Is Math Really a Useless Subject?

In school, I’ve always heard students say, "When I am older, I am going to have a job that does not require math, so why do I need to be in this math class." If I am being honest, before deciding I would be a math teacher, I thought the same thing. Since deciding that I want to be a math teacher, I have been thinking about what I would say if students asked "when am I ever going to use this?". Why should my students care about a subject they "will not use” in the future? After a lot of thought, you still need basic math skills and critical thinking that this class teaches you, to be successful in the real world. 

I would first tell my students that the more practice with basic math, the easier day-to-day life math is. The math done daily is primarily subconscious, like when shopping, counting money, time management, etc. For counting money, let's say we want 76 cents. To figure out how to get there subconsciously, we are using the formula 1x+5y+10z+25c=76. When going out to dinner with friends and splitting the bill, you are doing math to determine how much you owe plus your share of the tip. This basic math does not seem to be too complicated, but without these math classes, it would be harder for you to do with ease. 

Another reason why math is important is for the critical thinking practice students get. Math is not just about numbers; it also has to do with how you come up with equations and solutions. When solving a problem we figure out the tools we have and then solve the problem with the tools we have been given. This can be applied in many situations, one being a crisis at work. When dealing with this crisis, you're going to figure out the crisis and assess what tools you have to help you figure out how to solve the issue at hand. So it is not so much about numbers in math, it can also apply to how we are thinking. This is important because it allows students to create a subconscious way of solving issues. 

Lastly, many kids use the argument that "I have a calculator, so if math comes up, I'll just use my calculator." That is great and all, but without a math class, you will not know how to set up the equation you need to solve on the calculator. 

Math is hard, so it makes sense why students think of math as a "waste" of time. I think helping students understand why it is important is essential because no one likes doing something just because it is required. So, explaining why can help students see the importance of the subject they are learning, which can also help them want to put more effort into a class.   

Leni Lottman

references: 

https://www.niu.edu/mathmatters/everyday-life/index.shtml

https://www.prodigygame.com/main-en/blog/why-is-math-important/

How Math-Solving Tools Can Help Students Learn

With today’s technology, students have access to a variety of math-solving tools that can assist them in understanding and mastering mathematical concepts. Some teachers may worry that these tools encourage shortcuts, but when used correctly, they can be powerful learning aids.

Many math tools, like GeoGebra and Desmos, provide interactive visual representations of equations, graphs, and geometric shapes. Instead of solving equations on paper, students can see how changes in variables affect graphs in real time. This helps them better understand mathematical relationships and patterns.

Apps like Photomath break down problems into detailed steps. Instead of just providing an answer, they guide students through the entire process. This can help students understand the reasoning behind each step. Although Photomath and apps like it aren’t skilled in word problems, other tools such as ChatGPT and Google Gemini can take a word problem and guide students through the solution.

One challenge in learning math is recognizing mistakes and correcting them. AI-powered math tools can highlight errors and offer explanations, allowing students to learn from their mistakes immediately instead of waiting for teacher feedback. This promotes learning and reinforces problem-solving skills.

Not all students learn at the same pace. Math-solving tools can act as personalized tutors, providing extra support for students who need it. Instead of feeling frustrated and stuck on a problem, students can get hints as to what the next step is in their problem. This builds students' confidence in math.

When used correctly, math-solving tools are not just shortcuts to answers. They are learning aids that help students visualize, practice, and understand math better. The key is to use them as a supplement to learning, rather than using it as a replacement for critical thinking and problem-solving skills. By using these tools, students can develop a deeper appreciation for math and improve their ability to tackle complex problems with confidence.

By Ericka Ackmann

The Importance of Connecting Math to Other Subjects: Approaches in Teaching

Making connections between math and other topics is a potent strategy for engaging students in math as future teachers. Math is frequently viewed as a stand-alone subject, but connecting it to science, art, history, and music makes it more interesting and meaningful. This method develops creativity and critical thinking, in addition to helping students understand how mathematics is used in everyday situations.

Math is crucial to science. It is used to analyze data, predict outcomes, and resolve issues. Algebra, for example, aids in population growth predictions and chemical equation balancing. Students can observe how math is used in the real world when math is incorporated into scientific classes. Art also relies heavily on math in everyday life. To produce balanced designs, artists must employ symmetry, geometry and proportions. Students might investigate how artists such as Leonardo da Vinci enhanced their works by utilizing mathematical forms or the golden ratio. This enhances their comprehension of mathematics and enables them to recognize its beauty. Math is used in history to evaluate patterns and trends, such as population increase or economic shifts. Students have a greater comprehension of historical events and see how math can be used to explain historical changes when they are taught to apply math in history. Additionally, music also gives a means of connecting creativity and mathematics. In music composition, ideas like time signatures, fractions, and patterns are crucial. Students can understand how math is used in artistic expression by integrating music into math instruction.

By relating math to other disciplines, teachers can create a dynamic learning environment where students view math as more than just a way to solve equations. It promotes deeper thinking, creativity, and problem-solving. Adopting this strategy as aspiring math teachers can help students see the practical applications of math and make it more engaging and meaningful.

In conclusion, students' learning experiences are enhanced, and their real-world applications are illustrated when math is connected to science, art, history, and music. We can make math more interesting and motivating for the upcoming generation of students by demonstrating how it relates to the real world.

By Jalyn Kampshoff

Why does everyone hate word problems?

Whether it be elementary school, high school, or college level math, one sentiment reigns true for the vast majority of students – everyone hates word problems. Even for many people that consider themselves “math people” and enjoy solving math problems, the wordy questions tend to garner the most disdain. Why is that?

I think that applying math to real life situations in the early years (kindergarten, first, second grade) is actually much more intuitive for kids than just working with numbers; because they aren’t yet familiar with words like addition and subtraction, using realistic scenarios that they would encounter such as giving or taking away every day items typically makes much more sense to them. However, as math gets more complex, that dynamic flips, and the abstract problems without a real-life connection become simpler and easier for students to grasp. At some point, story problems stop being a tool that helps students understand math and become an obstacle students must overcome before they even get to the math; according to an EdWeek Research Center survey, when elementary students struggle with word problems, 50% of them “can read the word problem, but they can’t understand the mathematical question being asked.”

I think that there are two main causes of this problem: students don’t understand the point of the problems they’re solving, and they don’t know how to solve them. Firstly, it’s difficult for students to be engaged and enthusiastic about word problems when so many of them seem to be completely detached from their everyday lives. The early word problems that use giving/taking things like toys or apples resonate with students because it’s something that they can see themselves doing or using in their everyday lives, but that relatability basically vanishes as soon as more complex concepts like algebra are involved. The other problem is that students are rarely taught how to think through word problems and reason their way to the underlying math – instead, they are often taught shortcuts like keywords or phrases to look out for. While it’s possible for students to learn how to do a type of word problem like this, it makes it all too easy for them to learn the steps for solving a certain problem without actually understanding why those steps work and how they interact with the mathematical concepts they are supposed to be using.

So what can we do? For one, we have to do a better job of showing why students should care about what they’re learning. I think this is a prevalent issue in much of education, and math is no exception. This isn’t exactly a change that can happen overnight, but making little changes like showing students practical applications for a concept (not in a format like a word problem, but just for demonstration) or explaining how it’s related to some careers they’re interested in would be an excellent start. Additionally, we have to do a better job of not only explaining the word problems; we have to make sure we convey the reasoning behind the work, as well as how students could think through a new type of word problem if they were given one. Sarah Schwartz from EdWeek calls this “schema-based instruction,” and the main idea is to teach students how to make a mental map of some math-related event, which then allows them to find their way to the solution. Though I’m sure there will always be some sighing and groaning when students hear it's time for a word problem, I think that working toward these changes can change these problems from being considered public enemy #1 to a fun challenge. 

Reference:

https://www.edweek.org/teaching-learning/why-word-problems-are-such-a-struggle-for-students-and-what-teachers-can-do/2023/05