So... my first DeltaMath quiz went... well... it actually went a little better than expected. Okay, I still ate shit. I got a 56% on it. Upon closer inspection, however, I actually only failed two questions out of twelve. The others were marked wrong based on minor technicalities, such as how I rounded a decimal, or whether or not I simplified a fraction (DM hates it when you simplify a fraction for some reason). And, for some stupid reason, if I didn't get a question 100% right according to DM's standards, I got it 100% wrong, even though my ultimate answers to all but two of the questions were correct. 

My professor warned us about this, saying he'd come in and look over our quizzes after the due date to properly score them. But, damn, those big red X's along with a shitty red box explaining why DM marked me wrong (even when I got the solution correct) is demoralizing, to say the least. I know I can do the math, and my solutions to the problems are not wrong. I have the stacks of color-coded papers to prove it. I just can't figure out how DeltaMath works, much like how I couldn't figure out how to do math the "right" way in K-12. Hell, not even the prof can figure out DeltaMath, and he's been teaching this shit for half as long as I've been alive!

But, what can I do about it? Nothing, really, aside from try my best and just stick with it. Worst case scenario, I fail college algebra this semester. However, I figure if I don't have at least a C by the time April comes around, then I plan on withdrawing from the course and continuing my math studies at home and online through things like Khan Academy and Youtube, so I can come back in the fall with a lot more confidence in my skills. Even so, I'm doing my best to take everyone's advice and consider this course a win, no matter the grade I get. 

On the bright side, quiz attempt number two went quite a bit better (I got a 70% without a curve, all while Toby was wreaking havoc in the house). I've spent basically all weekend trying to crack DM's code, and it's paying off. But, I'm still grumpy about the X's that shouldn't be X's, all due to DM's technicalities. Oh well... the prof promised he'd go through and grade everything himself to ensure that we got graded strictly for our correct answers, which means I probably got an 80 or 90% on both quiz attempts. 

Still, this ridiculousness with the system has me in an irritable mood, as I evidently can do the math. I just don't naturally do it the way DM wants me to do it. And, that pisses me off. 

Thankfully, at the end of today's class, I finally garnered the courage to approach the professor, and came home to find that I'd passed my quiz with an 80%. Sure, I'm a little shaky math-wise (for instance, I totally forgot how to factor, but I'm rapidly figuring it out as well as brushing up on my other foundational math skills), but 80% is a B, so I can't complain too much.

At least I feel like I'm actually learning something useful, and overcoming my fear of math in the process, rather than spend the semester analyzing Harry Potter...