<p>blueiguana, </p>
<p>Hopefully chuy will give some more specific info from the engineering perspective, but from what I know, some of the intro math classes are held in what VT calls the Math Emporium. Basically VT took over a former building that used to house a store and converted it into a place where students go (on their own time or in some formal sessions) to take the classes. </p>
<p>There are computer stations within the building - how many I am not sure-and it isn’t just for the engineering kids (or used in order to try weed them out). From what my son told us, there are professors and TA’s and that are always present within the Empo for you if you need clarification. (You signal to them to come to your station by placing a cup on your area) </p>
<p>He utilized tutoring times with students and I remember him setting up an office hours help session time or two with his professor to go over some material he just wasn’t getting. In the beginning of the semester, they are given a schedule of the course, an approximate timeline of when they should have completed their material, i. e. units, etc. when they need to take the quizzes by and exam times. There is no “book”; everything is online or powerpoint. For one of the courses son took , he could take a quiz up to two times and average the grades for the final result. I don’t think he could do that for the exam, just the quizzes.</p>
<p>I wasn’t thrilled about hearing of it at first…(my “old school” educational style preferences really were shocked actually) but my son got used to it really quickly and actually seemed to like the approach and did fine. He is not a strong engineering type math kid, so that was a relief! However, he felt he learned the concepts well and has done great since in his classes (some which definitely needed that material).</p>
<p>For what is is worth, Tech isn’t the only school using an approach like this. An friend of ours is an Econ professor at another state school and said many bigger schools are utilizing this teaching method. Supposedly there was a big study done a few years back which showed that kids learned basic college math classes better in this way than with a 200+ class teacher led style. So, even though it is a bit non-conformist, especially to us old school parents, perhaps it has its merits. </p>
<p>Don’t worry, your son would be fine! BTW, the shuttle runs all hours directly to the empo so no worries about transportation. Hope this helps.</p>