Imagine the fun you could have with word problems for this class.
The College Fix reports:
University to teach how to address social justice using math modelingKettering University announced a new “Math for Social Justice” elective will address climate change, human trafficking, elections and racial justice causes through math modeling.The course aims to teach students how to use statistics and data to address various social justice-related topics.The course will “open students’ eyes into the different areas of math that can model social justice issues,” said Leszek Gawarecki, chair of the university’s Math Department and one of the professors slated to teach the class, in a news release.He cited climate change as one topic for students.“Thinking about it, I became shocked,”Gawrecki told ABC12. “Why are we shocked? Because we all knew that data is available about climate change. The events were pretty much predictable. We know about social injustice.”Gawarecki said he believes the course will solve insufficient “emotional discussions” where “whatever I say, anyone can say the opposite.”In an email to The College Fix, he reiterated that mathematical models built “on real data can provide insights on the existence of systemic problems.”Gawarecki did say, however, that math models can be built on assumptions and are not perfect.“Mathematics-based models have their assumptions and limitations. … At the same time, they can be a powerful tool for highlighting information buried in hundreds of variables,” he said via email.Course prerequisites include a communications course, sophomore seminar, and basic understanding of calculus and statistics.
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