ERIC Number: EJ1450831
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2024
Pages: 14
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: EISSN-1936-4660
Quantitative Reasoning: What's Math Got to Do with It?
Pamela Burdman
Numeracy, v17 n2 Article 4 2024
This keynote address explores the history and role of college math requirements with a focus on ensuring math courses serve to expand students' horizons, rather than serve as gatekeepers. It discusses the advent of general education math courses, which brought more students into math departments, which ultimately contributed to broadening the scope of the courses to align with more students' interests and majors, since their purpose was to advance quantitative reasoning, not mathematics skill per se. It also examines several practices to address calculus' gatekeeping role: revising placement practices and prerequisites, redesigning courses, and updating instruction and assessment practices. Lastly, it considers the role of college admission requirements in perpetuating an overemphasis on calculus coursetaking.
Descriptors: College Mathematics, Mathematics Instruction, College Students, Problem Solving, Thinking Skills, Mathematics Skills, Required Courses, Calculus, Algebra, Student Placement, College Admission, High School Students
National Numeracy Network. 906 West 2nd Avenue, Suite 100, Spokane, WA 99201. Tel: 507-222-5239; Web site: https://digitalcommons.usf.edu/numeracy/
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Descriptive
Education Level: Higher Education; Postsecondary Education; High Schools; Secondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A