Credit: Olivia West
Bridge to Math co-hosted a study hall event for approximately 150 students on October 20 as part of the second Education Week in two years with the Student Council of Undergraduate Education.
The event was held from 5:15pm to 7:00pm at the David Rittenhouse Laboratory and helped students prepare for the following Friday’s quiz. Bridge to Math (previously known as Bridge to Math 114) is a student-led initiative launched last year with the goal of orienting her incoming freshman into a math class at the University of Pennsylvania.
Study Hall sessions are a major Bridge to Math event during the school year, and their website features pre-made MATH 1410 and 1400 notes, which are designed for Bridge to Math students in their junior year of college. said Iris Horng, Director of Math. The program also provides a way to use the material to fully grasp concepts based on each student’s level of calculus background knowledge. Advice from previous students about classes is also available on the website.
“Many freshmen enter the University of Pennsylvania, but they may not have learned math since their sophomore year of high school. I’m a little nervous about it,” Horn said. “We created this program to help them understand what information they want to see and ease their anxiety about getting started.”
Six different rooms in the DRL were packed with MATH 1300, 1400, 1410, and 2400 teaching assistants and students. Students were able to ask their TA questions about exercises and upcoming quizzes. In front of the classroom, she taught with the TA demonstrating sample questions using the blackboard, and the students worked together.
“Penn mathematics can feel disjointed because TAs use a variety of materials,” says Arnav Jhaveri, an engineering junior and director of education at Bridge to Math.
He said Bridge to Math can provide a “centralized system” by standardizing what students should study. Making the transition to college-level mathematics easier by offering pre-recorded sessions from the Summer 2022 Program.
Since Bridge to Math was launched last year, we’ve seen an increase in the number of events and students attending our club. Bridge to Math hosted his 3-day Summer 2022 program via Zoom, introducing students to the key material covered in MATH 1410 and MATH 1400.
The first day included a question-and-answer session with past TAs and current students in the class, the second day focused specifically on Math 1410, and the third day focused on Math 1400.
The TA led a panel with math professor Robert Ghrist to talk about math classes and departments in general. To help relieve the stress I experienced, I led a 30-minute workshop titled “Exploring Your Feelings About Mathematics.”
Last year, only one or two TAs helped each introductory-level Bridge to Math class. More than 10 TAs are joining the club this year.
The Bridge to Math Study Hall is one of many events during SCUE’s Education Week. SCUE recently wrote an opinion column for The Daily Pennsylvanian, calling it a week to “reflect on what an undergraduate education means to you and speak out about what you want to grow and change in your education at the University of Pennsylvania.” I described it as an opportunity.
Ananya Varshneya, a sophomore and Associate Director of Bridge to Math, said she’s taken MATH 1410 before, so she knows what to expect and the kind of stress that comes with taking it.
“Basically, we try to demystify the math experience and make it comfortable and easy for all students to navigate,” said Varshneya. “That’s why Bridge to Math is here, to serve as a mentor and helper for our students.”
Bridge to Math hopes to continue these study halls and expand the events throughout the year. She wants to increase the number of her study rooms during her semester, but she knows that it will require more funding.
“Previously, it was only once a semester, last fall and last spring.
Horn hopes the program will expand past introductory math classes and continue to grow after graduation.
“I would definitely like to expand this program with more board members. [I graduate],” she said.
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