Posted on 10/07/2023 3:40:59 AM PDT by george76
After a year of remote algebra, Diego Fonseca struggled with advanced algebra. Despite a week at George Mason University's Math Boot Camp, the would-be computer science major failed the math placement test to qualify for calculus four times. He didn't know the basics.
Across the country, more students are placing into pre-college math, reports AP's Collin Binkley. "At many universities, engineering and biology majors are struggling to grasp fractions and exponents."
At George Mason in Northern Virginia, fewer would-be STEM majors are getting into calculus and more are failing, he writes.
“We’re talking about college-level pre-calculus and calculus classes, and students cannot even add one-half and one-third,” said Maria Emelianenko, chair of George Mason’s math department.
At Temple, the number of students placed into intermediate algebra, the equivalent of ninth-grade math, has nearly doubled, writes Binkley. It's the lowest option for STEM majors.
In a softball quiz at the start of last year's fall semester, students were asked to subtract eight from negative six, recalls Jessica Babcock. “I graded a whole bunch of papers in a row. No two papers had the same answer, and none of them were correct.”
“It’s not just that they’re unprepared, they’re almost damaged,” said Brian Rider, Temple’s math chair. “I hate to use that term, but they’re so behind.”
Professors tried "expanded office hours, a new tutoring center, pared-down lessons focused on the essentials," writes Binkley. "But students didn’t come for help, and they kept getting D’s and F’s."
This year, Babcock hopes redesigning the algebra class to focus on "active learning" will help. "Class will be more of a group discussion, with lots of problems worked in-class."
George Mason also is offering active learning, and the option to take a slower-paced math class that takes two terms instead of one.
Fonseca failed the placement test four times, again placing in pre-calculus. He'd need at least one extra semester to catch up on math. He decided to start at community college instead. Using what he'd learned in boot camp, he placed into calculus.
Amen. I did not finish my first coffee and not awake yet came up with 5/6 on like blue.dog seconds. Or is time still measured in colors and animals.
Math is hard… wait. Now I remember time is measured in Parsecs.
You are correct you old fogey...but I use that term with awe and respect for your mastery! LOL!
Roger your sarcasm about the new math!
learned in 6th grade science that if you aren’t part of the solution then you are part of the precipitate. that was just before the educational revolution. now...everything is just precipitate.
Here’s an idea - stop giving passing grades to failing students. If they haven’t learned enough to get a high school diploma, don’t give them one. Plain and simple.
And yes, adding fractions is elementary, or at least pre-algebra.
“group discussion” means that the few smart ones will have to carry the idiots across the finish line. Then everyone gets a trophy. Just like group projects at work.
We use math in all kinds of ways. For instance:
A - B = C
A = problem
B = government intervention
C = new problem
wy69
Why did George Mason admit him to a CS major if he struggled with advanced algebra?
I think if you look at his name, that might give you the answer.
Math is racist anyway, so it doesn’t matter.
> My feeble mind this am says 5/6 but not sure with the new math if that is right.
Most importantly how do you feel about that answer?
Stupidity is caused by global warming.
=:-)
What’s the problem? It’s.8333333333. Duh!
I think it's a sand trap....
What’s the problem? It’s.8333333333. Duh!
“1/2 + 1/3”
Do it with pizza...
1/2 pizza + 1/3 pizza = darn near a whole pizza.
See how easy that was?
Kids, here’s a real world example...
Say you bought your first house, hopefully not getting screwed because you don’t know math, but it’s a fixer upper with old wiring and a 60A electrical service. (There are still plenty of those in my neck of the woods).
You have some gift money from a parental unit to buy a spiffy new appliance that draws 1800W.
If you know math, and a little basic electrical knowledge, you can figure out whether or not you can plug that in safely where you want to plug it in without burning down your house.
You win the prize.
0.8333333333333...ad infinitum
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