Posted on 07/20/2016 12:30:30 PM PDT by MichCapCon
Michigan State University is the latest public university to tweak its general education curriculum, favoring quantitative courses over traditional math courses.
The math requirement can now be fulfilled by taking two “quantitative learning” classes as an alternative, though students can choose algebra and one quantitative course, the Lansing State Journal reports.
“The one-size-fits-all college algebra approach wasn’t working for all students,” Vince Melfi, an associate professor of statistics, told the Lansing State Journal.
Previously, MSU’s basic math graduation requirement for most students included an algebra class. Students could also test out of the requirement or use transfer credit.
MSU administrators argue that the quantitative learning courses will allow students to better understand math’s real-life functions.
“An important part of these courses is to go beyond just manipulating symbols on a page and coming up with the right answer, and to reflect on what those answers mean in a specific context,” Melfi said, according to Inside Higher Ed. For example, an understanding of probability would prepare students for daily tasks such as understanding a New York Times article on medicine, Inside Higher Ed notes.
“We’re trying to present mathematics in a way that makes it more accessible and understandable,” Melfi said. “Much of mathematics was developed in order to understand the real world. When students are encountering questions in their personal or professional lives, they should be thinking about mathematics and quantitative reasoning as tools they might use.”
Last month, Wayne State University dropped its university-wide mathematics requirement, and a committee proposed adding a required three-credit-hour diversity course to the general education curriculum.
The university cited adequate high school mathematics requirements as a reason for the curriculum change. "This decision was made largely because the current (math) requirement is at a level already required by most high school mathematics curriculum," WSU said.
According to Inside Higher Ed, Michigan State’s Provost Doug Estry said the change at his university will mostly affect students who take majors outside of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).
Others noted that the new quantitative requirement might leave students ill-prepared if they take advanced math courses later in their college careers.
“There is some hazard of the student having gotten an inaccurate picture of what advanced mathematics might be like,” Thomas Barr of the American Mathematical Society, who supports MSU’s new policy, told Inside Higher Ed. “But that’s not a deep concern, because I believe the sort of student who wants to go on into advanced mathematics will recognize it early on. And if they really have an inclination for that, they’ll be able to deal with that transition.”
In the 2015-16 fiscal year, MSU received $268.3 million — 21.2 percent of its revenues — from Michigan taxpayers as state aid. Tuition for in-state undergraduate students is $14,880 in 2016-17, according to MSU’s financial aid office.
The university did not respond to a request for comment.
I unequivocally state for the record that I “do not know” anything about what you say. :0)
“Can’t read! Can’t write! Kent State!”
The Spartan offensive linemen will have numbers stenciled on their ass. The backs can’t add, so they numbers will help them figure out which gap to run through on running plays.
Back in the pencil and paper math days, algebra was useful for some figuring. But now with a calculator on every phone with more computing power than the Apollo space capsules, who needs it?
Good for her. I know two gals who graduated from VCU. One is an engineer at the shipyards in Norfolk, was in charge of the heavy crane inspection stuff last I heard. The other works for Dominion Virginia Power, a Senior Fuel Supply Coordinator or some such. Both got scholarships to college on their merits.
My oldest was studying Mech E at VCU until he was killed in Iraq, also on scholarship.
“I was in the Target store the other day. The young, white male cashier “
Are you sure it was Target?
Homeschool students typically take algebra before 8th grade. My engineering student sons find that the average college student - even in a very selective school - is dumber than an Obama/Hillary love child.
” But now with a calculator on every phone with more computing power than the Apollo space capsules, who needs it?”
You can’t get to calculus with algebra. You can’t be an engineer without calculus.
Ok, fair enough. I never had college algebra, in engineering school we went straight to single variable calculus freshman year, with multivariable and diff e-qs sophomore. They expected good knowledge of algebra, trig, and general pre-calculus mathematics going in.
You can’t even get to geometry, or statistics, without algebra.
Michigan State. Talk about throwing in the towel.
Maybe Target with a French accent. Summer hire.
My older son used to say he had that in grade school (private school). I have some of his notebooks from high school. In the margins, there are doodles of a guy with what looks like a headache. Caption is “AP Calculus Hurts.” That and doodles of Bin Laden getting his head blown off. Good boy.
My older son used to say he had that in grade school (private school). I have some of his notebooks from high school. In the margins, there are doodles of a guy with what looks like a headache. Caption is “AP Calculus Hurts.” That and doodles of Bin Laden getting his head blown off. Good boy.
I am a double STEM major, microbiology and chemical engineering. For the microbiology, algebra only was adequate although a watered down non-calculas physics was substituted for straight physics.
For chemical engineering, a sophomore categorized intro to ChE was used as a major weed out class. You had to have 25 ACT score (the general engineering college requirement) to even enroll in the intro class. Seventy people at the start of the class and 17 survivors at the end. BTW, a 27 ACT was required for entry to the ChE program, which is was all JR/SR level.
The only STEM major likely available to non-calculas folks will be the biological sciences at the BS level and some aspects of MS specialties. For the calculus areas, most all students would fail along the way if they tried to get by with only the HS level maths when they get started with the harder maths starting in the sophomore year.
Instead of algebra, Perhaps all college students should take a statistics course.
who needs it?
After I had radiation treatment, I had a doctor ask me to start at 98 and subtract 7 then count backwards. So I said 91,84,77,70,63,56,49 and he interrupted me. OK, that’s enough. I asked why he asked me that question. He said that exercise uses a part of your brain that is rarely used. He was checking for damage from the radiation.
There is people who cannot comprehend the concepts that algebra uses. They have a deficiency in their brain that prevents them from learning it.
Middle school math.
#25 To get to 21 you must be counting your little pinkie..... : )
I have tutored college calc. What you say is true. I’ve seen people who breezed through HS precalc and calc classes do faceplants when they had to take a college calc class.
Most schools use calc I/II as a weedout course for STEM majors and the problems are several steps up in difficulty from most/all AP calc classes. Having good solid college algebra and trig classes beforehand really helps people succeed.
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