Math/Stat Department's Greatest Liabilities
Graduation Date:
Graduation Date:
You need more linear algebra in the curriclum.
Also, I was able to graduate before a lot of things became crazy with reformed
classes and such, but
the
transformation of all the courses could be screwing over the students.
Graduation Date:
I felt I needed an overview of high school math
to prepare for student teaching and my present job. An overview course in our
sophomore or junior
year (before JPE) would be helpful. Included in
this course could be information on the state standardized tests (GEPA, HSPA,
SRA process). An
overview of each cluster and sample open ended
questions.
Graduation Date:
I would say I feel slightly handicapped in
working with the techonogical side of mathmatics. My graduate institution
exploits Maple. I really had no
experience with this and it made the first few
assignments more difficult. It also became hard to answer all of students'
questions since much of their
work was
Maple based. I did get acquainted with Mathmatica a good deal in my freshman
seminar, but it was not reinforced throughout the rest of
my math courses at TCNJ.
Graduation Date:
Although this has not been a problem so far, I
can see my lack of experience with the SAS program hindereing me in the
upcoming semesters.
However, I understand that different programs
are used by different schools and companies. I also wish that it would have
been expected of me to do
an internship or recieve some other
experience.
Graduation Date:
I lack computer skills needed in most actuarial
work. However, this can easily be picked up on the job.
Graduation Date:
None
Graduation Date:
Graduation Date:
I wish I had more experience with math
education.
Graduation Date:
Too much
time spent learning upper-level mathamtics that I will not find practical in my
classroom.
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I don't think there were enough required
classes. For example, differential
equations and number theory I only took as electives. Even statistics I
am taking as a senior elective because I feel
like I am going to be expected to know this information. Beginning courses like these should be
required.
How can I graduate a math major without ever having to take a statistics
class?
Graduation Date:
Once again, I just wish that some of the courses
were more geared towards teachers. For
instance, instead of a class on non-Euclidean geometry,
which most teachers will never teach, have a
class that teaches us how to teach geometry in the high school classroom.
Graduation Date:
The worst thing I can say about the Math ans
stat department is that some math classes were three hours long at night and
that has to be the worst
time to schedule a class (during dinner) and no
one can concentrate for three hours on math. If a class HAS to be scheduled at
that time, then a
bigger break than just 10 minutes should be
given to the students.
Graduation Date:
Most of my statistics classes did not include an
in depth computer programming course.
Graduation Date:
N/A
Graduation Date:
for my major, I felt I had too many math courses
that wont help me in my future career. I
needed more classes about how to teach math to young
children.
Graduation Date:
For the most part I feel that all of the
professors are willing to help, but the two that I came across that weren't
helpful really did put a damper on my
experience here.
Graduation Date:
some professors were unfair or just bad teachers
Graduation Date:
Insecurity of not understanding is very
stressful. I was forced to develope an
attitude of 'It is ok if I do not understand everything at this moment
because that does not mean that I will never
learn it.' However there were points
where I could not figure out an answer or the next step, and I would
be stuck at one point for hours.
Graduation Date:
The only weakness I have found is not doing more
with computers and mathematics.
Throughout my entire time at TCNJ, I was never required to do
any work
on computer math programs (not even on excel).
I feel that in order to be competitive with other school, a more
technology based
education in required.
Graduation Date:
I just dont think some of the higher math
classes we had to take will be useful to us in our teaching.
Graduation Date:
Honestly, can't really think of anything. I was very satisfied with the department.
Graduation Date:
While the upper-level math classes were
beneficial in many ways, I often wished throughout my undergrad career that we
had more classes that
covered some topics from high school in more
detail. For example, Abstract Algebra
really got into polynomials through rings, etc, and I found
those lectures and topics interesting and
worthwhile because I will be teaching polynomials some day, so it provided me
with additional information
and background ideas. However, the non-Euclidean geometry class we
are required to attend--while interesting--really has no affect to our future
occupation as teachers because we need to teach
Euclidean geometry. While student
teaching, I have 2 sections of honors geometry, and I
essentially have to go back and re-teach every
section to myself because it's been eight years since I've seen most of this
material!
Graduation Date:
Particular to the Math Teaching program, I think
the worst thing was the lack of education classes. The methods classes were
very helpful, but I
would have liked to take more classes in the
education department such as special ed and psycology.
Graduation Date:
I could have learned more about the curriculums
of schools and methods of teaching real world classes, and not the imaginary
classes we learned
about in methods.
Graduation Date:
I did not like the Geometry class. I feel that
since we will teach Euclidean Geometry, it would be more useful to be familiar
with that.
Graduation Date:
My inexperience in working with computer
programs and hands on applications.
Graduation Date:
I feel that Methods II could go more in depth on
techniques to teach high school students and not focus on the statistical
apsects of education
Graduation Date:
I feel that some of the early calculus courses
are run at extremely slow paces and/or do not have the enthusiastic,
challenging, and positive learning
environment characteristic of most other math
classes. In addition, there are some
courses that are held without textbooks or with early drafts of
textbooks; a well-established textbook would
greatly improve the quality of these courses.
Finally, I believe that the mathematics department, if it
must embrace transformative change, should seek
to organize its course of study so that no material previously taught is
abandoned in the new
regime, particularly in restructuring the
classes for abstract algebra.
Graduation Date:
Some professors have a small case of tunnel
vision when it comes to their specialties. When you get to the collegiate
level, and STILL wonder 'when
am i ever
going to need this?' you know there is an issue there. Theoretical mathematics
and academia are how our professors earn their livings; it
would be wise for them to keep in mind that the
same is not the case for many of their students.
Graduation Date:
Most of the math courses I took focused mainly
on theory, so I am not surehow prepared I am for applying mathematics to
things.
Graduation Date:
I have benefitted so much from the math
department. I can't think of anything to complain about. I only wish I could
have taken more math classes and
independent studies because I learned so much
from those that I did take. I think I will be well prepared for graduate study
in many areas, although
probably less prepared in analysis.
Graduation Date:
The one thing that always baffled me was that
professors made the tests harder than they knew we could handle and then put a
large curve on the
test. Other than that, I have no complaints.
Graduation Date:
There were many professors that in my opinion
don't know how to teach. Although these
people may clearly be experts in their respective fields, their
ability
to impart knowledge and relate to college level students is somewhat
lacking. For example, Hingston clearly
is one of the most
mathematically knowledgeable people I have ever
seen, but she lacks the ability in many cases to let students understand the
mathematical world in
which she lives.
I have no problem with challenging teachers, but I feel some professors
clearly excell in math but lack in their ability to teach it.
Graduation Date:
Certain classes such as the methods of teaching
high school mathematics I took but did not get a lot out of.
Graduation Date:
I don't really know if anything can be done
about it, but I feel like education majors do not need all of the upper-level
math classes and might be better
off with
more methods classes instead.
Graduation Date:
Some of the professors are difficult to
understand and difficult to work with their policies for grading and
classowork.
Graduation Date:
Being required to take so many different classes
did not allow for mastery in any one area of mathematics.
Graduation Date:
The only bad thing about the Math and Statistics
Department was the difficulty for both the students and faculty during the
stage of course
transformation.
Graduation Date:
During my first couple of years at TCNJ, my
advisor was unaware of the requirements necessary for me to graduate on
time. Not until my junior
year was I given an advisor that had the
information that i needed.
Graduation Date:
I found that the grading some of the professors
used was alittle harsh at times, but was affective in making students rise to
the occassion.
Graduation Date:
I wish I was more prepared to teach high school
mathematics.
Graduation Date:
Some courses were very difficult
Graduation Date:
Dr. xxxx being crazy...for one of our classes,
he was in
Hawaiian t-shirt, didn't say hello (maybe he
did...it was a while ago), picked up chalk said 'Proof' and went on with
class... I really don't have anything
bad, the
department was great when I decided to switch to the major.
Graduation Date: 5/1/2006 Major Code: MATA
I would've liked to have seen some more lectures
or competitions held just for fun. No
liabilities I can recognize.
Graduation Date: 5/1/2006 Major Code: MATT
The only liability I am leaving this department
with is separation anxiety!
Graduation Date: 5/1/2006 Major Code: MATA
n/a
Graduation Date: 5/1/2006 Major Code: MATA
none
Graduation Date: 5/1/2006 Major Code: MATA
Having to do labs in linear algebra, or required
to come for the 1 hour wednesday classes.
Graduation Date: 5/1/2006 Major Code: MATA
No great liabilities. Nothing really bad.
Graduation Date: 5/1/2006 Major Code: MATA
Sometimes there are some bad advisors. But sometimes there are some great ones too,
like professor xxxx, who was the greatest advisor ever.
Graduation Date: 5/1/2006 Major Code: MATA
Some of the classes assigned what I consider to
be 'busy work' for homework. At times, a
large number of repetetive problems were assigned, and I
would
have preferred a smaller amount of problems that required more creative
thinking.
Graduation Date: 8/1/2006 Major Code: MATA
The worst things I can say about the Math Dept
are well known by the head of Differing Abilities, the Dean of the School of
Science, and the Dept
head, so I find no need to repeat them here. A
liability... I leave TCNJ less trusting of my educators.
Graduation Date: 8/1/2006 Major Code: MATT
The advisors of the Mathematics and Statistics
Department did not have proper training.
Monday, November 20, 2006 Page 5 of 6
Graduation Date: 12/1/2006 Major Code: ELMA
The only problem I had within the math
department was the MATH 342 class I took as part of my JPE block. This class was a waste of time, since I
learned nothing from the two hours a week I
spent sitting in class.
Graduation Date: 12/1/2006 Major Code: MATT
I wish upper level classes were offered more
than once every two years.
Monday, November 20, 2006 Page 6 of 6