The SDSU Mathematics Club is dedicated to supporting interest in mathematics and mathematics education. Our mission statement is based on four pillars we call RATE. We will conduct Research, increase math Awareness, conduct Tutoring forums, and Educate each other and the community regarding issues surrounding the teaching and learning of mathematics and statistics.
Research- Our research goal is to investigate local and national trends in mathematics and support the graduate students in their research endeavors. One particular trend we will investigate is the apparent decline in the public’s interest and skill in mathematics. For example, international tests such as the PISA and TIMSS reveal that 8th and 12th graders in the US score below average when compared with other industrialized nations. In addition, colleges and comprehensive universities have seen a drop in the number of math majors since 1990. The trend is disturbing for several reasons including the fact that it raises questions about the long-term viability of these programs and illustrates the dearth of workers interested (and skilled) in mathematics, science, and engineering. As argued in the 2008 report from the National Summit on American Competitiveness, this trend threatens America's leadership in the worldwide marketplace. The Math Club of SDSU is involved in researching this issue and discussing ways to address it at the local and national level.
Awareness- Much of the public is unaware of the importance and inherent need for math education. The Math Club of SDSU is dedicated to ensuring that students, graduate students, professors, and professionals all communicate through social networks to discuss the importance of math in America. The outreach group of the Math Club visits local high schools to emphasize the rewards of majoring in math and math related fields. Also, the Euler’s Circuit, the Math Club’s newsletter, and the Math Club website both contain articles that are designed to inform the public of math advancements and math opportunities. These publications also increase the members’ awareness of critical information such as special funding for math majors and calls for student interns at local schools and businesses.
Tutoring Forum- One of the Math Club’s long-range goals is to have a common tutorial center on campus for members to receive tips, help, and knowledge of math classes by other students. Students helping students is the best way to get students talking and discussing math. In fact, research has shown that a relaxed forum can also alleviate some of the anxiety and stress that hinder students’ learning. A second goal is to recruit math, science, and engineering majors to engage in SDSU’s local tutoring program. This program pays technically-capable college student tutors to work with mathematics students in one or two local public secondary schools. The goals of the program are to support San Diego Unified School District (SDUSD) mathematics teachers and SDUSD students and to provide experiences that encourage college students to consider high school mathematics teaching as a career.
Education- Math education is an important factor in the growth and evolution of America. Although everyone can agree that it is critical to have qualified math teachers in our education system, the question of what makes a “good” math teacher is still under review. Thus, we will promote interest in teaching math as a profession and math related professions through lively debates about the tools, methods and approaches that characterize effective mathematics pedagogy. Part of this debate will involve studying the current standard school curriculum as well as national recommendations such as those issued by the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM) and those described in the final report of the President’s National Math Panel. One particular focus will be to see how these and other recommendations might be used to reverse the trend described in the research section above with the goal of increasing the number of students enthusiastic about mathematics.