Intermediate Algebra (with CD-ROM, BCA/iLrn Tutorial, and InfoTrac ) [Hardcover]

Alice Kaseberg (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 3, 2003 | ISBN-10: 0534386326 | ISBN-13: 978-0534386320 | Edition: 3

Kaseberg presents an effective, nontraditional approach to the traditional algebra curriculum. The first and second editions gained a strong following among instructors who found that Kaseberg's use of guided discovery and problem solving facilitates the learning of new concepts and strengthens skill retention. Kaseberg's informal, interactive style makes algebra more accessible to students while maintaining a high level of mathematical accuracy. To reduce preparation time for course leaders and facilitate use by adjuncts, the Instructor's Resource Manual is a valuable resource. The manual provides structured lesson and group-activity suggestions for each section in the textbook, incorporates materials from the textbook with supplemental projects and activities, suggests core homework assignments, and furnishes guided-discussion questions. This resource serves to bridge the gap between traditional pedagogy and a reform approach.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"We were able to show that our drop-out rates from beginning to intermediate algebra were lower after adopting Kaseberg’s texts."

"I find that students make major strides in their mathematical growth with the use of the Kaseberg text. They especially benefit from the alternate methods for performing mathematical tasks that they have not had success with in the past. Their understanding of the material rises far above that of memorizing a set of steps to perform a procedure. Their intuitive recognition of the properties of mathematical concepts is far broader than when I have used other texts for the course." "The difference between Kaseberg’s Intermediate Algebra and most other algebra texts is that Kaseberg has the problem solving skills interspersed throughout the entire text, not just in the one section and then dropped or at the end of the chapter where it may easily be skipped." --This text refers to the Textbook Binding edition.

About the Author

Alice Kaseberg combines 30 years of secondary school and community college teaching experience with an avid mathematical curiosity, constantly seeking to answer the commonly asked question, "What is mathematics good for?" Her BA in Business Administration, MA in Mathematics, and MS in Engineering Science reflect her keen interest in academics and mathematics applications. She began her career as a teacher in Australia. Then, as a junior high teacher, she class-tested materials from the Mathematics Resource Project, Lane County Math Project, School Mathematics Project (of Great Britain), and Bob Wirtz's Drill and Practice at the Problem Solving Level. Her mentors were early advocates of the discovery approach, laboratory activities, and membership/involvement in professional organizations. Kaseberg has always reached out to mathematics students in a variety of situations. She was a high school teacher for the hearing impaired, where she taught contrasting classes such as Advanced Placement Calculus and remedial mathematics. Always eager to take on new projects, she organized weekly problem-solving activities for the entire department. As a community college teacher (15 years), she has taught a range of courses from Beginning Algebra through Calculus, as well as Strength of Materials and Statics in Engineering. While on sabbatical from teaching, she worked 15 months for the EQUALS Project, Berkeley, CA, writing Odds-on-You and coauthoring the EQUALS Handbook. In addition to her teaching at the school and community college level, she has developed and presented numerous workshops on mathematics applications, content strategies, problem solving, art and math, and teaching strategies. Group work and intense participation by attendees characterize her workshops and her classroom. Her goal in writing textbooks is to help students succeed in mathematics, learn how to learn, and become actively aware of the mathematics in their daily lives.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 736 pages
• Publisher: Brooks Cole; 3 edition (October 3, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0534386326
• ISBN-13: 978-0534386320
• Product Dimensions: 10.8 x 8.5 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.8 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 1.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,527,423 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars IF LESS THAN 1 STAR WAS AN OPTION, I WOULD HAVE USED IT!, November 27, 1999

By 

Linda Schofield (Edmunds, Maine-USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Intermediate Algebra: A Just-In-Time Approach (Hardcover)

Having been a home economics major in High School 27 years ago, the last thing I needed in my struggle with college was assistance from Ms Kaseberg! This book is needlessly confusing, unorganized, and a poor showing for Ms Kasegerg's 30 years of experience. The chapters deal with various topics, but the exercises at the end of each chapter seem to have nothing to do with the material covered. The book's goal of teaching problem solving skills has failed miserably. The student is left with a different set of problems than were discussed in the chapter and with no clue as to where to start in solving them. Problem solving skills may have been overlooked or minimized in mathematics education thus far, but this book does not address the tools needed to solve problems--it simply leaves the reader lost in an algebraic vacuum without a compass. To make matters worse, after using this book as a trial for Algebra II (which was a dismal failure), the Math committee at my university decided to inflict equal torture on Algebra I students the very next semester. Publication of this book is bad enough, but it is a sad state of affairs when such a product is actually adopted as a teaching tool. I was in grammer school during the 'New Math' fiasco of the late 60's, and I view this approach with similar contempt. My mathematical and problem solving abilities seemed useless when trying to make sense of this text book. Publications like this will succeed only in making those of us who love working with numbers begin to hate it instead. In short, this text book is a rip off--don't buy it OR take a course that uses it. Have mercy on us Ms Kaseberg; your 'Just-In-Time Approach' will be the death of mathematics!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Students deserve better than this..., January 5, 2009

By 

Byron Butters "Grampa" (Loon Country - Minnesota) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Intermediate Algebra: Everyday Explorations (Hardcover)

In short, every previous review was correct. Worst Algebra book I have ever seen. Pretty pathetic when a college cannot choose a better textbook than this one. This book appears to have been written to make students fail. With the help of several tutors, a C was salvaged from this book of failure. Make sure you communicate your comments to as many school officials as you can. Learning can be a lot better than this...

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars This book is the worst I've ever read., April 8, 1998

By 

[e-mail] (Reno, Nevada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Intermediate Algebra: A Just-In-Time Approach (Hardcover)

I had to buy this book for my Algebra class at Truckee Meadows Community College. It is by far the worst book I've ever had. The author does not explain the problem or the solution step by step, which is crucial in Algebra. She loses the reader half way through the problem. I deeply resent spending hard earned money for a text I can't use now or in the future. This book is so bad that my teacher makes copies of chapters in other Algebra books and hands them out, so we might understand what is going on. This book was evidently written by someone very lazy. She gives the answers to the odd questions only, but she gives only the answer, not how the problem was solved. I am very dissappointed with the book and I wish I could get my money back. A college student doesn't have much, I feel as if I've been robbed. The author should reinburse every student that had to buy the book. Believe me, I don't know of even one student that would keep this book.