SERVICE LEARNING IN LIBERAL ARTS MATHEMATICS: STUDENTS TUTOR GED-LEVEL MATHEMATICS TO AT-RISK YOUTH

ABSTRACT

Six liberal arts students tutored inner city at-risk youths as part of a mathematics course and kept journals. Three volunteered for in-depth study, including three interviews and entry/exit surveys. We analyze and report impacts on: (1) their attitudes toward mathematics; (2) their views of themselves as learners of mathematics; and (3) their changing definitions of social responsibility. Students' ideas about what it means to be socially responsible tended to become less egocentric over the nine weeks. The students came to have an appreciation for the difficulty of teaching even elementary mathematics. One student's confidence with mathematics increased significantly and her anxiety was greatly mitigated. Additionally, there was a corresponding increase in her mastery of college mathematics.

KEYWORDS:

• Service learning
• tutoring
• community outreach
• attitudes
• liberal arts mathematics
• social responsibility
• at-risk youth
• math anxiety