Mathematical Error?

Along with the new era of technology at CB is a new controversy in math classes: is MathXL the right answer?

Recently CB has embraced the modern era and have done a complete makeover of the curriculum: out with the books and in with the iPads. With this transition, textbooks and “old fashioned” pen and notebook note taking are mostly exempt from the new style of learning.

This transition has been in favor with students and teachers and so far and has been a huge success. However, there is some controversy that still has yet to be resolved.

Along with an online textbook, the math department is using a whole new website called MathXL, whose name haunts even the most prestigious students. This website is accessed on iPads through a virtual browser app. If taking unnecessarily long to complete the full assignment is not enough to cause painful annoyance to the student, on top of that the app will close randomly, erasing all of unsaved work.

MathXL is not in favor with junior student Kira McKechnie (’15).

“MathXL is so stubborn,” she says. “Half of the time I get an answer right and it says that I am wrong.”

However, it seems that students are the only ones who find error in MathXL. Teachers continue to employ the form of homework and do not seem to be changing there ways any time soon.

CB Algebra teacher Ms. Sarah Mungas feels that MathXL is the future of math homework and shares her high praise for the website.

“I love it! It requires kids to be very precise and understand math terminology,” she says. “Each student gets many opportunities to do attempt each problem correctly and there is help available on MathXL.”

Ms. Mungas realizes students would prefer to work out of the book, but in her eyes, the student’s performance is better on MathXL.

“I think it kind of depends on the student— I think a lot of them prefer the old fashioned paper and text book, but in my personal experience the quality of work is far better on MathXL as opposed to the text book for sure.”

While it appears MathXL is here to stay, do not be surprised if more and more teachers slowly start switching back to the textbook as it appears to be more efficient and in favor with CB students.