by Seth Coven

The math department is exploring plans for the Interactive Math Program that could ultimately eliminate IMP 1 because of a lack of enrollment, according to Mathematics Curriculum Coordinator Joshua Paris.

IMP is a pathway in which algebra, geometry, algebra 2 and statistics are all woven throughout the curriculum of the four IMP classes, according to Paris. In terms of pedagogy, IMP strives to impart information to the students through investigations that inspire individual discovery and collaboration with peers.

“What I love about it is it gives students the opportunity to learn math in a really different setting,” math teacher Danielle Rabina, who teaches IMP, said. “IMP is masterfully designed so that kids can really go into depth and do discovery which they can’t always have time for in another class.”

Junior Kenneth Szeto, who was in IMP 2 his freshman year, also said that a major difference between IMP and other math classes is that students are required to do more writing to explain their work.

Fletcher Hartman, a senior in IMP 4, said that although his favorite subject in school is not math, IMP offers a comfortable environment to learn and take risks.

“A fairly common thing about IMP students is that they don’t have a lot of faith in their math knowledge, even if that’s not necessarily the case,” Hartman said. “IMP helps with that because you are very comfortable around the people and it’s very OK to be wrong.”

Paris said the mathematics department has noticed a steady trend of decreasing enrollment in IMP. Due to this lack of registration, there has not been an IMP 1 class the past two years, and there is no IMP 2 class this year.

Paris believes the lack of interest stems from the eighth graders not knowing what the program is like.

“In trying to engage eighth grade students and parents in a discussion about whether or not IMP is a good fit for each student, we find that people weren’t making good decisions about it,” Paris said.

Hartman himself was informed as an incoming freshmen.

“I first started to take IMP because my eighth-grade IMP teacher recommended me for it, but he recommended pretty much everyone,” Hartman said.

According to Paris, one solution to this problem is to completely remove IMP 1 and have all freshmen take geometry. Then, towards the end of the school year, the math department would do an outreach campaign educating freshmen about what IMP is like. Incoming sophomores who decide to take IMP would start with IMP 2.

“Part of that would be to put some IMP style units into freshman geometry so that kids have a real experience with it, and the teachers could see how they do and then recommend the students that would be a really good fit,” Rabina said. “In eighth grade, you’re just going off of what you’ve heard, and it’s not always easy to choose the right path.”

At the beginning of each unit, IMP students are presented with one core problem that they are required to solve by the end of the unit. Once they solve the problem, they present their finding to peers and to the teacher. Rabina recently invited Paris and Headmaster Deborah Holman to come observe and ask questions during her class’ unit problem presentation.

Paris said that the presentation affirmed his belief in the importance of IMP.

“I saw them be able to stand up in front of a class and make a coherent presentation and present themselves in a very professional manner,” Paris said. “Those skills that they demonstrated are skills that they will use in any profession or academic career that they decide to pursue.”

Rabina agreed that IMP emphasizes other skills than just mathematics.

“The group work that it’s focused on gives kids some skills for group work and presentation that they can really carry on beyond high school, and I think is really valuable,” Rabina said.

According to Paris, a decision regarding the future of IMP may be finalized within the next couple of months.

“If we’re not proactive about doing something about this now,” Paris said, “then we run the risk of losing IMP forever.”

 Seth Coven can be contacted at [email protected]