MathSpace is the absolute worst

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm elsewhere in Virginia and our high schooler's math class is all on paper. Trig. They ditched the online math platforms for being ineffective, and poorly designed. Kid has a paper packet of math problems due on Monday in class. Have fun!

Have fun with all the MAGA this fall!!

Weird flex. Wherever the PP is, they certainly have a better approach to teaching math than here in FCPS.
DP

And yet not one thing was different in FCPS when they were in office a few years ago

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My son’s geometry class is using this platform now and it is terrible. It won’t accept straightforward answers, even when they are correct. He has spent hours on this mess, trying to figure out exactly how his answer should be worded or formatted in order for the system to accept it. HORRIBLE.

Your son can't figure out that he needs to answer "x = 4" instead of "4"? Or that triangle DEF is not the same as triangle EDF? Then the problem lies with your son and not with mathspace.

Umm... that's not the issue. Maybe don't comment if you don't understand what's being discussed?

Then give me an example.of the issue. There have been a lot of complaints about it being "horrible" and not taking "straightforward answers." Give me an example. I'll wait.

Still waiting...
Is it because there really aren't any issues with the program?

[Anonymous]

What my son doesn't like in the higher level math is first that being done on a screen is different than using a paper and pencil. And second having to show each individual step in mathspace's opinion of how to do a problem, doesn't always leave room in higher level math for individual approaches. This is the bigger problem to me. It sometimes didn't even align with the steps his teacher taught them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What my son doesn't like in the higher level math is first that being done on a screen is different than using a paper and pencil. And second having to show each individual step in mathspace's opinion of how to do a problem, doesn't always leave room in higher level math for individual approaches. This is the bigger problem to me. It sometimes didn't even align with the steps his teacher taught them.

He does not have to show each individual step. He can solve the problem on scratch paper and then just input the answer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What my son doesn't like in the higher level math is first that being done on a screen is different than using a paper and pencil. And second having to show each individual step in mathspace's opinion of how to do a problem, doesn't always leave room in higher level math for individual approaches. This is the bigger problem to me. It sometimes didn't even align with the steps his teacher taught them.

He does not have to show each individual step. He can solve the problem on scratch paper and then just input the answer.

That was not true for algebra 1. I even watched him do it because he was so frustrated and he absolutely had to show every step. Maybe it’s a teacher setting?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What my son doesn't like in the higher level math is first that being done on a screen is different than using a paper and pencil. And second having to show each individual step in mathspace's opinion of how to do a problem, doesn't always leave room in higher level math for individual approaches. This is the bigger problem to me. It sometimes didn't even align with the steps his teacher taught them.

He does not have to show each individual step. He can solve the problem on scratch paper and then just input the answer.

That was not true for algebra 1. I even watched him do it because he was so frustrated and he absolutely had to show every step. Maybe it’s a teacher setting?

I am a teacher in FCPS. You do not have to enter in each individual step to solve a problem. For example, if the problem is 4x + 3 = 5(x - 2), he can solve it on paper or in his head and enter x = 13 into the box.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What my son doesn't like in the higher level math is first that being done on a screen is different than using a paper and pencil. And second having to show each individual step in mathspace's opinion of how to do a problem, doesn't always leave room in higher level math for individual approaches. This is the bigger problem to me. It sometimes didn't even align with the steps his teacher taught them.

He does not have to show each individual step. He can solve the problem on scratch paper and then just input the answer.

That was not true for algebra 1. I even watched him do it because he was so frustrated and he absolutely had to show every step. Maybe it’s a teacher setting?

I am a teacher in FCPS. You do not have to enter in each individual step to solve a problem. For example, if the problem is 4x + 3 = 5(x - 2), he can solve it on paper or in his head and enter x = 13 into the box.

+1 my son pointed that out to me as well and made the point that it is safer to do it on paper and just enter the final answer. Less room for error on all the inputs. Math space will accept any equivalent equation as you are solving it fyi.

[Anonymous]

So it seems the issue is that some teachers are not explaining to students how to use the program appropriately... or that some students are not listening to their teachers, or perhaps not taking advantage of office hours to ask questions.

I have two teens, one who is highly capable and figures things out, and one who has ADHD and low processing speed. If I had to rely on my ADHD kid's experience of school... I'd think all the programs and all the teachers were horrible! Luckily, my other kid shows me how easy-peasy school can be. They're in college and high school now.

Sorry, but it depends on the kid as well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What my son doesn't like in the higher level math is first that being done on a screen is different than using a paper and pencil. And second having to show each individual step in mathspace's opinion of how to do a problem, doesn't always leave room in higher level math for individual approaches. This is the bigger problem to me. It sometimes didn't even align with the steps his teacher taught them.

He does not have to show each individual step. He can solve the problem on scratch paper and then just input the answer.

That was not true for algebra 1. I even watched him do it because he was so frustrated and he absolutely had to show every step. Maybe it’s a teacher setting?

I am a teacher in FCPS. You do not have to enter in each individual step to solve a problem. For example, if the problem is 4x + 3 = 5(x - 2), he can solve it on paper or in his head and enter x = 13 into the box.

+1 my son pointed that out to me as well and made the point that it is safer to do it on paper and just enter the final answer. Less room for error on all the inputs. Math space will accept any equivalent equation as you are solving it fyi.

Well they have changed it in the past few years then. When my kids were in high school, every step of a problem had to be entered *exactly* how the program wanted it - no deviations. It was maddening and beyond upsetting, especially when they had the right answer but it wasn't accepted. Ridiculous.
DP

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What my son doesn't like in the higher level math is first that being done on a screen is different than using a paper and pencil. And second having to show each individual step in mathspace's opinion of how to do a problem, doesn't always leave room in higher level math for individual approaches. This is the bigger problem to me. It sometimes didn't even align with the steps his teacher taught them.

He does not have to show each individual step. He can solve the problem on scratch paper and then just input the answer.

That was not true for algebra 1. I even watched him do it because he was so frustrated and he absolutely had to show every step. Maybe it’s a teacher setting?

+1
Same for my kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So it seems the issue is that some teachers are not explaining to students how to use the program appropriately... or that some students are not listening to their teachers, or perhaps not taking advantage of office hours to ask questions.

I have two teens, one who is highly capable and figures things out, and one who has ADHD and low processing speed. If I had to rely on my ADHD kid's experience of school... I'd think all the programs and all the teachers were horrible! Luckily, my other kid shows me how easy-peasy school can be. They're in college and high school now.

Sorry, but it depends on the kid as well.

Yes, absolutely. We looked up a video on how to input answers on those types of questions thank goodness. The teacher didn’t give any guidance in class or show them how to use it and uses it for a grade.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What my son doesn't like in the higher level math is first that being done on a screen is different than using a paper and pencil. And second having to show each individual step in mathspace's opinion of how to do a problem, doesn't always leave room in higher level math for individual approaches. This is the bigger problem to me. It sometimes didn't even align with the steps his teacher taught them.

He does not have to show each individual step. He can solve the problem on scratch paper and then just input the answer.

That was not true for algebra 1. I even watched him do it because he was so frustrated and he absolutely had to show every step. Maybe it’s a teacher setting?

I am a teacher in FCPS. You do not have to enter in each individual step to solve a problem. For example, if the problem is 4x + 3 = 5(x - 2), he can solve it on paper or in his head and enter x = 13 into the box.

+1 my son pointed that out to me as well and made the point that it is safer to do it on paper and just enter the final answer. Less room for error on all the inputs. Math space will accept any equivalent equation as you are solving it fyi.

Well they have changed it in the past few years then. When my kids were in high school, every step of a problem had to be entered *exactly* how the program wanted it - no deviations. It was maddening and beyond upsetting, especially when they had the right answer but it wasn't accepted. Ridiculous.
DP

This is not true.

I am the FCPS math tescher.and have been using mathspace since they introduced it. You have never had to enter in all of your steps; you have always been able to solve the problem on paper and just enter the answer. Perhaps your child was making the common mistake of entering in "10" instead of "x = 10." Or some other inputting error?

With that said, I do think that mathspace has improved over the years.Geometry, in particular, has much better questions now. I also really appreciate that students can "try again" for full credit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What my son doesn't like in the higher level math is first that being done on a screen is different than using a paper and pencil. And second having to show each individual step in mathspace's opinion of how to do a problem, doesn't always leave room in higher level math for individual approaches. This is the bigger problem to me. It sometimes didn't even align with the steps his teacher taught them.

He does not have to show each individual step. He can solve the problem on scratch paper and then just input the answer.

That was not true for algebra 1. I even watched him do it because he was so frustrated and he absolutely had to show every step. Maybe it’s a teacher setting?

I am a teacher in FCPS. You do not have to enter in each individual step to solve a problem. For example, if the problem is 4x + 3 = 5(x - 2), he can solve it on paper or in his head and enter x = 13 into the box.

+1 my son pointed that out to me as well and made the point that it is safer to do it on paper and just enter the final answer. Less room for error on all the inputs. Math space will accept any equivalent equation as you are solving it fyi.

Well they have changed it in the past few years then. When my kids were in high school, every step of a problem had to be entered *exactly* how the program wanted it - no deviations. It was maddening and beyond upsetting, especially when they had the right answer but it wasn't accepted. Ridiculous.
DP

This is not true.

I am the FCPS math tescher.and have been using mathspace since they introduced it. You have never had to enter in all of your steps; you have always been able to solve the problem on paper and just enter the answer. Perhaps your child was making the common mistake of entering in "10" instead of "x = 10." Or some other inputting error?

With that said, I do think that mathspace has improved over the years.Geometry, in particular, has much better questions now. I also really appreciate that students can "try again" for full credit.

But what she said is true for them. If you don’t enter the steps correctly it will be marked wrong. They didn’t know you could just write the answer. Math space will accept any equivalent equations, fyi.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What my son doesn't like in the higher level math is first that being done on a screen is different than using a paper and pencil. And second having to show each individual step in mathspace's opinion of how to do a problem, doesn't always leave room in higher level math for individual approaches. This is the bigger problem to me. It sometimes didn't even align with the steps his teacher taught them.

He does not have to show each individual step. He can solve the problem on scratch paper and then just input the answer.

That was not true for algebra 1. I even watched him do it because he was so frustrated and he absolutely had to show every step. Maybe it’s a teacher setting?

I am a teacher in FCPS. You do not have to enter in each individual step to solve a problem. For example, if the problem is 4x + 3 = 5(x - 2), he can solve it on paper or in his head and enter x = 13 into the box.

Well, that's interesting, because (unprompted) my son's high school honors geometry teacher told parents at BTSN that what she likes about mathspace is that the student has to enter every step along the way to solving a problem and mathspace stops them if they make a misstep so they have to fix it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What my son doesn't like in the higher level math is first that being done on a screen is different than using a paper and pencil. And second having to show each individual step in mathspace's opinion of how to do a problem, doesn't always leave room in higher level math for individual approaches. This is the bigger problem to me. It sometimes didn't even align with the steps his teacher taught them.

He does not have to show each individual step. He can solve the problem on scratch paper and then just input the answer.

That was not true for algebra 1. I even watched him do it because he was so frustrated and he absolutely had to show every step. Maybe it’s a teacher setting?

I am a teacher in FCPS. You do not have to enter in each individual step to solve a problem. For example, if the problem is 4x + 3 = 5(x - 2), he can solve it on paper or in his head and enter x = 13 into the box.

Well, that's interesting, because (unprompted) my son's high school honors geometry teacher told parents at BTSN that what she likes about mathspace is that the student has to enter every step along the way to solving a problem and mathspace stops them if they make a misstep so they have to fix it.

Students can enter in every step if they wish to do so. I would not recommend it.