Mathematical Explorations - Student Reflections - Spring 1995

"I've done more math in this class than all of high school."

"I have to admit, I have never had a class like this, where learning is the most important factor."

"This was the first time that I have had a course in math, which incorporated math with the 'real world'."

"I've never had an affinity for math and I was so surprised by how easily I understood all the concepts we went over during the semester. I think that if all math classes were taught in the systematic and comprehensible way that this one was there wouldn't be so many people that don't like math...What I thought was really great was the fact that my mother, who teaches fourth grade, got some ideas from the text how to teach certain themes to her students in concrete terms they could understand."

"This, I can say, was the only class I have ever taken that teacher was as helpful as you."

"I feel (although I shouldn't) that I have to prove to you and myself that I can do this and that I'm as smart as we think I am...This is what the class is about; writing math out and even if Einstein was in this class he'd be in the library with me for three hours so I'm going to get back to it now."

"Math intimidates so many people, including myself, because of the way it has been taught in previous years and not one of my math teachers before now has asserted that its not that hard if you take your time and not to move on until you're sure you understand. In my mind, the mathematical dogma and attitude from teachers that didn't seem to care if I really understood killed it for me."

"I will sort of miss this class -- most of the chapters of the book are interesting -- I'll keep the book for the fun of it."

"It's nice to have a class in a relaxed area/environment for a change. Being treated like a person and not an inferior 'student.'"

"You know something that I find strange? Sometimes I actually feel kind of smart mathematically. I'm not used to being able to comprehend or even work out problems in mathematics, and since this course, this new and strange phenomena has occurred."

"...Opening up the spectrum of math is how this course cleared up the misconception that math is simply computations and solving equations... Math became a wider subject in this course."

"This course challenged me to think in ways that I don't usually think, and it helped open my eyes to the world of math. It actually seems interesting."

"Instead of working out a 10 line problem we got to use our minds."

"...I didn't realize how important it was to read graphs and tables."

"When this class first started I thought I was going to run into the same problem I've always had with college math courses. I have gone into my past two math courses with a good attitude each time. By the end of a month each of the classes I had practically given up in...I love this class, I can't say enough about it."

"...only next time I see a word problem (if ever), I'll be prepared."

From Math Is Still and Unnecessary Evil: "As you can see by the title of my paper, my feelings towards math have not really changed since the beginning of the semester...Maybe I'll try being a little more open-minded when it comes to my next math class."

"Math Explorations was meant to be a Liberal Arts requirement because it is a thinking course that helps a person expand their thinking...One of the greatest things about going to college is that you learn to look at things from a different perspective and change your way of thinking. This class is a wonderful example of how college can do that to a person. A lot of learning went on in this class this semester."

"I came home one weekend and I was discussing with my mother (She's and elementary teacher.) about your rule of answering a math problem in a complete sentence. I thought that was ridiculous and tedious. My mother then went on to explain that that is how math is being taught today. I finally understood your expectations from that point on."