Saylor Statistics vs DSST

[cookderosa]

For those considering Saylor statistics, I want to share portions of an email exchange I've had with a parent this past semester - these snips represent our conversations from May until today. Saylor's course content is free, and the exam can be free with a local proctor - but you can use proctorU for $25. This parent used the content and Khan but her daughter failed the exam 5 times, even after hiring a private tutor. After her failed attempt, I suggested her daughter take the DSST, which she did (and passed) but I wanted to share her comments since it is very relevant to the info here.

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"My daughter has been working on Saylor Academy's Intro to Statistics course...She's taking her proctored final exam today, 5/9/18"

"she didn’t pass. She can take again in 2 weeks"

"Honest feedback - - this course stinks. There are two source texts which don’t follow each other as far as scope and sequence are concerned. The calculators don’t work. They rely heavily on Khan Academy videos, which isn’t a problem in and of itself, however, the formulas Khan Academy presents are different from the formulas Saylor presents. It’s been very difficult.

I even started taking the class along with her so we could be study buddies and I am hopelessly lost. "

"She took the ProctorU exam 5 times and could not pass it. The last time was after the Saylor Statistics course received ACE credit recommendation status. (Jennifer's comment- previously this course was only offered for credit via ACPE, so it's possible that these changes are reflected in a revised exam)

Prior to taking her last exam, we paid a private tutor for several sessions. The tutor was able to look at the previously failed exams and confirmed that several of the questions did not offer a correct answer, according to her calculations.

Further, after the ACE credit granting date, she was unable to see her previous results. The new exam had at least one question which did not populate the potential 4 answers. They simply populated as:
A) A
B) B
C) C
D) D

Again, I am extremely dissatisfied with this course from Saylor and the ProctorU process associated with it.

Thankfully, she subsequently took and passed the DSST on her first attempt and has her high school diploma in hand. "

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[MNomadic]

Yes I've heard some horror stories like this about a few of the Saylor courses. Has anyone been keeping track of which Saylor courses are broken/undoable? I was thinking of doing some of their courses later but I don't want to waste my time.

[dfrecore]

Looking at this, I can't figure out what the process is to obtain ACE approval. Doesn't seem like this course should have gotten it.

[cookderosa]

Looking at this, I can't figure out what the process is to obtain ACE approval. Doesn't seem like this course should have gotten it.

That's a good question. My *best guess* which is totally a guess, is that anyone with ACPE approval was grandfathered in (assuming they paid $)

[davewill]

Unfortunately, the content problems (both inconsistent content and missing content) aren't that unusual with Saylor courses. However, I have found Saylor themselves to be responsive. Did they ever respond about the actual test errors?

[dfrecore]

Unfortunately, the content problems (both inconsistent content and missing content) aren't that unusual with Saylor courses. However, I have found Saylor themselves to be responsive. Did they ever respond about the actual test errors?

My husband contacted them after taking the CS402: Computer Communications and Networks final exam, which was riddled with errors.  They blew him off.  So we are a "never Saylor" family here.