The days of traditional math classes are over.The math department experimented with a new learning style in Algebra II Honors last year, and this year has implemented it into PreCalculus Honors. Is it really working? Unfortunately, being the “guinea pig” has hit my experience in math much harder than it should’ve.

To begin with, lectures have diminished from the class. Each table group is given a lesson with activities to lead them into getting to the main concept of the lesson. This is to help students understand the concept more than just memorizing it. Seems effective and like a good idea, right? As I prefer lectures, this idea is something I definitely do not agree with. Lectures help me address the key concepts and understand what is going on in a more straightforward way. However, although I am strongly opposed towards the math system, I have found myself understanding math a bit more than usual.

The math department has also started implementing group tests into the curriculum. Each group is given a test in which they work together to complete it. However, from what I can see, these group tests have little to no relevance to what we learn in class. The purpose of these tests is to have us apply what we learned to more realistic and challenging questions. Hence the word group. The combined brainpower of a group is supposed to help solve the test problems. Sometimes the group may not be so good, and sometimes the group may be the best in the class. Regardless of what people you have to take the test with, the group test somehow always manages to mess with your confidence in your knowledge in math.

I conducted a poll to see if I was the only one frustrated with the group learning and tests. The three options were: group tests are neutral, effective, or “I have negative feeling towards it.” Out of 15 students from my math class, 100% responded with I have negative feelings toward it.

As I go into another year with this math system, I find myself having both hatred and joy for math. Math is one of my favorite subjects simply because the way it is taught now helps me understand the material. On the other hand, the irrelevance of the group tests makes me stress more about my grade and makes me lose focus on actually understanding the math and more of just memorizing the concept.