Post by fiulife on Sept 18, 2007 21:59:50 GMT -5
There is a problem with either the math department or students in Math.
Not many students can claim College algebra as their favorite class - not with an estimated failure rate of 70 percent.
Pre-med student Caréa Robinson is one of them; she had to take the course twice before passing and says the professors are to blame.
"I don't think my professors were lenient - they didn't have homework to help improve your grade or extra-credit and the office hours weren't useful because I had other classes during their office hours," Robinson said. "One teacher would come in [at the beginning of class], write everything on the board and then she would explain it by whispering and you couldn't understand anything."
Julian Edward, chairman of the Mathematics Department, said there is no single cause for such a high number in college algebra failures.
He says one reason might be that high schools don't require students to take math courses their junior and senior years.
As a result, such students enter their freshman year of college without the necessary math skills needed to pass college algebra.
Brian Peterson, associate professor for the History Department, has been involved in educational policy analysis since 1978 and has a strong, continuing interest in FIU's lower-division program, which he had advocated for.
Peterson said he has been told by math department faculty members that their adjunct instructors are not effective teachers.
Unfortunately, Peterson said, the department cannot hire better adjuncts for the amount of money that the central administration gives them.
"Good math instructors are hard to find in Miami - especially at the adjunct pay rate of around $2500 per course," Peterson said. "The math department tells me that the situation is getting better because they have added some new, permanent, full-time instructors who are effective teachers."
The math department is offering over 50 sections this Fall, including some special sections of college algebra that meet six hours per week. There is a pre-algebra course that students can take to familiarize themselves with the concepts covered in college algebra.
Also, the department offers tutoring in Deuxieme Maison, room 409A.
The math department hopes to relocate its tutoring center to a larger facility in the Green Library sometime this Fall, according to Edward.
For students who work or do not have time for tutoring, there is an online service available at the departmental Web site.
Edward believes students can help solve this problem by completing six hours or more of college algebra homework in the online tutoring program, but it all depends on their math skills.
He said that doing the tutorials will have a significant impact in their performance in the class.
"Math is something you learn by doing, not seeing," Edward said.
Edward also believes students need to be careful when choosing their math courses because many people make the error of taking college algebra when it is not required in their majors.
For non-science and non-business majors, Edward suggests that students take finite or social choice math.
"Don't fall into the false impression that this course will be easier due to the familiarity with the material from high school," Edward said. "We cannot leave any topics off because the syllabus is state-mandated."
For college algebra tutoring information, visit the departmental Web site at w3.fiu.edu/math/math_help/math_help.htm.
Beacon Article
Not many students can claim College algebra as their favorite class - not with an estimated failure rate of 70 percent.
Pre-med student Caréa Robinson is one of them; she had to take the course twice before passing and says the professors are to blame.
"I don't think my professors were lenient - they didn't have homework to help improve your grade or extra-credit and the office hours weren't useful because I had other classes during their office hours," Robinson said. "One teacher would come in [at the beginning of class], write everything on the board and then she would explain it by whispering and you couldn't understand anything."
Julian Edward, chairman of the Mathematics Department, said there is no single cause for such a high number in college algebra failures.
He says one reason might be that high schools don't require students to take math courses their junior and senior years.
As a result, such students enter their freshman year of college without the necessary math skills needed to pass college algebra.
Brian Peterson, associate professor for the History Department, has been involved in educational policy analysis since 1978 and has a strong, continuing interest in FIU's lower-division program, which he had advocated for.
Peterson said he has been told by math department faculty members that their adjunct instructors are not effective teachers.
Unfortunately, Peterson said, the department cannot hire better adjuncts for the amount of money that the central administration gives them.
"Good math instructors are hard to find in Miami - especially at the adjunct pay rate of around $2500 per course," Peterson said. "The math department tells me that the situation is getting better because they have added some new, permanent, full-time instructors who are effective teachers."
The math department is offering over 50 sections this Fall, including some special sections of college algebra that meet six hours per week. There is a pre-algebra course that students can take to familiarize themselves with the concepts covered in college algebra.
Also, the department offers tutoring in Deuxieme Maison, room 409A.
The math department hopes to relocate its tutoring center to a larger facility in the Green Library sometime this Fall, according to Edward.
For students who work or do not have time for tutoring, there is an online service available at the departmental Web site.
Edward believes students can help solve this problem by completing six hours or more of college algebra homework in the online tutoring program, but it all depends on their math skills.
He said that doing the tutorials will have a significant impact in their performance in the class.
"Math is something you learn by doing, not seeing," Edward said.
Edward also believes students need to be careful when choosing their math courses because many people make the error of taking college algebra when it is not required in their majors.
For non-science and non-business majors, Edward suggests that students take finite or social choice math.
"Don't fall into the false impression that this course will be easier due to the familiarity with the material from high school," Edward said. "We cannot leave any topics off because the syllabus is state-mandated."
For college algebra tutoring information, visit the departmental Web site at w3.fiu.edu/math/math_help/math_help.htm.
Beacon Article
