Aren't We All Math People?

Working in higher education for the last 36 years (how did that happen?) has given me a lot of opportunity to hear lots of opinions about developmental education (formerly remedial education, etc.). Nothing causes a life-long educator more pain than to see a student come to you underprepared. How can this happen when they have been duly approved to graduate from an accredited high school? But I am not here to argue that point, I would rather talk about this nonsense of math versus non-math people. We often say things like "Everyone should be able to read; how are you going to function in life without learning how to read." Shouldn't we be saying the same thing about math? How would you function without understanding math? That is why I was excited to read Sarah D. Sparks' piece on the matter. She writes, "My 2nd grader finishes his math enrichment, then gleefully creates blank versions for his dad and me to try: a subtraction-based, number-placement logic puzzle, intended to be challenging. My husband withdraws for 10 minutes or so, returns and hands over the completed puzzle. I stare at my blank triangle. Mom, aren’t you done yet? my son asks. Are you struggling? A dull pressure starts to thud behind my eyes. I’m thinking, I say, a little too sharply." Did reading that make you feel a little uncomfortable? It certainly made me remember when I sat in Ms. Sparks place with my children. I encourage you to read the brief, concise article and join us who say we are all math people.

CAPTURE THE MOMENT
After we discussed the use of Wordle to create word clouds at the faculty meeting last week, a number of you contacted us to get some more information. Studies suggest that the current generation of traditional college students, often referred to as Millennials, can be engaged through visual stimulation and creative, active learning strategies. The importance of using Wordles in your course is not necessarily about the words used but more about capturing the opinions and emotions of that moment. The thought-provoking images also afford openings to start conversations between and among students and teachers. George Williams offers some alternative uses for Wordle in a piece he wrote for The Chronicle of Higher Education.

DEVELOPMENTALLY SUCCESSFUL
Dr. Peter Bahr's article Does Mathematics Remediation Work?: A Comparative Analysis of Academic Attainment among Community College Students offers evidence that indicates that remedial math programs are highly effective at resolving skill deficiencies. Bahr says that at least three important implications for educational policy may be drawn from this work. First, when mathematics remediation works, it works extremely well. Second, remediation is not simply one of many functions of the community college but is fundamental to the activities of the community college. Third, his analysis suggests that, all else being equal, assisting all remedial math students to remediate successfully may reduce the number of students who enroll in nonvocational math, but do not complete a credential and do not transfer, by as much as two-thirds (65%).

70805 RISES
Baton Rouge Community College is partnering with local entities to provide educational training for the folks living in the 70805 zip code.The training initiative was born out of a partnership among the Capital Area Technical College, Baton Rouge Community College and area companies including Exxon Mobil and Turner Industries. CATC Chief Development Officer Tammy Brown said the initiative calls for 60 people to be selected out of about 150 people who have applied so far to earn free classes in welding, pipe fitting and electrical work. Those students will earn national certification through the program and assistance finding a job with one of the participating sponsors. Baton Rouge Community College Chancellor Andrea Miller added that “it’s always good when businesses are able to connect their needs with the training of the people living in close physical proximity.