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eIMACS - e-Institute for Mathematics and Computer Science

• Website

  https://www.eimacs.com/

• Topics

  • By Subject Area: Mathematics
  • By Subject Area: Technology
  • Educational Options: Distance Learning
  • Grade Level: College
  • Grade Level: High School
  • Grade Level: Middle School

• Organization

  Institute for Mathematics and Computer Science

Comments

Educator on 9/28/2020

IMACS was a saving grace for my homeschooled son. It provided the depth and rigor that he needed to keep his hungry brain happy. He took CS1, CS2, and AP Computer Science (+ Advanced Topics) during his last three years of high school, and they prepared him extremely well for college where he is majoring in computer science and mathematics. The interface was very easy for my son to use, and if he had questions, his teacher was quick to respond. He also received specific feedback on problems he missed on quizzes so that he could correct his thinking. My husband is in IT and was impressed with the subjects the classes covered. I only wish we'd know about IMACS sooner. I believe he would have loved participating in the math and logic courses starting in middle school. We cannot say enough good things about the IMACS experience and highly recommend it for students who need more.

Student on 8/1/2019

I have taken the eIMACS computer science courses – University Computer Science I and II and AP Computer Science: Java Programming – over the past three years. They have taught me not to simply memorize syntax or algorithms but to understand the concepts necessary to write and debug programs in or outside of the courses. They’re also sprinkled with a little humor! The courses have also exposed me to a variety of fields of computer science, from data analysis to app design, encouraging me to pursue my own interests in computer science just for fun. The format of the class provides flexibility without compromising the availability of teachers. Additionally, the teachers provide good hints without giving away the answers to any problem. The Java Programming course prepared me very well for the AP Computer Science A exam, and I found that the questions on the AP CS A exam were a lot easier than those from tests in the course. The course also provides lots of interesting information outside of the AP CS A subset, while clearly defining the lines of what would or would not be included on the exam. I would highly recommend these courses to anyone interested in computer science.

Parent on 7/23/2019

eIMACS’ AP Computer Science course truly delivers!!! The strength of eIMACS’ AP CSA course lies not only in the quality and rigor of the course materials but also in their choice of world class instructors. My son’s course instructor provided prompt feedback via email to each one of my son’s questions and was an exceptional mentor. The course supplement that introduces students to the Android app development process, from setting up the integrated development environment (IDE) to programming a game app to running it on a mobile Android device is a priceless added bonus.

Parent on 2/6/2019

eIMACS Computer Science courses teach students how to solve problems by programming, rather than just how to program. The conceptual framework has enabled and empowered my children to successfully use computer programming in novel languages and environments, and to make sense of the work of professionals in the area. My children also find them fun! They are a cornerstone of our home school.

Parent on 5/18/2018

This is a long due review on how wonderful it was to be able to access university level math logic for a 10yo math-hungry student. I homeschooled my kiddo due to a voracious appetite for learning that our local schools could not fulfill. A part of me was worried that my kid was self-accelerating so much so I looked for unique math programs that were not about plug and chug problems and would truly challenge this child. Reaching out to Terry, I was amazed how responsive he was to my emails and how kind and thoughtful. There was no need to explain why I was looking for such advanced material for a child barely out of elementary school. He answered all of our questions thoroughly and assigned a lovely instructor who was also responsive and knowledgeable. We wish we could have used eIMACS for more classes and to make up for that I recommend these classes to other homeschoolers regularly! My kid, now a teen, is a freshman math major at a leading university and doing well. Very grateful for eIMACS.

Parent on 10/16/2017

I started looking into IMACS because I wanted my children to learn more than just how to code or memorize math formulas. I wanted them to learn how to think and be able to solve real-world problems. After having completed University Computer Science 1, my daughter has gotten much better at tackling problems not just in CS, but also in other subjects such as math and science. Furthermore, my son, who’s taking Advanced Math Logic, finds the course not only entertaining and fun, but also realizes it’s helpful for seeing things differently when solving problems in math and science. Both of my children loved the first IMACS courses they took so much that they begged me to keep them enrolled. I’ve not noticed this much enthusiasm from them while taking any other courses. Their instructors are patient, extremely helpful, and definitely some of the best my children have ever worked with. I highly recommend IMACS courses to any family or any students that are looking to build a lifetime of thinking, logic, and problem solving skills.

Parent on 8/20/2017

The eIMACS Computer Science track has been a perfect addition to our homeschool education. The AP exam proved to be a breeze after the rigorous AP Computer Science course. The programs have been well constructed and implemented, and the instructors have been prompt, informative, and a pleasure to interact with. Highly recommended!

Student on 8/6/2017

eIMACS courses have been a godsend in three primary areas. First, they helped me develop a passion for math/computers. The way math is taught in schools is very dull. eIMACS courses present the content in an interesting manner and pull off a rare feat in education; they explain complicated ideas without sacrificing complexity. Your courses explain everything in approachable language so I was not intimidated away as a young child, but gave me the deep understanding that I wanted. I enjoyed your courses more than anything I have taken in high school. Second, they gave me a competitive edge in nearly every subject. It is self-evident that the two computer science courses helped me with coding. The diversity of languages you offer is a huge benefit because certain languages lend themselves to certain problems. eIMACS also gave me experience with complex data structures, which most coders my age have not encountered. Similarly, the logic I have taken with you helped me with math. However, the reach of these courses goes far beyond math and science. Logic has made my writing more coherent and streamlined; I can organize my thoughts more efficiently. It has also made me a more persuasive speaker during debate competitions. Third, your courses allowed me to specialize in what I truly love earlier than most high schoolers. eIMACS courses are so much more advanced than what most high schoolers are exposed to. I know much more about the fields I’m passionate about and can specialize earlier as a result. Most kids my age have no idea what they want to major in. Because of eIMACS, this is not the case for me.

Parent on 7/28/2017

My 13 year old daughter has completed University Computer Science 1 and 2 through eIMACS. She enjoyed the classes and found them challenging. I think that learning Computer Science skills is critical in the world we live in today. The CS classes at eIMACS certainly teach those fundamental skills effectively and in an engaging way. My daughter’s passion doesn’t lie in CS, but down the road she may find these skills will her help her succeed in whatever field she decides to pursue. Taking these challenging classes at a young age has given her the tools and the confidence she needs to feel comfortable in the world of programming. When my daughter was taking the classes, her teachers helped her along the way with quick and helpful responses. The interactive, sequential nature of the classes made the work fun for my daughter.

Parent on 7/20/2017

My son has been fortunate to take five IMACS courses over the past five years. He has enjoyed and learned a great deal from each course. When he was in middle school, the IMACS courses serves as a welcome academic challenge for him. There is no doubt that the IMACS Math courses he took.Propositional Calculus and Predicate Calculus, furthered his interest in studying math and made him excited to search for other academic challenges in math, such as math competitions and logic puzzles. In high school, my son switched to the Computer Science track. Computer Science did not fit in his schedule at school and it was perfect that he was able to study those courses online, and also to work from home and at his own pace. The homeschooling option of IMACS clearly meets the needs of busy high school students. Also, the programs and the instructors all five years were top rate and my son always knew he could ask questions -- but he also knew the instructors would help him but not give away answers. The most recent course my son completed was the AP Computer Science class. He found the class to be rigorous and challenging but so worthwhile; he learned a great deal and found the AP Computer Science test to be quite simple after completing the course. Reflecting on our IMACS experience, I know that my son learned a great deal, enjoyed the experience, and will be much better prepared for college than he would have been otherwise. Thank you IMACS!!!

Parent on 7/26/2016

Our son has completed University Computer Science I and II and is currently enrolled in AP Computer Science A: Java Programming. Although we knew that he excelled at mathematics, we discovered through these courses that he also had great understanding and success in computer programming. He really enjoyed the challenge of learning the programming languages and solving puzzles and problems through that process. The problems challenged his ability to think logically. The AP Computer Science A course also contains optional extra material for those like our son who want to delve deeper. The directions for the lessons were self-explanatory and easy to follow. Whenever he had questions, his teacher responded very quickly through an online message center within 24 hours. The knowledge and experience he gained through the eIMACS computer science courses prepared him to take the role of lead programmer of his team for the FIRST Robotics Competitions, including competing at the 2016 FIRST Robotics World Championships. Our son has been involved in many online courses over his schooling, and eIMACS has been his best experience in the rigor of the course, the very clear and precise instructions for doing each lesson, and the very personal and considerate practice by the director and teacher.

Parent on 5/31/2016

When my son (a long-time Davidson YS and very STEM-oriented student) was looking for a strong Computer Science class, we turned to IMACS. We were sold on the idea that, unlike a CS course that focused on a particular language, University Computer Science I introduces fundamental concepts that would translate to current and future CS languages. It provides challenging and interesting material with exercises that at once taught problem-solving tools, and at the same time, made room for the student to use original strategies to reach successful conclusions. I am also very impressed with the instructor support provided. DS's instructor committed to quick response times (within a few hours) and never disappointed. In fact, most of the time, DS’s questions were answered within the hour. Moreover, the assistance given encouraged DS to think, review and problem-solve for himself rather than simply giving away answers. Another invaluable skill for any student! DS is looking forward to taking APCS next year and USC2 if he can squeeze it in, as well as the Advanced Mathematical Logic courses during his senior year. Our only regret is that he didn’t start eIMACS sooner!

Parent on 5/26/2016

Computer science education is a must for every child now. It's become like English and Math. As a practicing professional and instructor, I searched everywhere to find a good course for my daughter who wants to major in Animation and Digital Arts. We did try couple of courses before and were not happy with the content and presentation of topics. I was very skeptical about University Computer Science I when I saw the syllabus, but as my daughter progressed through the course, I saw a improvement in her thinking methodology - especially in other subjects. Some of the topics covered in UCS1 – like Recursion, 2D Arrays, Sorts – are areas in which some CS college graduates are not comfortable. UCS1 students are taught in Scheme, a dialect of the LISP language, which is minimalist in nature and lays bare the concept - excellent choice of language. The exercises are plentiful and drive the concepts home. It was an extremely rewarding experience. My daughter is planning to enroll in UCS2 and AP Computer Science: Java Programming. My only complaint is that eIMACS doesn't have more courses online - like Analysis of Algorithms etc. I would have become their student too. In my opinion, every high school student must take UCS1 to get a good understanding of the power of computing.

Parent on 2/13/2016

My son begged me to register him for online computer science classes over a two year period. I was hesitant to take the plunge because classes are expensive and I was unsure if an online approach would be a good fit. After much research into online schools, I registered my son for University Computer Science I, IMACS' college-level intro to computer science class. My son's class more than surpassed our expectations. We were amazed by the quality and depth of the course material and the support of the faculty. My son went on to take University Computer Science II, then the AP Computer Science class as well as their Intro to Logic I class. These classes are rigorous and thoroughly prepare students for advanced studies in computer science. If you are holding back registering your student in these classes due to fears that these classes will not provide an in-depth exposure to college level computer science, I can vouch that the education my son has received at IMACS has been of exceptional quality and well worth the expense.

Parent on 1/9/2016

At eIMACS, our son found an environment conducive to learning, with self-paced and intensive university-level computer science courses offering the depth and rigor he enjoys. Each course is backed by responsive instructors and offers relevant learning that is at once practical and lays the foundation to a strong computer science background. As parents, we definitely recommend eIMACS for kids who love computer science, have an aptitude for hard work and enjoy challenging courses different from the norm!

Student on 11/11/2015

The summer before my sophomore year of high school, I decided that I wanted to try computer science and took the eIMACS University Computer Science I course. I could not have made a better choice. The class was challenging but accessible, teaching me the fundamental concepts without discouraging me with an extremely complicated language. This helped me to enjoy the ideas and problem solving aspects of computer science without getting bogged down by a frustrating language. It helped instill in me a love of the larger themes, which proved to be exceedingly helpful when I took AP Computer Science in the much more complicated language of Java. Because I had the background of UCS1, I was able to overcome the particular nature of the programming language and focus on the more exciting concepts of computer science. This allowed me to earn a 5 on the AP exam without ever having stepped inside a classroom. I highly recommend both the UCS1 and AP Computer Science: Java Programming courses from eIMACS.

Parent on 10/1/2015

As a parent, I enthusiastically recommend eIMACS. My son has taken all of the CS courses that eIMACS offers (University Computer Science I & II, and APCS) and had a positive experience with each course. After the thorough preparation, he reported that he felt quite confident during the AP exam, and scored a 5. We have been so pleased that we were directed to eIMACS by a (computer scientist) friend who also has a gifted child. I wanted to find a learning environment that fits with an advanced student who learns and integrates quickly, so that our son could move at his own pace. eIMACS was exactly that place. The courses were well presented, and we knew he was in good hands with the instructors. They were remarkably available, responding often within minutes. I particularly appreciated that the instructors did not just answer my son’s questions; they redirected my son’s thinking, gave him hints, so that he could stretch himself and figure it out on his own. My son loved the courses so much he often had a hard time stopping. It is clear to me that he now has a very strong foundation, and takes away not only specific learning, but also an approach to computer science and problem-solving and that will serve him for years to come. I am deeply grateful for what eIMACS has given my son.

Student on 8/3/2015

As a professional software architect I can't say nearly enough about the computer science education I received from IMACS. Every topic in my computer science degree came easily thanks to my IMACS background. They prepared me not only as a very well versed computer programmer but also as a strong problem solver. I actively look for the same problem solving skills that I learned at IMACS when hiring. The concepts I learned at IMACS have translated to every programming language I have taught myself, and I am eternally grateful for everything they taught me.

Student on 8/2/2015

Overall I was very satisfied with my eIMACS experience. The eIMACS set-up of the APCS course was the most intuitive and easy easiest to follow of all the online computer science-related courses I have taken. My instructor was always prompt and clear in his responses, and the course material was detailed and challenging, while the tests and assignments were at the right level. The free response questions were different and distinct enough from the rest of the course material and helped me to score a 5 on the AP exam. The course boosted my interest in computer science and came in especially useful during the camp I attended this summer working where I worked on programming mobile apps.

Parent on 7/23/2015

I would highly recommend the IMACS course for any child wanting to study for the APCS exam. I searched a lot before choosing IMACS and am very happy with the decision. This was the only online APCS course that I found which implemented the new labs. My husband and I are software engineers and found the quality of the course material to be very high. Concepts were very well-explained without talking down to the student. The text format makes it easy for a student to go ahead rather than in a video where some back and forth is needed to go faster. Our daughter pretty much studied it by herself and only needed an occasional reminder when stuck to get help from her IMACS instructor who replied promptly. As a parent, I liked being able to navigate through the online syllabus to see how much was done and what is coming up. The weekly email progress updates were useful too. Our daughter could not study APCS in 10th grade at school, and IMACS APCS was the perfect solution. She got a good foundation in Computer Science principles and programming and also a score of 5 in the AP exam. Thank you IMACS.

Student on 7/15/2015

IMACS has given me huge advantages over my college classmates in math and computer science. During my first semester at RIT, I took Discrete Math and Intro to Proofs. Nearly everything that was taught in that class, I had seen before in the eIMACS logic courses. On the first test, the class average was in the low 70's, but I got a 104 because my professor awarded me bonus points for exceptional work. The course has a reputation for weeding people out of the applied math program, but I easily got an A thanks to my IMACS background. Taking the eIMACS Java course enabled me to get a 5 on the AP Computer Science A exam in my junior year of high school. That, in turn, earned me a spot in a Java programming class at RIT that most applied math majors never take. Thanks to IMACS, I was already familiar with several topics covered in the course. I was one of the best students in the class despite being the only one who wasn't majoring in computer science or software engineering. I am truly grateful for the advantages I gained at IMACS.

Parent on 5/15/2015

My daughter is a senior in high school and completed University Computer Science 1 this year. She had no computer science experience prior to this course. She felt the material was clearly presented and the exercises were helpful. When she needed assistance, the instructor provided just the right level of help, and his response was almost always immediate. Overall, she feels she learned a lot and really enjoyed the course. As a result, she is considering majoring in computer science in college. As a parent, I can say this was money well spent.

Parent on 4/22/2015

We have always been very pleased with the local IMACS instructors that our son has had, but the level of commitment from his eIMACS instructor has been outstanding. Our son is a very gifted student with a big heart and wonderful mind, but we know that your program has played a significant role in all of his achievements. His dream is to attend Stanford or MIT to study Computer Science, and allowing him to be part of eIMACS is the best preparation we can provide for him today. We highly recommend IMACS to all of our friends and family.

Parent on 9/22/2014

My daughter has just completed the university level computer science (CS) courses offered by IMACS and received A+ grades. My decision to ask her take the first CS course has turned out to be pivotal as she has fallen in love with computing and algorithms and has decided to be a CS major in college. As a parent and computer scientist, I can attest to both the breadth and depth of the problems in IMACS courses. These courses will be loved by students who are self-directed learners and creative problem solvers who love new challenges every day and are able to work with minimal supervision. Parents can track progress. The instructors are very timely in offering help and in a manner that forces students to think critically in approaching the problems so as to improve their problem solving abilities.

Student on 8/21/2014

I took this course because I heard that Computer Science is the future, and that programming is the most important skill I could acquire. However, I always thought that it was not my type of thing and that it would be too difficult for me. Eimacs gave me an amazing experience where I not only learned an extraordinary amount, but i grew to really enjoy it also. At any point when I was stuck on a question, (it could be 11 o'clock at night on a Tuesday) I would send the teacher a message and he would give me a detailed response usually within 10 minutes. I cannot say enough about this program and highly recommend it to anyone who is interested in learning computer science.

Parent on 8/21/2014

My son took IMACS University Computer Science I as his first computer course in high school. He is now majoring in computer engineering and enjoying internship as a software developer. My son appreciated learning a radically different language like Scheme early on. He said: "Different languages have different paradigms. It was nice to understand that not all languages approach problems in fundamentally the same way." His approach to learning Chinese from me reflected just that. He is not satisfied with just memorization, but continuously probes about its underlying structure and usage in ways that never occurred to me which makes learning a great discovery process. He appreciated the course for its good scope, good pace, and good introduction to computer science. Thank you Mr Terry Kaufman for providing a great balance of support and challenge. My son enjoyed the course because the learning process was much like puzzle solving. If I could go back in time, I would have enrolled him in additional IMACS courses earlier on.

Parent on 7/8/2014

My daughter started taking eIMACS three years ago with the first logic course and has loved them since she started; this year she chose to take two courses! From the beginning the courses have not only challenged her, but kept her interested and excited to learn new things. I have been impressed with the concepts she is learning and by the amount of academic maturity the courses have drawn out of her. What she would tell you is that the first course she took with eIMACS made her like math again! The courses require a lot of effort, but the amount of learning that takes place is worth that effort. My daughter loves that the classes do not talk down to her or try to disguise learning as a game; they treat the student as someone who is competent and intelligent and willing to work. In addition, her teachers have been very responsive to her questions and quick to grade assignments. They have been only positive and encouraging toward her, taking an interest in her as an individual. For us, these classes have been a wonderful find!

Student on 5/21/2014

I recently completed the eIMACS AP Computer Science (CS) course. Before taking this course, I had a minimal background in computer science. After completing the course, I feel that I have attained a strong background in CS and have discovered a passion for solving problems by coding. My experience with eIMACS was amazing! The class material was well-written and easy to understand. If I ever had a question, I could easily access my eIMACS instructor. The lab assignments were challenging, but fun and interesting. They provided me with real opportunities to learn how to code. Throughout the year, I have learned not only how to code, but how to think. This class has strongly influenced my interests. This summer I will continue my studies at Google in Seattle, and I plan on studying CS at Brown University in the fall. I can’t thank eIMACS enough for helping me to realize how exciting, interesting, and multifaceted computer science can be.

Student on 3/3/2014

IMACS is an amazing program that emphasizes logic-based problem solving and critical thinking skills. Its innovative curriculum is ingeniously woven into fun games and puzzles, and gives a rock-solid foundation in critical thinking and logic. I’ve taken almost all of their logic, computer science, and math enrichment classes. The quality of their courses is outstanding and, in my experience, unique. I always looked forward to my weekly IMACS sessions and online eIMACS courses. Thanks to IMACS, I had the logical and conceptual foundation to thrive in college mathematics and computer science courses at Carnegie Mellon and Stanford as a high school freshman!

Student on 2/18/2014

I cannot thank IMACS enough for being an integral part of my admission to MIT. IMACS helped shape my dreams and goals in many ways and was where I fell in love with programming. The first online resource I always strongly recommend to high school students who are interested in math and computer science is eIMACS. Those courses set a firm base for my programming knowledge and turned out to be only too valuable during college.

Student on 2/18/2014

IMACS programming courses are great for teaching computer science at both a beginning and more advanced level. They've helped me so much in learning how to code and in understanding deeper concepts. I'm sure the skills I've gained will be very valuable in my future job as an engineer. Thanks to IMACS and its great teachers, I am now learning my fourth programming language! As a girl, I want to encourage other girls to join IMACS and discover programming as a long-term interest. Computer science is not usually offered in middle schools, making IMACS a wonderful addition to any student's course load. With the help of these courses, I plan to contribute to shaping the future of technology.

Parent on 5/15/2012

The eIMACS online courses are excellent for highly gifted math students. eIMACS did a great job of teaching my daughter mathematical logic. I can't stress enough how valuable it is for our brightest youngsters to learn a breadth of mathematics utterly beyond the usual high-school curriculum, instead of rushing through an honors high-school math curriculum and the Calculus as fast as possible. I was thoroughly impressed by the quality of the materials, and by the speed and quality of the personal feedback in the math courses. --A Parent (and a university computer science professor)

Parent on 2/18/2012

My son has taken many online programming and math courses, but eIMACS was among the very best in terms of teaching a fundamental understanding of the concepts rather than the simple mechanics. We plan to use eIMACS in the future and to recommend it strongly to families with a strong interest in really understanding math, logic and programming.

Parent on 1/11/2012

"Our son was an IMACS student from 8th through 10th grade. Because of his radical acceleration in school and in math in particular, he needed early access to more than what was available at middle and high school. eIMACS allowed him to take advanced classes without the prejudice of age or grade-level expectations. eIMACS provided our son with rigorous classes in programming and logic in a flexible, self-paced manner in the comfort of our home. The Web-based interface and self-contained compilers were bug free, allowing him to concentrate on learning. The online instructors gave prompt and encouraging feedback. Our son is now a high school senior and applying to top math and science universities across the country. Thank you, IMACS, for giving him a firm foundation!" - Steve Tkach, Parent

Parent on 1/5/2012

We love eIMACS! We knew that our daughter was gifted in math, but IMACS was the first institution to recognize that she had an aptitude and an interest in computer science. The eIMACS course in AP Computer Science fully prepared her for the exam (offering her a course she could not have found elsewhere in middle school), and she received a 5. She is continuing with the logic courses and hopes to major in math. We highly recommend eIMACS!

Educator on 2/27/2004

Many parents have commented on how pleased they are with the EIMACS Program. The content is appropriately challenging for gifted children and the access to online support is quick and reliable. I would recommend it as an option for anyone looking for a math program or simply math enrichment.

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