CURRENT | ARCHIVES

Print Email to a Friend

Oct. 16, 2006

U-M and Detroit school work together to raise math standards

ANN ARBOR, Mich.—Once a week, University of Michigan mathematics lecturer Nkem Khumbah drives to Detroit's Martin Luther King Jr. High School to work with math teachers to help bring 175 high school students up to college level.

The plan: Give public high school students the chance to learn what's expected in college level mathematics courses through the Michigan Calculus Achievement Project (M-CAP), an effort to align high school mathematics instruction with the expectations of a rigorous college calculus course.

The King students are part of a project that could eventually be expanded into other schools.

Research shows many Americans and some teachers lack sound mathematical skills, leaving U.S. 12th grade math students trailing their peers in 21 other nations. In turn, many college freshmen feel insecure by the time they reach a college math class. U-M's College of Literature, Science, and the Arts Comprehensive Studies Program (CSP) is trying to help bridge that gap with the new program.

The project is the brainchild of CSP Director William Collins who has long noticed that too many high school students enter college unfamiliar with the expectations of faculty.

"We want to challenge students to develop a solid foundation in mathematics and thus to have a better idea of what's expected so that they can be ready for calculus courses in college," Collins said. "If you're not confident, you're not going to feel competent."

 The project will be led by Khumbah who has cultivated the idea with school officials and will serve as facilitator for the project.

"This project not only serves students, but also seeks to help teachers to align their instructional efforts with college requirements," Khumbah said.

U-M mathematics professor Dale Winter has worked closely with CSP in developing the project.

 "Mathematics is at the foundation of the many technological careers our society needs to fill, and we believe this project is a step in the right direction in terms of getting students interested and excited about calculus," Winter said.

Students will learn in the classroom and also receive computer-based instruction that will connect them directly with U-M so they can learn college level math lessons directly from U-M instructors.

 "The capabilities available through high-speed internet connections will allow project students access to the same instructional materials available to University of Michigan students," Collins said.

Paul Gray, principal of Martin Luther King High School, emphasized that he and teachers welcome the collaboration.

"Anytime we can join forces with the University to promote learning among students is a win-win situation for - both our communities," Gray said.

The project has also caught the attention of Detroit School Board member Tyrone Winfrey, who is also works in U-M's Detroit admissions office as associate director of admissions.  

"As Detroit moves forward to prepare students for career opportunities in the 21st century, we need more collaborative efforts such as this one," Winfrey said.
"This is definitely a step in the right direction."

Related Links:

U-M's Comprehensive Studies Program

Martin Luther King High School

U-M's College of Literature, Science, and the Arts

Contact: Joe Serwach
Phone: (734) 647-1844