Staff Writer
Most students who attend Shoreline Community College (SCC) need to take a mathematical course during their duration of study. One of the most useful resources on the campus is the Math Learning Center (MLC). For the next two quarters, the new MLC Director, Chris Quarles has some strategies to offer students to help them achieve their degrees.
When students first enroll at SCC, they usually take an assessment test which will determine which math class is recommended for that particular student. Often time's students will automatically take Math 99 in order to meet their degree or certificate requirement even though they actually placed into a lower class setting.
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Students recieve help from one of the many tutors in the Math Learning Center
“One of the main reasons why Math 99's failure rate is so high, is due to students taking Math courses that are above their current Mathematical ability”, said Quarles. He also recommends joining a study group of your own peers who are taking the same class that you are enrolled in.
I have first hand knowledge of this experience. About six years ago, I enrolled in a Math 80 course (the class directly before 99) and received a 3.0 GPA. The one thing that I did not expect was a lack of continuity amongst community colleges across the state. I had struggled with the course and wound up taking Math 99 twice. I discussed my frustrations with my math instructor, Helen Hancock, last year and that was when she had informed me of the discrepancies of the curriculums from college to college. She informed me that the emphasis on specific sections of math courses not only change from school to school, but that every so often they look into and or change the focus of the course itself, which can make it difficult when transferring colleges and/or transitioning from high school to college. No one should feel frustrated or ashamed for placing into a lower level mathematics course. It is much easier to start out at your own appropriate level and build upon your knowledge than it is to be thrown into a class where you are constantly trying to play catch up.
The Importance of the MLC is vital to math students. Some of MLC's features are the one-on-one tutoring services, a buy or sell textbook board, free use of the Solutions Manuals, textbooks, and calculators for your class and the ability to network with classmates to help one another on projects and homework.
The MLC is open Monday-Thursday from 8a.m. to 6:30 p.m., Fridays from 8 a.m-4 p.m., and Sunday from 12p.m. - 6p.m. The MLC is located in the 2200 bldg. opposite side form the espresso shack.
According to Nancy Goodisman, (a math instructor at SCC), a new policy is being put into effect starting spring quarter. Prerequisit verifications are mandatory for registering into math classes. Students who have taken a previous math course at SCC should not experience any complications, unless they receive below a 2.0 gpa in their current math class. Those who have transferred from another college may find that they are restricted from registering into a specific course, even though they have successfully completed the correct prerequisit. This is due to the fact that admissions staff is currently upgrading SAT, compass, and asset results that are coming in from other schools.
Students should know that they are not accepting asset, compass, or SAT resuts that are over three years old. If students are having difficulty registering into the class they feel they should be taking, and are being blockd, they have two options. 1) Students are allowed to study for the asset test and retake the test in order to achieve a better score, or 2) They may contact a math faculty member to demonstrate their knowledge. You may find a math faculty member located in the upper level of the FOSS building or in the 2800 building. An easy way for students to contact a fuculty member is by phone (206) 546-4752 which is the receptionist in the 2800 building.
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