Perhaps no subject strikes more fear in college students than math.
The University of Florida Counseling Center’s website states that 30 percent of college students struggle with math anxiety. Sinclair Community College students who share these worries have a valuable resource to help in their battles: The Math Lab.
The Math Lab is located in Building 1, Room 315. Willow Cliffswallow serves as math lab manager.
“We try and put out as much information and as many resources as we can,” says Cliffswallow.
The lab’s resources include: instructional videos and CD lectures, worksheets and handouts for most courses, practice tests, access to interactive practice problems with step-by-step help and examples, textbooks and student solution manuals and student and faculty tutors.
“We support all the math courses that Sinclair offers,” says Cliffswallow. “We have materials and tutors, it doesn’t matter what course the students are in.”
According to statistics from fall quarter, Wednesday brings in the highest volume of students, while Friday and Saturday are the low volume days. Forty percent of the lab’s traffic uses the facility from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. with 7 a.m. to 8 a.m. serving as the lowest volume hour.
Many of the resources available in the lab can be found on the website www.sinclair.edu/centers/mathlab.
“Students want more things online,” says Cliffswallow. “Students often say, ‘why can’t I do this at home?’”
Math Lab Facilitator Brett Holland believes many students’ struggles with math stems from cultural elements.
“It is unfortunate that in our society, math is almost ingrained in student’s heads as a bad thing,” said Holland.
Math may come easier to some people, but according to Holland everyone can succeed – if they try.
“You can do this,” said Math Lab Facilitator Brett Holland. “Some just may have to work harder, but it can be done.”
Math Lab Resources: Building 1, Room 315
Hours:
Monday – Thursday 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Friday 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Saturday 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.