Expecting Maximum Creativity. Students who participate in the Philadelphia Engineering and Math Challenge (EMC) are expected to take risks. Many problems—in math and beyond—have multiple solutions. Our goal is to encourage students to take multiple approaches and to maximize the collective creativity of a collaborative team. Math learning does not always come with an established formula.
Enriching Math Curricula. Students who participate in the EMC are often top performers in school. Too often, though, our schools emphasize single answers to standardized questions. Our goal is to push back against curricula that are defined by discrete skills and challenge even the best students to be perplexed again. Math has meaning beyond a textbook.
Educating Model Citizens. Students who participate in the EMC are confronted with real-world problems that can be addressed with mathematical models. Our goal is to encourage students and teachers to consider how learning math is part of a commitment one can and should make to improving our community. Math is a tool for agents of change.
Embracing Multicultural Communities.
Students who participate in the EMC are from neighborhoods that represent the city’s diversity. Philadelphia, long recognized as the birthplace of democracy, is still home to inequality of opportunity. Our goal is to inspire students of color who are traditionally underrepresented in engineering and math. Math is a multiplier of power.
Encouraging Math Communication. Students who participate in EMC are expected to speak about their ideas before an audience. Teams work for weeks to solve a single problem and then present their solutions—and missteps—to an audience of peers. Our goal is to reinforce that knowledge should be shared. Math is the universal language.
Establishing Meaningful Connections. Students who participate in the EMC are able to network with college mentors and professional engineers. Role models in professions that embrace math are important if students are to envision themselves in college and careers. Our goal is to connect classrooms with people who use math for a living. Math is the key to modern careers.
mathforum.org/emc