Khan Academy versus Distance Calculus Comparison
Khan Academy is a wonderful resource for calculus and other subject instruction, featuring video lectures on a massive number of topics.Khan Academy is free. Usually Khan Academy is used by teachers to assign to their students the watching of various lectures in support of their courses, or for students who are seeking help with their homework and looking for extra instructions.
Keep in mind, however, that these Khan Academy "courses" do not grant academic credit. They are presented more as a resource for learning, and certainly an awesome resource! But if you "enroll" in one of these courses and start engaging the course materials and lectures, you will not be on a path towards earning academic credits for these courses.
Perhaps someday Khan Academy courses will grant academic credit, but for now, they do not.
If you are looking for a non-credit alternative to just learn the course materials, Khan Academy is an excellent resource.
But if your goal is to earn academic credits for your Calculus course effort, you need to seek out an academic credit-granting program, like Distance Calculus @ Roger Williams University.
Comparison of OpenCourseWare @ MIT; vs Distance Calculus
| Topic | MyMathLab® | Distance Calculus |
|---|---|---|
| Multiple Choice | No | No |
| Use of Computer Algebra System | No | No |
| Tied to Traditional Textbook | No | No, Reform e-Curriculum |
| Recursive Grading | No | Yes |
| Comprehensive Course System | No, just video lectures | Yes |
| Drill & Practice | No | No |
Here are a few videos about Distance Calculus @ Roger Williams University:
Is Distance Calculus for You?
Success Indicators for Distance Calculus
Distance Calculus - Student Reviews
Date Posted: Aug 23, 2020
Review by: Sean Metzger
Student Email: seanmetzger78@gmail.com
Courses Completed: Differential Equations
Review: A lifesaver. When I found out I needed a course done in the last weeks of summer I thought there was no way i'd find one available, but this let me complete the course as quickly as I needed to while still mastering the topics. Professor always got back to me very quickly and got my assignments back to me the next day or day of. Can't recommend this course enough for students in a hurry or who just want to learn at their own pace.
Transferred Credits to: Missouri University of Science and Technology
Date Posted: May 17, 2025
Review by: Howard B.
Courses Completed: Applied Calculus
Review: I truly loved this class—it's one of the most enjoyable math courses I’ve ever taken. Pros: -- Exceptional Instruction and Support: Dr. Curtis was incredibly responsive and helpful whenever I had questions. The TA was also very supportive, and thanks to their guidance, I was proud to earn a 100% in the course—even without having taken pre-calculus beforehand. -- Innovative Software Platform: The custom software used in the course made a huge difference for me. I found it intuitive and engaging, and it helped reinforce the concepts in a way traditional textbooks never did. -- Thorough, Rigorous Curriculum: The structure of the course really pushed me to stay organized and plan ahead. I felt like I was being challenged in all the right ways. Potential Considerations for Others: -- Requires Strong Time Management: If you haven’t taken pre-calc, like me, you’ll need to be extra proactive. The course can move quickly if you need, and pacing yourself is essential. -- Software Learning Curve: While I personally loved the software, students who aren’t comfortable adapting to new digital tools might need a bit of extra time upfront to get used to it. -- Helpful to Have Supplementary Resources: One improvement might be to offer a short list of "starter resources" (videos, concept overviews, etc.) for students who need a broader intro to calculus before diving in. Overall, I highly recommend this course to motivated students, especially those comfortable with self-paced learning and open to using new tools. Dr. Curtis is a fantastic instructor, and the course setup really works.
Transferred Credits to: MIT
Date Posted: Sep 20, 2020
Review by: Genevieve P.
Courses Completed: Applied Calculus
Review: I found out from my grad school after being accepted that I needed a Calculus course before starting their MBA program. I had less than 6 weeks to do it (and as a non-STEM undergrad no less). The video lectures were informative, the pre-calc refresher was great to get re-conditioned, and the asynchronous format worked so well as I did this at night/weekends after work. I completed it in 4 weeks. Professor Curtis was extremely responsive, graded assignments quickly, and a supportive guide providing constructive feedback to me to excel at the assignments. I highly recommend this course for those who need a pre-req in a hurry or like learning on their own schedule. Thanks, Distance Calculus and Professor Curtis!
Transferred Credits to: Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
Distance Calculus - Curriculum Exploration
Functions
- P2: Functions:
- P2.1: What is a Function?
- P2.1.a: Notation
- P2.1.b: Data Sets & Functional Notation
- P2.1.c: More Data Sets
- P2.1.d: When is a Data Set NOT a Function?
- P2.1.e: Algebraic Formulae
- P2.1.f: Massachusetts Lunatics
- P2.1.g: Hurricane Katrina Data
- P2.1.h: Formal Definition of Function
- P2.1.i: Homework Problems
- P2.2: Graphing Data Functions
- P2.2.a: Input vs. Output
- P2.2.b: Graphing Data in LiveMath Manually
- P2.2.c: Graphing Multiple Data Sets
- P2.2.d: Graphing 3D Data
- P2.2.e: Not a Function?
- P2.3: Functions from Algebraic Formulae
- P2.3.a: Generating Data
- P2.3.b: Graphing Generated Data
- P2.3.c: Increasing Resolution
- P2.3.d: Smooth Curves
- P2.3.e: Graphing Without Data
- P2.3.f: Graph Multiple Functions Together
- P2.3.g: Functions in 3D
- P2.4: Bad Inputs?
- P2.4.a: Undefined Input Values
- P2.4.b: All Good Input Values = Domain
- P2.4.c: All Realized Output Values = Range
- P2.5: Combinations of Functions
- P2.5.a: Add, Subtract Functions
- P2.5.b: Multiply Functions
- P2.5.c: Divide Functions
- P2.5.d: Abstract Substitution
- P2.5.e: Composition of Functions
- P2.6: Functions Without Algebraic Formulae
Course Information
Frequent Questions
