During April’s Math Awareness Month, math education is in the spotlight
There’s no shortage of advocacy for STEM education, and math remains one of the most in-demand skills in college and the workforce.
But math also becomes challenging to teach and learn, and many students–especially girls–lose interest in mathematics beginning in middle schools.
In an effort to keep mathematics instruction fun and engaging, here are six math facts from Cengage Learning [1].
1. Eight of the top 10 jobs today require mathematics, technology, or science.
2. Just 44 percent of 2013 U.S. high school graduates were ready for college-level math.
3. Almost 70 percent of community college students and 40 percent of four-year college students enroll without college-level reading and mathematics skills.
4. In fact, only 27 percent of students in a remedial math course will ever earn a bachelor’s degree.
5. Seventy-six percent of students say they find math difficult.
6. When it comes to mathematics learning technology, students want:
- Help preparing for tests and exams; 77 percent of instructors provide practice problems or practice tests
- Support in completing required assignments; 67 percent of instructors require students to submit or show some homework problems
- Due date reminders for assignments and exams; 47 percent of instructors ranked delivering gradable activities as the most important component of online homework systems
- Help getting back on track when struggling; 91 percent of instructors want to understand how well students comprehend material
- Personalized resources; 63 percent of instructors with they had more time to provide additional resources to students
Material from a press release was used in this report.