BMCC students better have their thinking caps on when they walk into Felix Apfaltrer’s math class, because the third-year professor doesn’t give many lectures or power point presentations.
Instead, Apfaltrer — who’s teaching Elementary Algebra, Introduction to Statistics and Analytic Geometry and Calculus III this semester — uses an active approach, trying to involve students as much as he can.
In-Class Problem Solving
Getting the students active in class isn’t always the easiest task, Apfaltrer said.
“You have to find a balance between covering material and teaching what you’re supposed to teach, and how many problems you can actually have them do in class,” according to Apfaltrer.
So what he does is first make sure they completely understand the work they’ve already been assigned. “At the beginning of each class I ask them if they have any questions about the homework, and then we go over those problems.”
Sometimes students don’t speak up, but Apfaltrer doesn’t let that bother him — if he must, he’ll prod them. “If I see that there is a mistake that several students have … I’ll mention it next time and say ‘this is something we should review,'” he said.
Applying Math to Real-Life Situations
What Apfaltrer tries to do with the problems he gives students is mold them into situations the class may encounter in their everyday lives.
“For example, in statistics, part of it is understanding how to plug the numbers into the formulas,” he said, “so usually I look at the problem, then give it to them as it applies to baseball, medicine … or business and economics.”
That gives students a chance to see math in a different light, according to Apfaltrer.
“Students sometimes don’t want to believe it, but when you start working, you see math and statistics in a lot of forms in life.”
Where Exactly Does Math Apply?
Everywhere, Apfaltrer said.
“Math comes into play in every area of life. Statistics is used all the time in social sciences for collecting data, extracting the main information out of it … and forecasting,” according to Apfalter.
And that’s just in social science — in business and medicine, it’s there all the time. Apfaltrer tries to get that point across.
“Basic math is a knowledge that ideally should be equipped with … not only for other classes but in your future life,” Apfaltrer said. “Math helps you be a well-rounded student and it’s going to help you do better in the world.”
