Thinkwell Calculus discontinued (5.23.16)

We will no longer carry Thinkwell Calculus (571-11).

Thinkwell Calculus - online subscription (8.28.14)

We no longer carry just the online subscription for this product (item #571-10). We had such little demand for it that it was no longer cost-effective to continue to carry it.

Thinkwell Pre-Calculus (6.21.11)

We are no longer carrying this product. We had such little demand for it that it was no longer cost-effective to continue to carry it.

Thinkwell Economics CDs - (8.10.10)

  • May be installed on one computer only but can be used by multiple students
  • Package includes the full website components and all the video lectures
  • The videos are on the CDs, but the customer can also view the videos online once they register
  • Exercises are not burned on the CDs, but the CD package includes an authorization code to the online components
  • The content of the two versions is exactly the same
  • Each student will need their own Internet subscription.
  • We have limited stock. Once they are gone, we will not re-stock.

Thinkwell Economics testing -

There are currently no exams available for the economics courses. The best tools for evaluating progress and comprehension are the exercises available in each subchapter. Each exercise can be taken multiple times. Each take is very likely to be unique, as well, due to the fact that they draw from a large question pool and use different constants each time. Exercise grades can be tracked in the My Grades tab at the top of the Thinkwell homepage. (1.11.10)

Thinkwell Calculus description -

  • Sonlight offers the Mathematics Calculus program (plain ole Calculus), not the AP program (known as AB and BC). 7.09
    • Ours includes 12 months online access and the printed, illustrated lecture notes containing lecture notes, practice exercises, and sample problems in a convenient print format. 7.09
    • Pricing (2.11.08) - Thinkwell is not interested in retailing to homeschoolers, but are happy to allow us to do so. Thus, the pricing for their online subscriptions will be significantly lower through Sonlight than through Thinkwell. If customers ask why the difference in pricing, please use the following standard response ... We obtained our current inventory at very low prices and we are passing our great prices on to our customers! Based on our relationship with Thinkwell, this is a true statement.
    • The CD set is no longer available from Sonlight, but can be purchased directly from Thinkwell. You cannot complete the program with the CD alone, online access to complete the quizzes is required.7.09
    • Thinkwell CDs (7.1.08) The Thinkwell CDs have the videos on them, but not all the exercises/solutions/answer keys that are available online.
  • This product is actually a compilation of Thinkwell's old Calculus I and Calculus II programs. It contains 21 chapters with 83 subjects. There are several tutorials within each subject, adding up to approximately 277 tutorials. (9.3.08)

Thinkwell Pre-Calcus description -

The program contains 10 categories, each of which are populated with a number of lectures. It ends up being around 333 lessons ... Thinkwell recommends you do 2-3 per day.

Is this more than an "average" high school student will do in a year's time? I would say yes. But Thinkwell is a hefty program.

In summary ... Basic Algebra review has 35 lessons, about 3 weeks worth. Then it goes into Equations and Inequalities, Relations and Functions, Polynomial and Rational Functions, Exponential and Logarithmic Functions, The Trigonometric Functions, Trigonometric Identities, Applications of Trigonometry, Systems of Equations and Matrices and Special Topics. (8.4.08)

Math Prerequisite for Thinkwell Economics

[06.02.14] Per Ron at Thinkwell: A good math foundation is required for this course; we recommend Algebra 2 as a prerequisite.”

(6.19.08) A basic knowledge of Algebra is needed. Thinkwell's Beginning Algebra would cover the needed material. (from Thinkwell Support)

Thinkwell Returns (3.25.08) (updated 4.19.08)

All customers who order a Thinkwell subscription online from Thinkwell may get a refund within 3 business days of registration. All customers who order the item from us cannot return it if the packaging has been opened. Even though there are no CDs, we do deliver the subscription information in a box and it is considered to fall under the same return regulations as CDs/software. Once opened, it cannot be returned.

Thinkwell - what is shipped?

Thinkwell multimedia materials are now delivering entirely via the Internet though the product we sell comes in a package. 4.13.08

Thinkwell subscriptions 3.17.08

All Thinkwell subscriptions are now Internet-based. When a customer orders a subscription, we ship them a box that is similar to the old Thinkwell CD box. Inside it contains all their subscription information. We are no longer offering Thinkwell CDs unless a customer has special circumstances ... such as an international customer without good Internet access. We will keep a few CDs just for this purpose.

If a customer without internet access expresses interest in the Thinkwell product, have them put a note in the comment line. Customer Fulfillment will contact them with availability, etc. The CD ROm products will NOT be available online. (3.18.08)

Subsequent or 2nd student 1.16.08

As of new catalog release, all Thinkwell products will no longer contain CD-ROMs. All Thinkwell multimedia materials will be delivered entirely via their website. Customers will be provided an authorization code card which students may use to access their materials. Subsequent students will need to purchase their own subscription if the original has expired. More than one student may use the subscription at a time, but answers/grading will not be divided between students. No product titles, course contents or product prices will be changed. All item numbers will remain the same.

For customers purchasing Thinkwell products before the 2008 catalog release ... those who need a second student to use the subscription at the same time will either need to purchase a second subscription, or have both students use the same subscription (realizing that answers/grading will not be separated).

Customer Feedback

I didn't have a problem with the way _Teaching Textbooks_ presented the information because they explain the "why" of how things work, which I believe is so important to the learning of mathematics, but the problems are pretty basic and do not promote the higher level thinking skills that are important as they progress in their mathematics career.

I am most familiar with _Thinkwell_, as the mathematics professor involved in all of the videos (Edward Burger) teaches at Williams College, and I have some connections with this school. I worked on a research project with another professor from their mathematics department, and this school excels in mathematics teaching and curriculum. I met Edward Burger at a mathematics conference a couple years ago, and he is a humorous guy who makes the learning of mathematics fun for students of all ages. Since Xxxxxx and Xxxxxxx aren't succeeding as well as they can be in mathematics, they might need a different approach than the traditional textbook/pencil and paper method. I think the video presentations would be great for them, because it makes the learning of mathematics interactive, provides visual aides for them, and Edward Burger shows that math is exciting. He also applies the material, which is so important because it shows students why they should be learning what they are learning. Although they only offer 13 practice problems, you could try giving them additional problems from supplemental resources, such as edhelper.com, where you can print additional math worksheets to complement the material they are learning. Since the 13 problems they do provide are multiple choice, I don't think this is a terrible thing, as they will still need to work out the problems themselves, and the choices could always be eliminated or covered up for them. https://www.sonlight-forums.com/showthread.php?p=1847954#poststop 4.30.08

SUBSCRIPTIONS

  • Subscriptions are for one year. The year *begins* when you register. Thus a customer may purchase their subscription now but not actually register for 2-3 months. Their one year begins at the time of registration on the Thinkwell site.
  • Thinkwell subscription extension [9.7.06] This company is very interested in helping students succeed. This means if a student does not complete (i.e. master) the material in the typical one year subscription time frame, the customer can contact Thinkwell directly to request an extension. They are very liberal with their extension policy. [The purpose is not to extend the subscription for a 2nd student, but instead to provide enough time for the student to master the material.]
  • When does the one-year access start? Do we have to begin using it when we order? When you place your order you can inform us of when you intend to start.

Using Thinkwell

  • Thinkwell is ONLINE program [6.28.06] - Thinkwell is designed as an online interactive program. Though customers may choose to use the workbook as a non-online course, they will not have access to tests or solutions, and an answer key for only half of the questions without the internet portion.
  • How does a parent view their child's scores?
    • "Just sign into Thinkwell using your child's user name and password. There are two places where you can track his/her progress:
    • Click on the Chapter Checklist link in the left navigation bar to view all of the course activities that s/he's completed so far, or
    • Click on the My Grades link at the top of the page to view his/her scores on the Thinkwell exercises and Unit Tests.

Tech Issues

Thinkwell products ARE Vista compatible.

TECH SUPPORT:

  • 1-888-416-8880
  • [email protected]
  • Monday-Thursday 9 am - 10 pm CST
  • Friday 9 am - 5 pm CST
  • Saturday (email only) 10 am - 5 pm CST
  • Sunday 2 pm - 10 pm CST
  • Thinkwell will provide complete technical support for all Sonlight customers. If customers call with product use questions we should refer them to Thinkwell. Their email response time is 1-4 business hours (human response, not automated).

TECH NOTES: Requires installation of video software to run videos. Videos require CDs and run independent of the Thinkwell website. There is an "animations" portion of the web site that may be affected by slow dial-up connections.

System Requirements: Works best with version 4.0 or later of Internet Explorer.

PC Minimum Requirements

  • Pentium 166 MHz processor
  • Windows(tm) 95 or NT 4.0
  • 32 MB RAM
  • Sound card
  • PC Recommended System
  • Pentium 200 MHz (or faster) processor
  • Windows(tm) 95, 98, 2000, or NT 4.0
  • 64 MB RAM
  • Sound card
  • Mac Minimum Requirements
  • Power PC(tm) 120 MHz
  • Mac OS 8.1
  • 32 MB RAM
  • Mac Recommended System
  • Power PC(tm) 200 MHz or faster
  • Mac OS 8.1 or later
  • 64 MB RAM

Catalog error 6.11.07

p 131 - indicates syllabi can be found on our website; there is no syllabi on our website or on Thinkwell's.

PROGRAM COMPONENTS:

  • 1-year online access

Includes video hosted by Professor Ed Burger who explains unit materials and demonstrates on a white board. The screen is split with Professor and his white board on the left, and a print screen of what the professor has written on the right. The information covered in the video is also available in the course notes which can be printed off.

Sample problems in the workbook has solutions, but the practice problems only have answers. There are only a few sample problems per lesson in the book(i.e. 3 in the lesson we reviewed). There are only 3 or so practice problems and abour 4 review questions for each lesson in the book. Each lesson online has 20 practice/review problems total. The online course has much more in the way of solutions. The book is redundant if you have the online course. [BOOK NOT INCLUDED IN 2008 AND LATER ONLINE VERSION.]

Practice exercises are used to determine knowledge level, to offer immediate feedback, and to give direction for further study. Student can do some of the exercise and come back later to finish. The "question list" will keep track of where the student left off.

  • Chapter Checklist* - shows the student's progress, what is complete and what is not. Students do not need to move through the chapters sequentially, they can skip around.
  • Animations* - smaller screen animations of general math knowledge which students can use as a reference. Some topics include how to use a graphing calculator, polar coordinates, right angle trigonometry, special angles, function basics, and many more. Most of these animations are video only, but there are a few with audio.
  • Exams* - this section includes a practice test and a test for each unit. The practice test is similar to the exercises as it contains answers with complete solutions and offers immediate feedback. Students could use the unit practice tests to "test out" of a particular unit. At the end of the practice test directions are provided for what videos to review again for remediation. Answers to the practice tests are saved as they are submitted, so a student can stop in the middle and resume. Also, work will not be lost if Internet connection is lost.
  • Resources* - similar to an appendix at the back of a math text. Shows current practice test results and offers remediation suggestions. Provides standard math tables, study methods, external links to other helpful web sites.
  • Glossary* - enter a word and the system shows all terminology and related definitions.
  • Recent Activity* - tracks the most recent content accessed in the notes section, exercises, animations, glossary, etc... Student can refer to this if they have forgotten where they left off.

HIGH SCHOOL CREDITS:

Thinkwell refers to their courses as "college" level. Their pre-calculus course would translate to 1 high school math credit (or 1 semester credit in college) and their Calculus course would translate to 2+ high school math credits (or 1 year credit in college - this includes both calculus A/B and B/C curricula).

Some Thinkwell FAQs ...

Is the parent the "professor" referred to on the Thinkwell web site?

Yes, you are the "prof."

Which materials are on the web and which are hardcopy?

CD's NO LONGER AVAILABLE IN 2008 EDITION AND LATER: All lectures are on the CDs you get. The textbook is available in PDF form online. (As well as in hardcopy form for separate purchase.) And then the interactive tests, and lecture transcripts (i.e., transcripts of the lectures you will have on your CDs), and other supplementary materials are all available online as well. . . .

Pre - Calculus Table of Contents link to the Thinkwell website table of contents

Jill's Experience with Thinkwell

I just wanted to let advisors know that we are using Thinkwell and my son is doing very well with it. He is a bit annoyed with the teaching technique because it seems a bit dragged out to him. He is the kind of learner that wants the facts so he can get done, but it is more like a classroom where the teacher tells little jokes, etc. I think it makes it more interesting. The lessons really aren't too long though, and he does 2-3 day. This takes him about a hour or less for that many lessons.

He is the most careful he has ever been with math answers since he has to choose an answer and then gets immediate feedback if it is right or not. He has been consistently getting 100%. He is doing precalc.

FYI-- If parents want to view scores on daily work, tests, etc. they need to sign in as their student. There are two places where they can track the student progress:

  • Click on the Chapter Checklist link in the left navigation bar to view all of the course activities that he's completed so far
  • Click on the My Grades link at the top of the page to view his scores on the Thinkwell exercises and Unit Tests.