Headlines/Oct. 14, 1992

Math Centre
Human help plus computer resources will aid students

Some students have a “math phobia” but The Math Centre is similar to the McDowell.

are required to take a math course as Writing Centre in that it is an extra “Innumeracy is as pervasive a

part of their program. Others may like resource to help students improve skills problem as illiteracy,” he notes.

math, but find that they need help with vital to success at the college level. It is Alford was selected to staff the centre
certain topics. Still others may want to _ different in that, in addition to help at initially because of her experience in

go beyond what they learn in class and — advanced levels, it will provide help at teaching algebra and her strong
experiment on their own. the remedial level, which the Writing commitment to helping students. She

agrees that numeracy is declining. “I see
it in all sorts of situations — such as
when they’re calculating the exchange
rate at the border.”

Alford wants to ensure that math
students have a reasonable chance of
succeeding.

“This centre is one way that students
who get lost in the shuffle can have a
better chance at success,” she notes.

McDowell and Alford hope that the
centre will grow to a point.where it can
offer small-group instruction on specific
topics or skills, and independent student
work on course-related problems and/or
experimental math problems. Students
could use math-related software to
simulate problems and look for solutions.

Math instructor Velma Alford helps student Jessie Coulson in new Math Centre. They also hope that the centre will
expand to Chilliwack when the new

Students who want extra help with Centre does not. arenes
their math courses can now find it at the “We’re not competing with ABE — campus is built there, and that staff
Math Centre on the Abbotsford campus. but we will help students from the members can be may to monitor the lab.
The lab started operations in Room College Prep level up who are enrolled The Math Centre is scheduled to be
E319 this September, with math in Math department courses or courses part of the new Learning Centres, along
instructor Velma Alford staffing It with math content,” says McDowell. with the Writing Centre, computer labs,
Mondays and Thursdays from 9 a.m. to Growing awareness in society about and otiex independent study resources.
3 p.m. illiteracy — and innumeracy, its

Students can sign up for an mathematical counterpart — helped get
appointment, or drop in if nobody has the Math Centre started, according to

signed up for a certain block.

“This is something the department
has been pushing for since we lost the

oe wire Clearing the air
earning assistance program — in which

the Math and English departments All British Columbians have been invited to help develop plans to ensure that we
worked together — to cutbacks in have clean, healthy air in this province. In March, Environment Minister John
1980,” says Math department head Doug Cashore announced the government’s intention to develop a clean air strategy.

McDowell. “It will allow us to provide ue : :
As part of this process the ministry will particpate in a citzens’ forum on air

basic tutoring in algebra, help with : ee
specific topics in courses, and do math quality entitled Every Breath You Take at the UCFV Mission centre on Wednesday,
Oct. 21 from 7-10 p.m.

pretesting, or skill measurement, using a ee

combination of people and computer Other panel members include representatives from the Greater Vancouver

software.” Regional District’s Air Quality and Source Control department, UBC, the
Dewdney-Alouette Regional District and the Mission District Council.

At the moment the lab’s computers
Some of the topics to be addressed include: where our pollution comes from,

are still in boxes, so Alford is the sole gest ak
resource. She’s been seeing a steady what is being done about it, plans for the near future, and what we can do to help.

stream of students.

“a