Aleks or Strighterline?

Discussion in 'CLEP, DANTES, and Other Exams for Credit' started by RBTullo, Jun 12, 2011.

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  1. RBTullo

    RBTullo Member

    My daughter will be entering college in the Fall and I'm looking to lighten her load by knocking out some of the core classes. Does anyone have experience with either Aleks or Straighterline, or maybe both? What were the pro's and con's?

    Thanks,

    Rich
     
  2. dlcurious

    dlcurious Member

    No personal experience with either but I don't believe these courses have been confirmed to be accepted by very many schools outside of those popular in distance learning circles (big 3, FHSU, etc.) I'd definitely confirm her plans with her schools of choice prior to laying out the green to take them.
     
  3. okiemom

    okiemom New Member

    Hi Rich,

    Definitely check the schools she's interested in. When my sons were considering ALEKS, I emailed several schools in Oklahoma to see which ones would take it. Surprisingly, all but one would. There's a good chance other states will be the same way.
    Both of my sons used ALEX to meet their math requirements at SNU. The youngest used Intermediate Algebra and the oldest used Intro to Stats. I used ALEKS to meet my math requirements at COSC and loved it. The biggest advantage we found was the fact ALEKS is self paced.
     
  4. JBjunior

    JBjunior Active Member

    I have experience with both. I have taken college algebra and macroeconomics through Straighterline and various math courses through ALEKS. They are both very different options for ultimately the end result. Basically ALEKS is a teaching tool and Straighterline is more of a credit by examination tool. If you go with ALEKS it will teach you the basics of the subject and if you struggle and miss a question it will assist you with learning the material. With Straighterline you are supposed to purchase the book, read the material, learn the material, and then test on it. There isn't a built in teaching tool with the exception of the book. It would depend on the type of student your daughter is which one would be better for her. If she already has a good foundation, then besides price, she should be able to get more out of Straighterline. If she needs to learn the basics then I think ALEKS will be better for her. ALEKS is hands down the cheapest and best learning tool. If she is able to cruise through the course then Straighterline may take up less of her time but you will pay for it. Although there are a lot of variables. If she can cruise through ALEKS, passing the assessment the first time with a 70% in an hour, she can knock out many courses with that first $20 fee. ALEKS also has a more limited selection of courses so she will probably end up having to use both.
     
  5. JBjunior

    JBjunior Active Member

    Straighterline has agreements with schools outside of the big three (there were like 8-10) and are ACE approved. ALEKS is ACE approved. Many colleges will accept ACE approved courses on a limited basis, but yes it is very important to verify that the school will ultimately accept them on whatever transcript they end up on.
     
  6. RBTullo

    RBTullo Member

    I just wanted to say thank-you for all the help, we will contact her school to verify that they will accept the courses.

    Rich
     
  7. ryoder

    ryoder New Member

    I love both of these. I picked up 9 credits in math with ALEKs including biz stats, intro to stats and college algebra. I took accounting I&II plus biz comm at straighterline for my BSBA at Thomas Edison State College.
    Right now I am working on an MBA at Northcentral University | Online Degree Programs | Online Learning and a second bachelors at TESC in Natural Science and am taking straighterline Anatomy & Physiology I&II with them. I am really enjoying it. I am reading the text plus an easier to read supplemental text and taking the quizzes online. I have been at it off and on for about a week and have finished 60% of the first course.

    Definitely check to make sure your school will accept the credits, Thomas Edison, Exelsior and Charter Oak will definitely take these credits. I recommend CLEP and Dantes tests too. Check out the other degree site, degreeforum.net for more info on testing out options for a bachelors.
     

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