Adult education/self learning advice please.

[FeatherZ]

Advice needed im 24, with a sudden interest in physics and maths but with very little grades at school, lazt 2 years in school I spent bunking off.

I really want to learn more in these subje ts either by myself or even evening class education, my maths is ropey, and i dont meant multiplication etc, but allegbra left my brain years ago.

As science goes I really need to start from scratch haha, now im not doing this to better myself more to prove to myself, so I may even want exams etc.

Im lost where to start, book etc, help?

[Mr Pies]

http://www3.open.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/science...

[Eric Mc]

FeatherZ said:

Advice needed im 24, with a sudden interest in physics and maths but with very little grades at school, lazt 2 years in school I spent bunking off.

I really want to learn more in these subje ts either by myself or even evening class education, my maths is ropey, and i dont meant multiplication etc, but allegbra left my brain years ago.

As science goes I really need to start from scratch haha, now im not doing this to better myself more to prove to myself, so I may even want exams etc.

Im lost where to start, book etc, help?

No offence, but you should also look at improving your written English too. I'm not trying to be nasty but having good written English can make a big difference to your life.

For the record, I loved science at school and still love to read popular science books - especially anything to do with astronomy, spaceflight and cosmology. However, my mathematical skills never really extended to the type of higher maths that would have been needed for a career in science or engineering (differential calculus, binomial theorem etc).

I ended up being an accountant, which only ever really required (and still does ) basic arithmetic and(sometimes) simple algebra.

[FeatherZ]

Im on my phone so sorry about that, but yes my written English isn't perfect.

Edited by FeatherZ on Saturday 10th December 09:54

[Eric Mc]

FeatherZ said:

Im on my phone so sorry about that, but yes my written English isn't perfect.

Edited by FeatherZ on Saturday 10th December 09:54

"I am" or "I'm" - never "Im". (That's the Gaelic for "butter")

Maybe we should have a written English Tutorial Forum on PH?

[RemainAllHoof]

If you just want to learn, then there are plenty of resources online.

http://www.youtube.com/user/khanacademy

Otherwise, any college should offer GCSE tuition to adults.

[FeatherZ]

Thanks guys, apart from Eric who is a pedantic prick, hehe.

[Eric Mc]

FeatherZ said:

Thanks guys, apart from Eric who is a pedantic prick, hehe.

It's "hee, hee" really

[dr_gn]

Eric Mc said:

FeatherZ said:

Advice needed im 24, with a sudden interest in physics and maths but with very little grades at school, lazt 2 years in school I spent bunking off.

I really want to learn more in these subje ts either by myself or even evening class education, my maths is ropey, and i dont meant multiplication etc, but allegbra left my brain years ago.

As science goes I really need to start from scratch haha, now im not doing this to better myself more to prove to myself, so I may even want exams etc.

Im lost where to start, book etc, help?

No offence, but you should also look at improving your written English too. I'm not trying to be nasty but having good written English can make a big difference to your life.

For the record, I loved science at school and still love to read popular science books - especially anything to do with astronomy, spaceflight and cosmology. However, my mathematical skills never really extended to the type of higher maths that would have been needed for a career in science or engineering (differential calculus, binomial theorem etc).

I ended up being an accountant, which only ever really required (and still does ) basic arithmetic and(sometimes) simple algebra.

I was crap at maths too, grade "c" at O-level and never did it at A-Level. All I wanted to do was engineering though, so I faced an uphill struggle during my degree, but with a lot of work and extra work I passed the maths parts fairly easily. Ironically, after all that work, during my 10 or so years as a design engineer I've rarely needed anything other than fairly basic O-level trig TBH.

To the O/P: Any subject you find difficult now might seem a lot easier if you've got a goal. Just keep your eye on the prize would be my advice. You already have the right attitude and that's the main thing you need.

[Mr Pies]

dr_gn said:

I was crap at maths too, grade "c" at O-level and never did it at A-Level. All I wanted to do was engineering though, so I faced an uphill struggle during my degree, but with a lot of work and extra work I passed the maths parts fairly easily.

I am in the same boat as you were all those years ago. I am nearing the end of my second year of a HNC in Electrical engineering, and am hoping to start my engineering degree with the OU next year in june.

I too struggle with my maths, I just hope that I can pass. I am willing to put in the extra work to make sure I do.

Its made me feel a bit better about starting my degree reading your post if I am honest!

[dr_gn]

Mr Pies said:

dr_gn said:

I was crap at maths too, grade "c" at O-level and never did it at A-Level. All I wanted to do was engineering though, so I faced an uphill struggle during my degree, but with a lot of work and extra work I passed the maths parts fairly easily.

I am in the same boat as you were all those years ago. I am nearing the end of my second year of a HNC in Electrical engineering, and am hoping to start my engineering degree with the OU next year in june.

I too struggle with my maths, I just hope that I can pass. I am willing to put in the extra work to make sure I do.

Its made me feel a bit better about starting my degree reading your post if I am honest!

Good! Not sure how things would work with the OU, but at uni, the Maths tutors were more than happy to arrange extra classes for the people who didn't do A-level Maths.

Also, I always found that a preactical example of what the Maths was for helped in understanding what and why you were learining it.

[Trackside Junior]

Eric Mc said:

"I am" or "I'm" - never "Im". (That's the Gaelic for "butter")

Maybe we should have a written English Tutorial Forum on PH?

I wish PH had a "like" button.

[dr_gn]

Eric Mc said:

FeatherZ said:

Im on my phone so sorry about that, but yes my written English isn't perfect.

Edited by FeatherZ on Saturday 10th December 09:54

"I am" or "I'm" - never "Im". (That's the Gaelic for "butter")

Maybe we should have a written English Tutorial Forum on PH?

You missed the full stop before the end of the parentheses Eric.

[Eric Mc]

dr_gn said:

Eric Mc said:

FeatherZ said:

Im on my phone so sorry about that, but yes my written English isn't perfect.

Edited by FeatherZ on Saturday 10th December 09:54

"I am" or "I'm" - never "Im". (That's the Gaelic for "butter")

Maybe we should have a written English Tutorial Forum on PH?

You missed the full stop before the end of the parentheses Eric.

It used a big yellow one with a face.

[dr_gn]

Eric Mc said:

dr_gn said:

Eric Mc said:

FeatherZ said:

Im on my phone so sorry about that, but yes my written English isn't perfect.

Edited by FeatherZ on Saturday 10th December 09:54

"I am" or "I'm" - never "Im". (That's the Gaelic for "butter")

Maybe we should have a written English Tutorial Forum on PH?

You missed the full stop before the end of the parentheses Eric.

It used a big yellow one with a face.

Ahhh, then it should be inside the parenthesis. Probably.

[Eric Mc]

Who knows?

[FeatherZ]

I have got in contact with my local college about maths gcse level 2, I have now also got in contact with open university about the starting science courses etc, my only worry with the OU is physics degree phases kut end of 2014, now I'm not thinking that far ahead but if that did become a goal (I know people have came from nothing to degree with OU) I would be left with a degree in Natural Science.......


I am more confused now.

Edited by FeatherZ on Monday 12th December 17:23

[Eric Mc]

You are certainly confusing me.

[FeatherZ]

Physics degree is gone at the end of 2014, replaced with Natural Science with OU.

You can just do physics for the degree but a Natural Science degree is surely to broad?

[Mr Pies]

My best friend is doing the Natural Science degree, loves it. However is it very much about saving the earth, saving cod and other food sources!