Why Is Math Relevant

I get this question a lot from students and from people who ask me whether I ever use any of the math that I have learned as an undergraduate. I think it is a really hard question because a lot of times we don't use calculus or solve for polynomials in our everyday life. When people ask me these questions, I often tell them that I use the problem solving skills I gained as an undergraduate student in mathematics in every aspect of my life. But I'm not sure if that's just me trying to justify why a degree in mathematics is important or if I truly believe that higher mathematics gives me practice in better problem solving skills.

So, how do I answer a student who asks me "Why am I learning this?" The math I use daily usually consists of adding, subtracting, multiply, dividing, and taking percentages...you know, the stuff you learned in elementary school. Ava Erickson mentioned an interesting book on her blog by Eric Gutstein which touches on this issue. So, as a future math teacher, how can I encourage kids to value math and show that it has some relevance?

Partnered Test...Good or Bad?

So I'm taking this physics class right now and we are preparing for our final in a week. My teacher likes to give her students a partner for the test. You each have your own test, but you can work together to solve the problems. My teacher also chooses the pairs for the test based on your overall grade in the class. So, if you do well in class, you will be paired with someone who is about your same level. This way, not one person (the smarter one) is carrying the whole weight of the test. So far, through the 2 physics classes I have taken, I have done fairly well and thus have always had good partners. However, I was just thinking do partnered test-taking really give all students an advantage over individual test-taking? Sure, you have another person's brain to work with, but what if the two of you have no idea how to approach a problem on the test? Or worse, what if the more outspoken of the 2 goes down a wrong path? Does the other partner feel pressure to go along? What if the learning styles of the 2 students differ? Would one hinder the other? Another point that my teacher brought up was the fact that some people don't study as hard because they are expecting a partner. They assume that the other student will have studied, so why waste your time? I find the idea of partnered tests very interesting and I do wonder if the benefits outweigh the negative?

What Makes a Good Math Teacher

So I am currently taking a physics class with some students who either recently graduated from high school or are in their senior year. I picked their brains a bit yesterday about what they thought made a good math teacher and what makes learning more interesting. One of them was all about the independent study route for those who understood the mathematics. He says he feels hindered by the class by having to wait for his classmates to catch up. In the meantime he is bored and frustrated. Another student commented that relating the mathematics to real life made it a lot more interesting. Hands-on activities also made learning more fun. I also learned, to my surprise that group work was not desired. The students said that group projects always ended up with one or two people carrying the work for the entire group. That hardly seems fair. I feel that group work is essential in students' learning. Does anyone have any ideas how group projects could be a fair learning experience?

Digital Medias In Mathematics

I recently had a conversation with my husband about using technology in mathematics, and he asked me how much technology can you incorporate into teaching math without distracting from it? He brings up a great point. Through my tech class, I have learned so many new tools to use in education, but I don't think that I can use all of them when teaching. For instance, if I use a tool that students are unfamiliar with, will they be too frustrated by the new method of learning to listen, or are kids like a sponge and they soak up new information? I think we do have to be selective and chose what types of digital medias will enhance students' learning in our classroom, not distract them from what is important, learning the subject matter. It is very useful, however, to have an arsenal of tools that we can pick and choose from to see what works best for us all.