The Mall is usually one of a typical student’s favorite places but at UCF, that’s not necessarily the case.
“If you actually take a look, I think, at the real amount of time that students are spending, they’re spending a lot less time and getting a lot more benefit by spending the three hours in the lab,” said Intermediate Algebra Instructor Luis Negron on why students should have more appreciation of the MALL. “That’s where the instructors are, that’s where the tutors who do the homework are. So it’s the best place to get your questions answered.”
Several UCF Math courses ranging from Intermediate Algebra to Trigonometry require, in addition to regularly scheduled class time, that students log a minimum of three hours a week in the Mathematics Assistance and Learning Lab (MALL). During their time in the MALL, students are not permitted to listen to music, take out their phone, and may only work on material relating to their course.
To aid them in the completion of their assignments, the MALL provides personalized assistance from instructors as well as Graduate Teaching Assistants. Although students may have access to means that could potentially aid them with their course work, some feel that is not valid enough reason to mandate hours for all students.
“I dislike them a lot. It forces you to go in there and I like to have music when I do my math homework and it’s just all closed in and it’s dark and dingy and you’re just like staring at this one computer for hours, it’s just not fun,” said College Algebra student Bria Clemons. “I think we should be able to bring our phones in and use them, cause honestly, like really?
“…I can focus, like I’m not 12-years-old and what if you don’t really want those tutoring sessions? What if I’m a good enough student that doesn’t need to be like forced to sit down and do all of my math homework all at once?” said Clemons.
While it’s not necessarily true that you must complete all of your hours in one sitting, some students find that ends up being the case for them. Given all that a typical week throws at an active UCF student, it can be difficult to find an opening which can be used to complete their weekly MALL requirements.
“When you have a heavy load of school and work and volunteering or whatever you have to do, to make time out of all that stuff when it could be just a constant class time, it’s not fair,” said Trigonometry student Lauren Butler. “What if they have to commute; then they have to come here just for their hours when they could be getting their work done at home.
“And mainly the weekend is the only time I can really do it and I’m also on the executive board of CSA so I have my meetings every Sunday and then I have church. So I can only come for exactly three hours and sometimes I’m cutting it close.”
Negron acknowledged that more weekend MALL hours would be ideal; however, due to the fact that many of their TA’s are students, there is currently insufficient staffing for more weekend hours.
While finding the time to set aside to make it to the MALL is a feat that can be hard to accomplish in its self, managing to actually make significant progress on your work once you’re there can be a struggle of its own.
“At first I thought it was good, especially for incoming students that aren’t used to doing homework online,” said Trigonometry student Tyrie Carter. “And it’s like a way to force them to sit down and do their work. But that’s for like easier classes like Intermediate and College Algebra.
“When it comes to harder ones, like Trig, I don’t think it works too well. I could be in the MALL for two hours and still only get five questions done and it’s frustrating ‘cause I have to hear people talk around me.”
Having the instructors and teaching assistants there in the MALL to help out with students questions can be a great resource, if students are using them. But what’s the point if they’re not?
“I mean it’s good to have the assistants for some questions to help you,” said Butler. “But then again, on the homework there’s the help me solve this and watching the video and like on top of that you have the book.
“So, I feel like just going there to have the assistants there to help you isn’t a good enough reason for you to require every student to take three hours. And if they have two Math classes to take six hours because their hours can’t count for both.”
Even a student who somewhat favors the MALL experience echoes a similar sentiment regarding her experience, or lacks thereof, with help available in the MALL.
“I mean the T A’s are there to help but most people that I talk to don’t utilize them. They just go there, try to get their math done, get their three hours and leave. And I pretty much do the same whenever I’m in there.” said Precalculus student Destiny Privott.
Even though Privott may not utilize the help that is offered to her while in the MALL, she still sees some value in having her mandatory weekly hours.
“I hate it; it’s a hassle to go out of your way. But when you’re in the MALL, it’s nothing but math so you have to get it done.” said Privott.
Although there has been much discussion amongst students over whether or not they benefit from the way math courses are currently set up, Negron truly believes if students utilize the resources made available to them, they can and will succeed.
“Actually doing the work is where the learning’s gonna happen for these thousand level MAC classes, it’s a nice trade-off,” said Negron. “Walking out, having spent three hours in class, imagine any other class where all you have to do is go to class and you walk out and you know everything you need without doing a lot of extra work at home.”
Negron’s words seem to be in sharp contrast to the seemingly strenuous situations students face when trying to secure their weekly hours.
“It feels harsh probably because a lot of people will spend a lot of time all at once. But if you actually think about some of your other classes and how much time you spend outside of class reading, and doing work, writing, you’ll find that you actually end up spending a lot less time for the math class by doing the actual work for the course in lieu of the classroom time spent.”
In addition to spreading out time spent in the MALL, Negron urges students to take advantage of the instructors and assistants available to help them.
“That’s the time to light up the board, ask for that help from the instructors right there,” said Negron. “I’m sure in a regular classroom, you cannot sit with your instructor for three hours and have them answer every single question that you could possibly think of. But you can do that in the lab downstairs.
“The sad part is, not enough students do. I shouldn’t be on my feet; I should be answering questions every moment that I’m down there in that math lab, but I’m not. I count on students to keep me busy down there.”
