Talking To Strangers

My math teacher, Mr. Payeur and I decided that interviewing students and teachers just wasn’t enough. So to take my project to the next level, I went down to the Scout and Co. Coffee shop with Mr.Payeur and talked to strangers our math program. We figured since we had gotten opinions from people in the school why not see what people outside of school have to say.

Scout and Co Coffee Shop

During the coffee shop visits, I interviewed two college graduates with very different opinions on our math program.I asked them to compare our math program to the way they did math in high school and I asked which they would prefer.

The first person I interviewed was a woman named Lindsay, who majored in philosophy in college. When talking about her math experience in high school, I noticed that it was very similar to the way we did math last year. Things like algebra, trigonometry, and precalculus were separate math classes, kind of like the way IMP’s were divided last year. IMP 1, IMP 2, and IMP 3 were all separate math classes. After talking about her math experience I explained the way our math program worked. I told her about how it was all on computers, and how it was all problem-based learning. I told her that the teachers didn’t really give you direct instruction and you would explore the math on your own. because it was a way to work at your own pace. After discussing both our math experiences I asked her if she could go back to high school which math program would she prefer and she said ours. She had said that integrated classrooms seemed pretty cool, and that some students may prefer the classroom taught classes because they really didn’t have to learn. With the math program students are learning even more because they’re doing it on their own, hence problem based learning. She suggested that instead of having all students work the same way, they should divide the students into learning types. Put those who like to work independently with others who like to work independently. Put those who like to interact and do hands on learning with others who like to interact and do hands on learning. Rather than making each student work in a way that isn’t benefiting them.

The second person I interview was a woman named Jamie, who majored in environmental studies in college. Like Lindsay, I asked Jamie about her math experience in high school and she had said similar things to what Lindsay said. The classes were pretty basic classes like, algebra, trigonometry, and precalculus. Again, like the IMP’s last year, they were divided into different classes. After explaining our math program I asked her which math she would prefer and unlike Lindsay she said she would have still prefered to do the math she use to do. She had said that the way she use to do math is better because seemed to be easier than the way we do math.

As you can see both these people had different opinions on our math program, and I thought it was good to get out and see what other people who haven’t experienced math the way we have to understand what it was like. I thought that maybe if the public thought that the old math was better than the way we do math now, it might help my argument for changing the math lab. From my two discussions I discovered that your opinion on the math lab will vary depending on who you are and how you learn. Which means the math lab should stay open to any suggestions that could make it better for students. Keep commenting and leaving suggestions, visit my blog again for the latest insight on the math lab.

What Do Students Really Think About Math Lab?

Example of community activity at the beginning of class.

So, before all of the updates were applied to the math lab I went around and conducted several student interviews. Ten to be exact, I received a variety of different answers to the questions I asked. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion of course, so I expected to see many different answers. Depending on who they are and how they learn it will affects their point of view on the math lab, so I interviewed both students who liked the math lab and students who didn’t just to be fair. Interview questions and answers:

Generally how is math lab going for you?

Most students had said that it wasn’t going to well, it seemed kind of slow pace and they felt like they were falling behind because they weren’t getting enough assignments done, but others said it was going pretty good.

Do you think math lab is a good opportunity to work at your own pace? If so, is working at your own pace something you want to do?

All of the students said that it was a very good opportunity to work at your own pace, but isn’t helpful for those who procrastinate because they fall behind easier.

Do you feel pressured when doing math at your own pace because of credits?

The results were mixed, some students said yes because they don’t feel motivated to do the activities for homework and some students said no because it makes them feel more motivated to get their work done.

How many assignments do you finish a week? Do you think you’re meeting expectations for getting a math credit this year?

Almost all of the students said they tend to finish 1-3, it also varied depending on each student and what assignment they had been working on, some even said they only finished ⅓ of an assignment.

Personally do you like the way math used to be or do you like the math now? Why?

The results were mixed. Most students preferred it the old way because they were learning a lot more with a teacher in the front of a room showing examples and explaining in detail what things were, but others said they like it better this way because they enjoy the independence they have.

Do you feel like you’re making progress in math the way you did the old way? Why?

The results were mixed. Some students said they felt like they were making the same progress and some students felt like they weren’t making any at all, because they were doing the assignments just to get them done and they weren’t taking in the learning, they weren’t really remembering what they’ve been doing.

Do you mind going back to help others with past problems that you’ve already completed? Why?

The results were mixed. Some students don’t really mind because it’s good learning experiences, but some students do because they want to focus on their own work. One student had mentioned that it wasn’t really happening anyway because the students don’t seem close enough to enforce it.

When you enter the math lab do you feel like it’s like a community?

Students said that everyone is kind of just in their own little world when you enter the math lab and students don’t usually approach each other. One student had said that when she ask for help from other students, she feels like she’s disturbing their learning with hers, and it slows down their learning when they have to go back into previous assignments that they have finished a while ago.  

Do you feel like the way you’re learning in math lab is benefiting you in your math skills? How?

Student feels like their doing assignments just to get them done, no memorization happening, just doing it to do it, not really learning it. Students said it prepares them with skills on becoming independent but as for math skills, there is not really improvement.

Do you have any suggestion that might make the math lab better?

Student suggestions included:

• More instruction and workshops that benefit every students.
• More teachers.
• More lessons, like more direct instructions.
• Give participation grade based on students going into math lab everyday and their working.
• Once a week have a normal class with instructions.
• One unit work as a class then one unit work alone.
• Bring the old math system back, but only on one side of the room. For those who need help in figuring out the equations or the systems to do the work, they could get help in the form of small class. For those who know what they’re doing, let them continue working at their own pace.

From the interviews, I took that there is a majority of students that don’t like the math lab and there is a portion of students that think the math lab is okay, and think that there are a few things that could make the math lab better. What I am most interested in is the suggestions that you guys have that could make it better, so keep leaving comments and visit my next blog to see what student think about the changes that have been made to the math lab.