What Middle Schoolers Think of ALEKS

[dcan]

Just came across this while looking for a demo to show someone how ALEKS works. The video is useless and looks like it was done by a 7th grader, which apparently it was. The comments are priceless. Lots of whining about how ALEKS "sucks" and looking for ways to "hack" it. Presumably because it forces them to actually do real work.

Sounds to me like a bunch of whining crybabies who want a free ride through life. After all, they grew up with video games that play themselves for you. (seriously, see the pic-in-pic of the "player" using the Kinect and just sitting there while he nearly beats the game without ever doing anything at all)

Kids are so spoiled now it's unbelievable. I weep for our future.

[OE800_85]

well, let's not overgeneralize here. I know lots of kids (family members) who get straight a's, study for a lot longer than I did in those years, have very well-rounded lives, and actually can engage in critical thinking. Don't give up on them yet.

[burbuja0512]

My kids like ALEKS. DS is almost 16 and started on ALEKS maybe a year and a half ago. My DD is 11 and used ALEKS when she was in 5th grade (now going into 7th) and also liked it.

I think that kids that age are just whiney. (sorry kids on the forum.. I really mean MANY, not all!) I don't know if it's hormones or whether it's cultural. I don't think that it means that they expect a free ride, though of course there are always bad eggs.

[dcan]

Yeah I over-generalized a bit. It still makes me laugh though when I see something like that.

[cookderosa]

The only kids who hate ALEKS are the ones who've never used Saxon. hilarious

C'mon homeschoolers, you know I'm right

[marianne202]

Overgeneralized yes, kids do have it easier now days then in my day. I didn't have computers and I didn't even have calculators until high school, so yes they have it easier. Both my kids get assigned laptops in school. My son is 18, loves video games and plays video games or is on the computer most waking hours not in school. He graduated in June in the top 10% of his class and always did his homework, while home alone, before he played any games. He is heading to college next week and will have a rude awakening after only having 3 classes all last year, but I think he will be fine.

My daughter is 13 and heading into 8th grade. She is also a straight A student and she qaulified to take high school algebra I & II and Spanish I & II this coming year. So those will be applied to her high school transcript and she will already have two requirements done. She spends hours on the computer creating her own animation art or reading manga online. They have it easier yes, but they still know what is important. I tell you this so you won't give up on the future of our kids. I think there are a lot of bright, dedicated kids out there. There are some that are just pure lazy, but they don't have a parent kicking them in the butt everyday or leading by example. As a community college teacher I see many of these kids, but I think the good kids will outweigh these slackers and we will still be in good hands in our old age!