Dismayed by students' lack of interest in mathematics, aUniversity of Memphis instructor is attempting to change the waymath is taught.
"My purpose is to improve math education here," said Yanli Cui,math instructor and seminar co-coordinator.
The U of M is hosting E^3, a seminar series for Memphis areateachers to discuss ways of revitalizing students' interest innumbers. Twenty math teachers from Shelby County Schools attendseminars coordinated by Cui and Ann Indingaro, mathematicssupervisor for grades six through 12 in Shelby County Schools.
The seminars are made possible through a $5,000 grant from theAppalachian Collaborative Center for Learning, Assessment andInstruction in Mathematics, which is funded by the National ScienceFoundation.
"I believe everyone can do math," Cui said.
ACCLAIM usually provides math program resources to "isolated,rural or poverty-stricken areas across the country," according tothe organization's Web site. Cui said she was surprised when shebecame one of only four Tennesseans to receive the grant.
Although Shelby County Schools perform relatively well onmathematics assessment tests -- nine points better than the71-percent state average -- only 21 percent of Tennessee eighthgraders are considered proficient in mathematics, according to theNational Center for Education Statistics. Shelby County's score of80 percent warrants an "A" rating from TDOE.
Tennessee schools received a "B" in mathematics from TDOE,ranking them 43rd in the nation for eighth grade math performance,according to NCES.
Cui said she was prompted to apply for the grant last summerwhen a student asked how to simplify simple fractions in a courseshe was teaching for math education majors.
Cui employs teaching techniques foreign to many math classrooms-- like real-world examples to show the practicality ofmathematics. And she encourages class discussion and groupwork.
During the seminar's first meeting, The U of M math departmentunveiled its new Master's of Science program for secondaryeducation teachers.
"After they graduate, they (teachers) can think about thisprogram," said Cui, adding that she hopes to soon see more fullseats in her upper-level courses.
