Math.
The mere mention of the subject makes most, including myself, cringe like they're driving over another Neely crater. I've always felt that math isn't a very practical subject to teach unless the curriculum is limited to learning taxes, mortgages and checkbook balancing.
Unfortunately, schools disagree with me (what's new?) and cram everything down our throat ranging from formulas to symbols only the Artist Formerly Known as Prince could come up with. I just flat out hate math.
Hate, hate, hate, hate, hate it.
I'd rather watch Purdue basketball try to put together a coherent half of basketball than sit through another math class.
I couldn't avoid the possibility of a non-visual aided class any longer, although I feared another chalkboard extravaganza like the ones of yesteryear. Reluctantly, I signed up for Math 125 during Christmas break.
After the first few days of not doing anything in class but going over the syllabus and the basics, my worries mounted at a grim outlook for the semester. But then as every kid in the class was about to pass out, the teacher did the only thing that would perk up 40 hung-over bodies.
He made his way over to that box on the wall. Yeah, you know what I'm talking about. The ones that play movies. Knowing that a movie will be played can relax an entire class, because they know they won't have to listen to a teacher yammer while figuring out a new way to doodle their name.
The entire class was introduced to an entertaining video series from Lifetime Library starring Garfunkel. Sol Garfunkel. Cue bond music.
Or not. Sol may not be suave with the ladies, but he sure knows how to relate aspects of math to things in the real world without shaking or stirring my brain. Though he may not have a Simon to accompany him, Garfunkel carries himself well by himself on camera.
For instance, one episode found Garfunkel relating ways how to save a company money to mixing cran-apple and apple juice. If a company produced both of those products, there is a simple math problem that can be done to find out how to save the most money.
Even better, Garfunkel was donning a white chef's hat and apron, really getting into the role, making different types of apple juice. Without trying to be funny, Garfunkel does just that. Oh, and did I mention this is all filmed in the 1970s? Let's just say Garfunkel's beard would tickle a midget's face.
His entertaining demeanor on camera keeps my eyes glued to the TV set, looking for that subtle joke that no one else get and learning math at the same time.
Point is, visual learning is a must in God-awful classes such as math. In this day and age, when our eyes are on a computer or TV for 15 hours a day, I'd imagine most people would agree they would rather have thing presented visually to them.
Instructors, please use visuals when teaching. It not only helps to get the point across, but it also cements a picture of what the hell you were talking about in our mind.
Write to Ryan at rjsmith@bsu.edu
Visit www.bsu.edu/web/rjsmith
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