Mathematics teacher John Griggs, an associate professor at North Carolina State university is able to blend his two passions: mathematics and basketball. Griggs teaches two of his courses online: Calculus I-Engineering Sequence and Calculus II-Engineering Sequence. These courses are geared toward students in engineering, physics, chemistry, math and statistics fields. These fields are math and data driven.
Did you have a favorite sport in school that made going to learn, easier?
Blending math and sports works with struggling students.
Griggs makes realistic problem solving an integral part of the calculus courses so students understand the practical application of calculus in these fields. Griggs also acted as a statistician for the NC State men’s and women’s basketball teams. Eventually this led to a staff of 10 volunteers he supervises who keep statistics for the basketball teams. It is a fun and real-life way to apply statistics.
These math courses are typically for students in engineering, physics, chemistry, math and statistics fields. These fields are considered hard sciences, sciences that are more math and data driven. Griggs wanted to offer the courses online because he realized there was a growing need, especially among students with family responsibilities, students aboard submarines, oil rig platforms or deployed overseas.
Laura Lurns · Learning Success expert
Key takeaways
- John Griggs has a love for mathematics and basketball.
- Griggs offers online courses for students who otherwise couldn’t make it to the classroom.
- Griggs and several volunteers keep game day stats for the school’s basketball teams.
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