Group Projects in Math 104Q
The Math 104Q course (College Algebra and Math Modeling) at UConn is a course designed for those students who need their high school algebra reinforced prior to taking any higher level math course. Students taking this course often claim to be very “math phobic” and lack self-confidence in mathematics.
As a way to help students overcome their fears of math, the course curriculum includes weekly “group projects” that students complete in small groups of 3 or 4. I found that by alternating the groups each week the students got to know each other and became less self-conscious about participating in class. They were more willing to ask and answer questions during the class. Working in groups provides a way for the students not only to learn math concepts but also to develop communication skills, to share responsibilities as a team member, and to organize their time and effort as a team.
Although these students may never admit to “liking math”, the use of these “group projects” in Math 104Q does provide a means by which they at least talk about math with someone else and perhaps become somewhat more confident in their own math abilities.
Paul Nimchek
Math 104Q
