I found MTS (Mastery Task System) interactive learning a better way of teaching. Concepts taught in this manner proved to be better. I really recommend using this style of teaching in other courses. 

I liked the interactive text on the computer. It was different, active and interesting. New ideas keep my attention and interest. I was willing to take time out to come to the computer room just to do Calculus. The system of tasks was beneficial to the class. It took work but it was rewarding. Pais just needs to be a bit more patient with his students and clarify concepts more. He can't assume we all know what he's trying to teach. 

I believe that this course has been a learning experience for me. Using the computers has let me visualize what I have learned and has given me the capabilities of learning. I must give thanks to the professor for his dedication and enthusiasm in this calculus course. This is one of the only classes I have had at StLCOP where my professor wanted the students to do well and not try to fail us. 

Strong points of the course: The Mastery Task System really helped a lot. It gave me an opportunity to learn it well. This class moved pretty quickly over the material so this system was also helpful because it taught me how to learn on my own. It was my responsibility to understand it better to reach the Mastery Level on some tasks. Other Comments: Dr. Pais made this class fun and interesting. It was one of my favorite classes because it was small (about 11 people) and everyone wanted to learn and never gave up. 

I think I can say unequivocally that this has been the most outstanding course I have taken in my college career. I have taken Calculus more than once, and this is the first time I had any clue of what was going on. Going in, I was very worried that I could even pass. I even took a non-credit pre-calc Algebra course over the summer to prepare. Several things contributed to my success but three must be emphasized. First, the chance to retake tests is a superb idea. If the goal of the college is to facilitate the learning of this material, then there can be little argument that this is an effective tool. On several occasions after doing poorly on my first TASK performance, I went back and re-studied the material, and improved my performance the second time around. I was motivated because I got a better grade, and the school's goals were met because I learned the material ... a win/win situation. And I didn't worry too much either ... a great bonus to me. Second, integrating the teaching of Calculus on the computer is wonderful. I knew that if I wanted a text to study, I could copy the computer class work off the computer as a hard-copy. Also, having the problems on the computer let me check my work, and with moving models of functions, I was able to visualize what the functions represented. The light-bulb clicks on! Eureka! As Dr. Riley would say, this was an "Aha!" experience. Thirdly, Dr. Pais is a great instructor. I think that it is obvious to his students that if they want to learn, he'll do whatever he can to help them out. And that is the bottom line.