How to press through Straighterline Courses?

[Cheeseburrito]

Hey folks! I have to say the idea of Shmoop was silly at first and I didn't really like the courses. That being said - the content was laid out better and the system works better than SL.

I need to complete General Chemistry + Lab, Cultural Anth, English Comp 2, Algebra 1, and I am having a heck of a time. I don't know if it's the robotic layout through Moodle, or what. I can't seem to sit down and focus on the courses enough to complete chapters or assignments. SL just renewed for a second month and I haven't completed any courses, whereas I passed 4 Shmoop with no problem within 9 days.

SL has courses that UNM will accept, but they are balking at Shmoop. So I am looking to finish the accepted credits as soon as possible. 

Any thoughts, tips, or tricks?

Thanks!!

[dfrecore]

I thought SL was tortuously slow, and I had an easier time with Study.com. Not sure why, as I didn't watch a single Study.com video so far, all reading the text. I just felt like I could get through it more easily.

[Cheeseburrito]

I wish I could switch but I've already bought all 4 courses and 2 months of membership. So I've kind of invested into it financially now.

[sanantone]

I didn't "get through" SL courses. I just did the quizzes I needed to do. That's what I loved about SL. I wasn't made to sit through torturous videos or read a bunch of boring text before attempting a quiz, and I didn't have 100 quizzes to complete.

[cookderosa]

Hey folks! I have to say the idea of Shmoop was silly at first and I didn't really like the courses. That being said - the content was laid out better and the system works better than SL.

I need to complete General Chemistry + Lab, Cultural Anth, English Comp 2, Algebra 1, and I am having a heck of a time. I don't know if it's the robotic layout through Moodle, or what. I can't seem to sit down and focus on the courses enough to complete chapters or assignments. SL just renewed for a second month and I haven't completed any courses, whereas I passed 4 Shmoop with no problem within 9 days.

SL has courses that UNM will accept, but they are balking at Shmoop. So I am looking to finish the accepted credits as soon as possible. 

Any thoughts, tips, or tricks?

Thanks!!

+1 what Sanantone said. But in all fairness, besides Cultural Anthropology, you picked some really hard SL courses. Chemistry is a bear, my son did high school chemistry with lab followed immediately by SL Chemistry without lab and barely passed. Out of 20 SL courses, it was his lowest score at 70% (they rounded up, I think it was actually 69.something) English comp is soooo muuuucccchhhh writing on SL and I haven't any idea about Algebra. But Anthro can be done in a weekend- go back in and just do the tests. They are OPEN BOOK.

[RANSOMSOUL]

What I love about this forum mix and our credit resource mix is that we always have a balance of allegiance to a school, degree or credit resource and usually a strong one. I would rank StraighterLine as easily my favorite credit option with one of the reasons being how the course was laid out. Study.com was solid as well but I did not care for the two course a month + $70 per additional course layout. Saylor may have been my least favorite on structure but easily my favorite on price - $25 for 3 credits still blows me away. Both my daughters knocked out all of their favorite courses in the beginning and it was pennies on the dollar compared to any other option.

[dfrecore]

I didn't "get through" SL courses. I just did the quizzes I needed to do. That's what I loved about SL. I wasn't made to sit through torturous videos or read a bunch of boring text before attempting a quiz, and I didn't have 100 quizzes to complete.

I totally get it - but Microecon through SL was easily the worst thing I've attempted.  24 quizzes plus a midterm and Final!  I just could not do it (it didn't help that I hate econ, this course is my nemesis).  And the SL material was SO damn difficult for me, which way the graphs move, very detailed stuff that I will NEVER in my life use.  Ugh.  I switched to Study.com and got through it SO much more easily.  I just felt like I was making progress that I did not feel with SL.

[sanantone]

I didn't "get through" SL courses. I just did the quizzes I needed to do. That's what I loved about SL. I wasn't made to sit through torturous videos or read a bunch of boring text before attempting a quiz, and I didn't have 100 quizzes to complete.

I totally get it - but Microecon through SL was easily the worst thing I've attempted.  24 quizzes plus a midterm and Final!  I just could not do it (it didn't help that I hate econ, this course is my nemesis).  And the SL material was SO damn difficult for me, which way the graphs move, very detailed stuff that I will NEVER in my life use.  Ugh.  I switched to Study.com and got through it SO much more easily.  I just felt like I was making progress that I did not feel with SL.

I prefer exams over courses, so SL was sort of a last resort for me. I took the TECEP for microeconomics because it counted toward the residency requirement at the time. Otherwise, I would have taken the CLEP. I used Davar for macro because it was only one test; I could not make myself finish the Sophia course. I just don't like being made to go through study materials I don't need, but I understand that many others don't like high-stakes testing.

[dfrecore]

I prefer exams over courses, so SL was sort of a last resort for me. I took the TECEP for microeconomics because it counted toward the residency requirement at the time. Otherwise, I would have taken the CLEP. I used Davar for macro because it was only one test; I could not make myself finish the Sophia course. I just don't like being made to go through study materials I don't need, but I understand that many others don't like high-stakes testing.

I prefer exams for some things (the ones I think I can pass) and courses for others.  The only exams I've taken, I've passed them all, mostly without studying.  The only thing I failed was the Strategic Management TECEP by 1%, which was a mighty expensive and time-consuming failure ($1500 to take the course and a 20-page paper to finish).

[Cheeseburrito]

Today is a new day. I am going to log in, pick a course, and make some progress.