OpenCourseWare MIT versus Distance Calculus Comparison
We are HUGE fans of the OpenCourseware Project at MIT, located here.Specifically, the Linear Algebra courses by Gilbert Strang, longtime master teacher at MIT, are fabulous!
If you look through these course offerings, you will see that all of them are "snapshots" of previous courses over the past 10-15 years. They include fantastic lectures, awesome course materials, and challenging problem sets.
Keep in mind, however, that these OCW @ MIT 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 OCW 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, OCW @ MIT is an excellent resource. You really feel like you are in a lecture hall at MIT taking one of these courses.
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 | Yes, Extensive |
| Tied to Traditional Textbook | Sometimes | No, Reform e-Curriculum |
| Recursive Grading | No | Yes |
| Comprehensive Course System | No, just access to lectures and homework problems | 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: Mar 17, 2020
Review by: Rebecca M.
Courses Completed: Calculus II, Multivariable Calculus
Review: Fantastic courses! I barely made it through Cal 1, and halfway through Cal 2 I found this program. I took Cal 2 and then Multivariable and I just loved it! SOOOOOOO much better than a classroom+textbook class. I highly recommend!
Transferred Credits to: Tulane University
Date Posted: Jan 12, 2020
Review by: Brian Finley
Courses Completed: Calculus II
Review: I took Calculus II through Distance Calculus and can't recommend it enough. Being able to take the course at my own pace while I was working full time was tremendously helpful, especially since I hadn't taken a math course for 5 years prior. The instruction was excellent and the software they used to teach the course was intuitive and facilitated the learning process very well. This calc II class enabled me to take multivariable calc, linear algebra, and real analysis at Harvard University's extension school, which ultimately qualified me for the economics PhD program that I will graduate from next year. 8 years on, I'm still grateful to Professor Curtis and Distance Calculus.
Date Posted: Jan 28, 2026
Review by: Tanja B.
Courses Completed: Calculus I
Review: After two failed attempts at my university, this course helped me understand Calculus. The live maths tool along with Dr. Curtis were especially helpful, allowing me to visualize concepts and expand my understanding. The explanations were clear, the examples practical, and I could learn at my own pace, which built my confidence. Thank you.
Transferred Credits to: University of Namibia
Distance Calculus - Curriculum Exploration
Systems of Equations
- P10: Systems of Equations:
- P10.1: Systems of Linear 2D Equations
- P10.1.a: Graphing
- P10.1.b: Solving by Substitution
- P10.1.c: Using Matrix Notation
- P10.1.d: Homework Problems
- P10.2: Matrices
- P10.2.a: Matrix Addition
- P10.2.b: Matrix Multiplication
- P10.2.c: Determinants
- P10.2.d: Matrix Inverse
- P10.2.e: Solving Linear Matrix Equation
- P10.2.f: Homework Problems
- P10.3: Systems of Linear 3D Equations
- P10.3.a: Graphing
- P10.3.b: Solve via Substitution
- P10.3.c: Solve Using Matrix Methods
- P10.3.d: Different Solution Cases in 3D
- P10.3.e: Homework Problems
- P10.4: Non-Linear Systems
Course Information
Frequent Questions
