inevitably get stuck, we provide hints and more direct instruction to help them proceed. After students have solved a problem, we follow up with important concepts and strategies before moving on to the next problem.

Focus on Non-Routine, Challenging Problems

Thirty years ago, many intellectual careers consisted of repeatedly solving routine problems. Computers fill most of those roles now. Successful people in the next generation will need to develop new skills throughout their careers as their older skills become obsolete. To prepare our students for this challenging future, we go well beyond the basics in our courses, showing students how to apply fundamentals to problems that are not replicas of problems they’ve already seen. This teaches students how to learn, so they’ll be ready for the rigors of top-tier colleges and internationally competitive careers.

Multiple Learning Avenues

Students learn in many ways, so we deliver instruction in multiple forms. In addition to our automated interactive lessons, our students can read the Prealgebra textbook, watch videos, solve many different types of homework problems, and participate in mathematical conversations with instructors and other students on the class message board and during office hours.