Behind the chaos of numbers is a system, a system made of browsers and buttons that are constantly correcting and approving students. MyMathLab (MML) is an online homework program at the college that brings the physical pages of math problems out of the books and into the world of technology.
In comparison to a textbook, MML is able to give the student feedback on a problem as soon as they answer it. This immediate feedback gives the student an opportunity to work on that problem right away instead of waiting until next class to realize they have the wrong answer.
“The obvious benefit is the instant feedback,” said Justin Dunham, math professor at JCCC. “As professors we don’t have time to go through every student’s homework and look through every single math problem … The program does that for us.”
There is no obligation for professors to use the program; some math courses do not even offer MML with the curriculum used. However, there has been controversy with the program when comparing it to the classic paper-and-pencil style of schooling.
“Students complain a little bit about ‘Man, why can’t I just do it in pencil and paper?’ and my response is always, ‘If it’s wrong, do you know why it’s wrong?’ The program will tell you why it’s wrong and show you the steps. If you rely on me, you might not see me for three days,” Dunham said.
According to student Ricky Ingles- Nguyen, the program offers features, such as allowing all quizzes, homework and tests to be in one place, making it easier than a book.
Student Anna Frontaura likes the program but notices the downsides.
“The internet isn’t always around,” Frontaura said. “The deadlines are not always clear and it can sometimes be slow.”
In the professor’s view, a downside to the program is the extraneous setup process. The more a professor specializes in his/her class, the more time it takes to set up the course to the preferred style and content for students.
“There are probably some [professors] that just don’t want to take the time to learn it,” Dunham said.
“Teachers who have been here for a while and teach from the book just keep doing it because that’s whats easy.”
One of the features MML provides is the option to email the course’s professor on each individual question. This creates a way for each student to ask his/her professor a specific question without being in direct contact with them.
“I think one of the biggest difficulties is not so much for students adjusting from doing pencil and paper to MML but from doing one online program to another,” Dunham said.
Like books, students purchase access to MML by code. This creates a completely digital way of studying, book-free. In regards to cost, the program will set students back more than a used rental would cost, but not as much as a new book.
With the continual advancement in technology, the MML program is just one of many programs that could eventually erase textbooks from universities.