Finding "x" With a Sense of Humor
What a world we live in, an age where the modern miracles of technology have given my generation "generation X", a life style that looks something close to what we saw in the movies. Suddenly we have the world at our fingertips with online shopping and banking. We can maintain global relationships though Skype and many kinds of video chat services.. yes we can look at a camera the size of a pea, and have international boardroom meetings and keep in touch with loved ones over seas. Cell phones.. wow. Walking around with a tiny little hunk of plastic, smaller than a deck of cards.. with no cords attached... We live our lives with our ear glued to it, or our eyes on it's tiny screen... Amazing. All of these things contain calculators, and a number processors of sorts..There is without a doubt one thing we must remember. Mathematics powers the technology that propels us forward. It is the language that drives science, and and our society. There is just one problem with all of it. If you don't understand the methodology behind the numbers, you can stand to lose everything. You need to know how to track you bank account, figure out interest and payments. You need to know how to get the most for "your numbers" or your money, or it can be gone in a flash.. With that being said, we need teachers to teach mathematics "Until death or the end of time, what ever comes first" as Mr. O says. Meet Mr. O., my college math teacher extraordinaire.
While many people have grown dependent on the machines we have to figure out sums and maintain our information, we know that we need to be able to do these things ourselves when machines break. In order to explore new frontiers, we have to understand how we got where we are now, therefore we need mathematics class to live and to move forward and change technology. While math is fairly straight forward subject, for people like me, it is a devastatingly complicated subject. I am a person who is abstract and the thoughts of math classes send me into a tizzy, because they are far from abstract. However I have found a teacher that I understand. Here is why. Mr. O., my professor at Mott is not just a math teacher, he is a minister of Mathematics. Rather than just mumble formulas and demonstrate problems, he gives the reasons why each method applies to real life. In a world where many college teachers must compete with the stellar looks of technology, they struggle to hold the attention of students who are used to rapid fire information, graphics, and even sound effects. Mr. O. teaches with three colors of markers, a dry erase board, and humor. He makes jokes, and never assumes that the class at large has a concept without asking us first if we are comfortable. He has time for his students, and takes time to walk them through problems with out demeaning them. It takes a special person to empower older and non traditional students who are in a class like this.
I also want to mention that Mr. O teaches basic math, or in realistic college terms, elementary and Jr high or remedial math for college students. I have found that many students in these kinds of classes are not there because they have a passion for the subject. They are there because Math 100+ is required for graduation. In this math 021, at 9:30 am. Some students are tired, cranky, ungrateful, and sometimes flat out rude. Mr. O. just keeps teaching, and when those same students come to him wanting help, he gives it right away. Since we have moved to pre-algebra concepts I have noticed that more students are asking questions, and getting the idea that they need to pay attention in class. Suddenly finding "x" is serious business in their minds, but Mr. O. takes time to keep joking. The more threatening the problems seem in the students minds, the more jokes he tells to keep them listening. I have come to believe that Mr. O Truly wants his students to succeed inside and outside of the classroom.. There in lays the ministry aspect. I sit in the front of the class so I hear many students share their life concerns and their math concerns, Mr. O. listens to them and always leaves them with some kind of encouragement. He seems to apply his same method of math problem solving to real life.. phrases like "just keep chipping away until it is smaller, or don't get lost, ladies and gentlemen, you don't want to go there," applies. In a world where uncaring seems to prevail, Mr. O. is lifting up students to get the next level in life and mathematics. This is what ministry is about, helping people to come further on the journey..
So until death or the end of time, what ever comes first. I'll always have a deep appreciation for Mr. O., minister of mathematics.
