Customer Reviews

The Standard Deviants : Calculus 1 & 2

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I really enjoyed the DVD pack. The two DVD's covered the early sections of most chapters in a typical Calculus I textbook. There wasn't any depth to the covered concepts or presentation of difficult topics like three-dimensional slicing, but it was a great introduction to elementary concepts covered during a typical college-level Calculus I course. I highly recommend the DVD pack for any student preparing to take calculus, and as a tutorial for students already enrolled in calculus. High school students taking calculus would especially benefit from the presentation methods.

The DVD's are very helpfull and well done. I highly reccommend them, however, the title Calculus I and II is misleading as these DVD's only cover Calculus I, and therefore should be labeled Calculus I.

This study tool has been an excellent tutor for this student struggling through calculus. I recommend this product for anyone who is taking calculus or who just needs a review of this very intense subject. Two thumbs up!

They try to do a good job but everything is so watered down that it didn't help me that much. The course is funny though, and that is good. Oh and like another reviewer said...the title of the course is VERY MISLEADING. There are no Calculus 2 topics in this DVD set. It is all calculus 1.

This DVD pack is excellent tool for any students. It covers basic notions like limits and infinities at earlier part and then moves gradually to advanced notions like derivative and integration. The movement into next stage is natural, while it has been fully explained prior notions required to study next - so I could learn it by systematic way. Also it uses humorous narration and visual effects at the right moment so it helps the viewers head unexploded. I really enjoyed the contents included in a sense that study is much fun while laughing out loud. In conjuction with some textbooks explained dry for background information in more detail, this DVD pack will work effectively for any students, I promise.

Woah! For someone like me, who didn't even finish precal in high school, calculus can seem rather daunting. I've purchased quite a bit of learning materials to freshen up on math (a dozen books easily), and these DVDs have been one of the best tools at getting me up to where I want to be.

That squiggly integration sign always scared the crud outta me, but no more! These DVDs went through all the foundation material and by the time they discussed indefinite and definite integrals ... it was a breeze! Seriously! I now laugh at integration problems - well, the simple stuff anyways. :-)

At times it can be a little hokey, but none of that matters in the least if they're able to educate you and communicate concepts - and in my opinion, they are very capable. It doesn't get into the more advanced topics, but with the foundation the DVDs provide you're all set to explore those topics on your own. As another reviewer said, it doesn't cover "calculus 2" as it may possibly seem, but rather it includes both parts 1 and 2 of their calculus series.

The high energy is ratter distracting. I am 44 years old and returning to the subject after 20/25 years away. The video might be entertaining for high school students, which was likely the aim of the producers. This video is helpful, However, I have found equally helpful, less distracting material on You-Tube. This video covers nothing from Calculus 2.

The Calculus DVD Pack was extremely helpful as an aid to understanding Calculus. The methods used to teach the information is what is so helpful. The Standard Deviants are full of humor while at the same time they are teaching a complicated subject like it is as easy as baking a cake.

I saw this set and was intrigued enough to try it out. The presentation is by a number of folks who try to sound chirpy and funny. Sadly they fail on both counts. My guess is the production is meant to go after the high school crowd using MTV tactics of folks interjecting points rapidly in and out. I understand that the material was for High School kids but this was patronizing even to high schoolers. After a while the many "explanations" by different folks got old and distracting. I am sure many kids will see through the gimmick and get bored or worse turn the thing off.

If you want a good INTORDUCTORY calculus course on DVD go with Jason Gibson's "Calculus 1 & 2 Tutor" and for a more advanced treatment go with his "Advanced Calculus Tutor". One more thing - the stuff on this set is Calc 1 only - not 1 & 2.

About 1hr and 18 mins into the prog, they make a small error in working through the "find f'(2) when f(x)= 4x^2 - 8x +3" problem. They write:


f'(2) = lim 4h^2 + 8

and it ought to be:

f'(2) = lim 4h + 8

(both limits as h tends to zero)

after cancellation of h's, but what's a square between friends? Actually, it's a very good presentation -- pitched just right for the purpose.