Videotext or Teaching Textbooks question...

[Connie1961]

I have the opportunity to borrow either the Videotext Series A-F or the Teaching Textbooks Algebra I & II. Which would you recommend and why???

Thanks for your help, I just can't decide.
Connie

[teachmom3]

Just about the only thing that they have in common is that they were both designed to teach directly to the student, with little input usually required from the parent.

VideoText takes a conceptual-based didactic approach. The intent is to teach the student to understand the math, not just learn the rules. TT takes a more algorithm-driven approach.

TT explains every step of every problem in exquisite detail. This is both one of its strengths as well as one of its weaknesses. Although its explanations are generally sufficient, VideoText (and just about any other math program) doesn't explain in the minute detail that TT does.

Most of VideoText's instruction is contained in the video. The hard copy material is almost just (albeit more than) a workbook. TT's hard copy material is truly a textbook; some people just use the book and don't bother with the video.

With VideoText, your math sequence must be algebra 1, → algebra 2 → geometry. With TT, I think you can take geometry either after algebra 1 or algebra 2.

Neither course is a priori better or worse than the other. It just depends on which approach would be more likely to fit your child well. Alas, sometimes you can't tell, until after you actually try the program in question. In fact, despite the fact that both of these programs are quite good, neither of them would probably have worked well with our family, for different reasons.

JMHO, but HTH!

[betty]

I guess it depends on the kind of math student you have. My older 2 have always been ahead in math. I got Videotext this year and we are really liking it. I looked through the TT placement exams and samples. The placement exams seem to put dd way ahead of where she should be. The sample material didn't seem to show a depth of mathematical thinking, but I haven't looked at the whole program, only samples so I may be wrong. I wanted a program to explain the reasoning behind the math, not just the math--Videotext does this.

[Pam L in Mid Tenn]

Can you look at them both and then decide? I have used TT Algebra 1 with my non-math-y students. TT is a good fit for them, but is not challenging enough for my more math oriented student. What a blessing to be able to BORROW either one though!

[betty]

I have to add. Several people say that Videotext doesn't have a text book, just workbooks. The books you get with Videotext are not hard cover. If you managed to put them all together and bind them they'd be the size of a text book for each "year" (3 modules). Additionally they aren't set up to be workbooks--you don't write in them. There's no extra space for solving the problems. Because each module has 5 soft cover books to go with it, you have to familiarize yourself with how to use them, a bit differently than a standard text, but all the things you'd find in a standard text are there. So, after viewing the video my dd can review the "worktext" explanations and examples and do the problems. As she does the problems she can flip back to examples (just like you could in a standard text) or she can look at the "notes" book. The answers to all problems are in a different softcover book. Videotext provide solutions to all problems not just answers to odd numbered problems (typical of most math publishers).

It is my understanding that TT provides solutions to every problem as well. I just take exception to the characterization of "workbook", since the material Videotext gives you really isn't a workbook. One thing I do with Videotext is make my dd do every problem. I think extra practice is lacking with Videotext. I sometimes make up extra practice sheets for dd to do. I also supplement with LOF.

[HiddenJewel]

Dd is just finishing VT Algebra Module B. I really like it so far. I like TT for their explanations but felt that VT was more what I wanted to accomplish as far as understanding the concepts behind the math. And I like VT's explanations so far as well. Dd does the odd problems one day. If it is a concept she is confident in she moves on. If it isn't, she does the even problems. Then she moves on to either the next lesson or the quiz, whichever is scheduled next. Of course, if she does poorly on the quiz it is back to the lesson.

I think TT is more simplistic in its approach. This isn't necessarily a bad thing and I actually wonder if I shouldn't have stayed with TT's sequence all the way through. However, I do like VT's approach as well so I am not disappointed with my choice.