Math Lit FAQ: Does Math Lit include factoring?

Answer:  Yes and no.

We include some factoring in Math Lit but the treatment is not the usual treatment given in algebra texts.  The reasons for that are logistical and philosophical.  First, there's only so much time.  In 4 months (1 semester), we are working to take a developmental student to college level.  There is a lot to be done and learned in that time.  So there isn't time to do all the traditional topics we once did and all the rich problem solving along with new topics.  We had to make decisions on what was most important.

Second, the decision to give factoring an abbreviated treatment was a philosophical one.  Heather and I decided early on that we would not cover topics in the book just for historical purposes.  Just because something has always been taught does not mean it is still relevant.  At one point in history, students had to know Latin to graduate from college.  But times change and so do requirements.  Factoring is rarely used in realistic settings.  Factoring the GCF is useful for rewriting formulas, so we cover that.  We also talk about factored form and its advantages.  The traditional treatment of factoring implies factoring will occur often so every technique is necessary.  But factored form really isn't talked about in any meaningful way.  Students don't see why factoring might be valuable and why it might not work (outside of simple prime polynomials).

The traditional reasoning for inclusion of factoring is that it develops critical thinking skills and prepares students for the algebra to come.  We already have critical thinking in spades in Math Lit.  Inclusion of factoring as a mental exercise is not a sufficient reason.  Also, it is not necessary for success in the non-STEM classes MLCS feeds into.

Until our STEM curriculum is updated, STEM-bound students need to factor.  So we cover it heavily in our intermediate algebra class, a course students can take after MLCS if they want to bridge to the STEM track.

Still, some schools want to factor in MLCS.  And that's certainly their prerogative.  MLCS does not have one set of objectives; it is meant to flex to the local and state needs of a college.  So some colleges add some additional sections on factoring.  Others make sure factoring is covered in detail in the first STEM course students may take after MLCS, something that benefits all students, not just ones coming from MLCS.

Math Lit FAQ: Can I teach MLCS as a 4-credit course using Math Lit?

Answer:  Yes

Actually, most schools that use Math Lit use it for a 4-credit hour course.  Illinois has certain requirements that raise the credit hours needed from 4 to 6.  But a 6-credit version of MLCS is not common outside of Illinois.

There is a lot of content in Math Lit to allow schools to choose the topics they want for their 4 credits.  We did some research to find out what topics schools want in their 4-credit versions.  The results showed a large amount of variation in the topics covered.  Some schools want geometry, others want more algebra topics.  Some want more statistics while others want a course that has a lower prerequisite.  So we couldn't remove topics to make the book 4 credits without removing options for schools and states.  We did not want to dictate what this course looks like.  It looks like whatever a schools wants it to.

We built the book with the idea that schools would be picking and choosing topics to meet their local and state requirements.  To allow for that, we marked several sections in the table of contents that could be omitted without a negative impact later in the course.  We have schools using various sections throughout the book while others basically use the first half or the last half.  The most common approach is to use all of Cycle 1 to set the foundation for the course and any necessary sections from the remaining cycles to address the topics of the school's choice.

Additionally, Heather and I work with schools to help them choose which sections to cover.  If you are planning a pilot or have adopted the book and want some ideas for choosing sections, please email us.  We will go through your goals in terms of topics and what courses you want MLCS to feed into to determine what can be deleted or reduced in terms of coverage to meet your goals.  There are a multitude of ways to mold the book to meet your needs.

New FAQ series starting on the blog

I'm starting a new series of posts, each one addressing a question I receive often.  Many are related to our book, Math Lit.  Others are about the MLCS course.  Questions include:

• Can I teach the MLCS class as a 4 credit class using Math Lit?
• Does Math Lit include factoring?
• Why are the topics in the book ordered in that fashion?
• Do I have flexibility using Math Lit?
• Is there enough algebra in Math Lit for students to be successful in intermediate algebra?
• We have an emporium model at our college.  Is there a way I can use Math Lit?
• How is MLCS different than Quantway, Statway, and the New Mathways Project?
• What is the Math Lit approach to statistics preparation?
• What is the prerequisite for MLCS or Math Lit?
• How does MLCS relate to the Common Core?
• Does MLCS dumb down developmental math standards?
• Do you provide training?
• Will you offer the MOOC again?

Please check back often.  I'll be posting responses to all of these very soon.

If you have a question you want answered that isn't listed above, please post it in the comments.

Instructor support for Math Lit

In the Math Lit book, we've provided many supports for the instructor to make teaching the MLCS course easier and more enjoyable.  The preface explains the philosophy of the book and approach taken to develop content.  In the annotated instructor's edition of the text, we've included all the answers as well as detailed notes and tips for teaching the lesson.  There is also an Excel appendix and an instructor appendix in the back of the book.  Included in the appendix are broad notes for each lesson as well as a time estimate for the lesson, any materials needed, objectives covered, and tips for success.  Rubrics for grading the focus problems are also included.  Additionally, there is cycle-level support for the instructor including pacing information, tips on creating groups, and assessment.

Additionally, we have written an Instructor's Solution Manual and an Instructor's Resource Manual.  Both are available electronically within the MyMathLab course.  The Instructor Resource Manual includes:

• A sample course syllabus for an MLCS course
• Templates to help students write focus problem solutions
• Rubrics to use when grading focus problems
• Two quizzes for parts one and two of each cycle, including group quizzes
• Two exams for each cycle
• A comprehensive final exam
• Answers to all quizzes, exams, and final exam

The Instructor's Solution Manual contains detailed solutions to all homework and cycle wrap-up problems in the book.

Also, the MyMathLab course is a Ready-To-Go course, meaning that it has premade homework assignments and quizzes.  To copy it, just search for 'Math Lit' or 'Almy' or 'Foes' within the Create/Copy Course option.

A TestGen database is available for instructors who would like to pick and edit test questions.

For those who want to teach an online or flipped or hybrid version of MLCS, we are creating videos to support the text.  A new version of the Math Lit MyMathLab course will be released in June 2014 with these videos embedded in the etext.






Edited 2/18/14

Math Lit now available!

Math Lit printed early making it available now.  It might be another week before it can be purchased from vendors.  If you would like to see the full book in the meantime, check with your Pearson rep.

The MyMathLab course is being completed now.  It will go live the first week of August.  In it will be additional supplements in PDF form:

• Instructor's Resource Manual 
• Includes quizzes, exams, a final exam, and additional support for focus problems

• Instructor's Solution Manual
• Includes detailed solutions to all problems in the text

Is MLCS just "fun algebra?"

When I give talks and workshops and as I'm teaching the Canvas MOOC, I use example lessons to help illustrate what MLCS is and how content is taught.  Lessons start with realistic contexts in which the mathematics is pulled from them.  Many times an algebraic topic is developed.  Lessons close with contextual or mathematical connections to the topic that was developed.

I've realized that upon first glance, it looks like we're just taking algebraic skills and trying to make them interesting.  Certainly, we want student engagement.  Developmental math students have been unsuccessful at some point in their math career and because of that, they often shut down when a topic looks familiar.  The mind is powerful; if a student believes they cannot learn a particular topic, that can be a self-fulfilling prophecy.  So that students don't allow their preconceptions to dominate the learning experience, we deliberately try to come at topics in novel ways.  And it works.  I've had students work a long time with a concept, and successfully at that, and then realize, "hey, this is that y = mx + b thing, isn't it!"  One instructor said to me that it's almost sneaky algebra and I wouldn't deny that.  

Pathways courses use realistic and relevant content.  Adult learners are more motivated by content that they can use.  I don't believe something has to be immediately useful to be worth learning.  But if it is, it is much more motivating to students.  Motivation and engagement are necessary for a successful developmental math classroom.

But MLCS is much, much more than interesting, contextualized lessons.  

If MLCS were just fun algebra, we would be covering all the traditional topics in the traditional order.  That's not the case in this course.  We have added new topics and scrapped some traditional ones.  For all topics, the emphasis has changed because the goals for the student have changed.  The approach and development is different so that students can do more than successfully demonstrate a list of skills.  Instead, the emphasis is on understanding and use of skills, not just the skill knowledge itself.  Really, this course is good for students heading on the STEM path as well as the non-STEM one.  With a follow-up intermediate algebra course, STEM-bound students would have all the conceptual and applied knowledge they need from MLCS and any additional symbolic skills from intermediate algebra.  

Beyond the approach to an individual topic, the order of topics has been turned on its ear.  That change isn't meant to be confusing, but instead to create learning.  In all algebra courses, we instructors use a particular order of topics because every book uses it.  Someone at some point chose that order and it stuck.  But it doesn't mean that it creates learning.  For some people with some topics, it does.  But does learning mean the student can perform the skill successfully?  I would say no.  I believe real learning means the student understands the skill, can use the skill, and sees the connections between the skill and others.  The traditional linear order of topics doesn't always allow for the connections which are so important.  

The traditional approach gives the impression that math is made of discrete skills.  Often a problem in an algebra class is a rational equation problem or a graphing problem or a factoring problem.  Real problems are none of these.  They use these ideas and others and integrate them.  A real problem (be it in a mathematical setting or a real life one) will cross over into multiple areas of math at once:  algebra, arithmetic, geometry, etc.  

To help a student learn how to solve these more involved, real problems, the course integrates content.  There are key threads we want students to gain understanding of:  numeracy, proportional reasoning, algebraic reasoning and functions.  True learning takes time.  So each of these threads is not its own unit (as it would be in an algebra book) but instead appears in every unit.  Topics are almost always seen many times, each time going deeper and into different contexts.  That is intentional so that students learn and also take understanding into long-term storage.

To create learning, which is our utmost goal, we have to sequence and pace content very thoughtfully.  For example, slope as a rate of change is a really important idea that has some subtle features.  Most texts teach slope on one day and apply it almost always with 2 points or with an equation of a line.  We start with the idea of rate of change in the first 2 weeks and continue going with that concept into different mathematical settings and formalize it at a specific point, once students have more understanding.  We develop slope throughout each of the 4 units.  It takes a long time.  But in so doing, I can ask a student at the end of the semester if a situation is linear, why or why not, what is the rate of change, what does it mean for this context, etc. and they can answer all of the questions well.

The fact that MLCS uses interesting activities to learn content is the tip of the iceberg of this pathways course.  A micro view gives the impression that the only difference is the use of context.  A macro view shows a much more complex structure designed to elicit learning.  Each lesson, unit, assessment, and project has a role in developing long term understanding.  Much like the homework is deliberate with each problem serving a particular purpose, each component of the course is also deliberately chosen.  The result is a visible progression of learning with each student over a semester and the shift from the developmental level to the point of college readiness.  

And maybe along the way, we'll have some fun too.

Math Lit Book Coming Soon!

Our textbook for the MLCS pathways course, Math Lit, releases the first week of July.  The MyMathLab course that accompanies the book goes live the first week of August.

Here's the final cover: