First Quadrant—Working With Mathematics
Whether students need math tutorials, a place to complete online course assignments or just a quiet place to study, First Quadrant math lab is equipped to accommodate their needs. The math lab is in the 200 wing of PVCC’s Main Building and is open to all students. “About 400 students visit the Math Quadrant per week,” said Byadunia Buluma, a Desk Staff member in the First Quadrant as part of PVCC’s SLA program.
Though most students make an appointment when they need to see a tutor, help is always available for any student that comes in. “Some students come just to study, but end up getting stuck and asking a tutor for help,” Buluma said. Emily, a tutor in the First Quadrant math lab, says that she helps students with their online homework whenever they ask. Students taking online math courses will find that there is adequate space and computer availability for completing their assignments.
Emily said that the tutors work with students for as long as necessary depending on their needs. “You can pre-schedule appointments and that gets you 30 minutes of dedicated time,” said Emily, but walk-ins usually get five minutes. Emily admitted that there are times when it’s difficult to help a student understand how to solve a problem, but she had an optimistic perspective. “A lot of people just get frustrated and give up. But you can just keep trying,” Emily said. One setback that Emily noticed is that many of the students that come for tutorial have been struggling with their course material long before they sought help. She says that she wants to be able to reach students before the subject gets too hard for them. Emily says “teachers encouraging students to come here earlier” can help to meet that goal.
Some of the students who visit First Quadrant feel they get enough time with their tutors, but adequate time does not always result in understanding the material. Diane Payne, a student taking a math course online, said sometimes she understands but “sometimes they don’t explain it the way the teacher explains it; I get confused.” Payne also said she doesn’t think the tutors know enough about the on-line math programs. “I don’t think they understand the Hawks system,” Payne said, adding that the tutors do help her to get the right answer but not the way the online system wants it to be done. Despite these challenges, Payne does not think the math lab needs any improvements: “I think it’s good,” she said.
