Lots of students struggle with Algebra. And after a decade as a college lecturer, the reasons for the struggle vary. But one thing is always true-the foundation must be repaired. When students come into one of my college algebra courses and simply push ahead without doing the work of foundation repair, things rarely go well. Determination is admirable, but when the foundation is not sound, the new ideas are little more than gibberish. Attempting to memorize every type of problem simply doesn't work. There are too many ideas coming too quickly, and attempting to learn without understanding is a broken proposition.
Fortunately, there is an answer. Stop and repair the foundation. In reality, it isn't nearly as difficult or time consuming as students fear. And that is where this workbook comes in. For many years, I've been working to find the most efficient and effective ways to communicate Algebra. For starters, lectures aren't the answer. Instead, I have created activities that help you through the concepts of Algebra one step at a time. In the classroom, if you got stuck, I would come along side and give you the help that you need to keep going. Here, if you are stuck, each activity includes a QR code which links to a video where I walk through the entire activity.
Whether your Algebra foundation just has a few cracks or if it needs major reconstruction, Learn by Doing: Algebra Essentials is the place to begin. Stop trying to push through concepts that are meaningless. Instead, stop and fix what's broken, so that you can successfully begin building your way to higher mathematics.