If 300=R* (1-(1+.13/12)^-36)/(.13/12),then R=101.08 To math 3 and 4 students, formulas like this might prompt one simple question: ìWhere are we going to use this in the real world?.î FHS math teacher Karen Longhart has provided her students with an answer. She hopes that a new job-sharing program will show students the importance of math in their future careers. Equations such as the one above are used by bank officers to determine monthly payments on loans. ìOne main purpose of this project is for the students to see how much math they will need in their job,î said Longhart. ìI want to show students they do need math so that they donít drop out of a class they need for the future.î 1989 FHS graduate Melissa Morton visited Longhart and said she wished she had more of an opportunity in high school to investigate potential career choices before going to college. That conversation gave Longhart the idea of beginning a job-shadowing career project for her classes. ìI want the students to start thinking about what they want to do for a career,î said Longhart. ìThey (students) also need to know they canít always have everything in a job. Itís a give and take situation.î The project consists of three parts that must be completed by Jan. 15. First, students fill out a questionnaire to see which job fits their personality best. Then the students will investigate their career choice via the Internet and catalogs. The research will give the students the background in their career choice, to prevent future mistakes, according to Longhart. After the research, students job-shadow professionals in the career fields of the studentsí choice. ìI think this project is a good idea,î said senior Roni Bastiaanse. ìIt gives a chance to explore what we want to do for a career so we donít make a mistake.î Longhartís students are excited about job-shadowing and think it will be a useful project for their futures. ìI think itís really good to get us out there and give us a realistic look at what we will need to get certain jobs,î said junior David Beekman. ìItís pretty hard for me to find a biochemical engineer to job-shadow in Kalispell, though.î Added junior Melissa Gall: ìItís great to have a real-life experience where you can take an in-depth look on what you want to do. Itís also nice that weíre being treated like adults through this project.î |
