OpenLab #4: Math in your future?

Most people go to college because they are trying to build a better future for themselves.  What job do you hope to get after college?  Imagine you have completed your college degree, and your education and experience have allowed you to obtain the job that you want.

With this job in mind, consider the following list of activities.  Which of them are you most likely to be asked to do as part of your new job?  Put them in order from most likely to least likely.  If you are uncertain, make your best guess based on your current knowledge and experience.

List of activities:

  1. Use a formula (correctly identify values, substitute them into the formula, and simplify the result to get an answer).
  2. Learn to use a computer system that is unfamiliar to you, and then complete a task on that system.
  3. Brainstorm a variety of responses to a problem and decide among several solutions, each of which has plusses and minuses.
  4. Make a decision based on data (for example: a list of responses to a survey, a list of numbers, a table, or chart)
  5. Calculate the mean or standard deviation.
  6. Complete an assignment with a team of several people, including: finding a time and place to meet, dividing responsibilities, making sure everyone is completing their part, delivering the final product on time.

Assignment (due Thursday, March 7):

Respond to the above activity by leaving a comment in response to this post.  Your comment should include all of the following:

  1. What is your major?  What job are you hoping to get after graduation?
  2. From the list of activities above, give your ranking in order from “most likely to be required on your new job” to “least likely”.
  3. Discuss the first item on your list.  Do you think that this class will help prepare you to complete that task?  If so, how?  If not, what could be done in this class to help prepare you for that task?
  4. Discuss the last item on your list.  Do you think it is important to learn (even if you are not likely to use it at your job)?  Why or why not?

Extra Credit.  Comment on  someone else’s post.   Do you agree or disagree? Why?

41 thoughts on “OpenLab #4: Math in your future?

  1. 1.) My major is nursing and I’m hoping to get a job as an RN in a pediatric E.R.
    2.) My list from the activities above is: 2,3,6,4,5,1
    3.) The first few items on my list will be very useful when I become an RN. Activity number 2 was my first one which would be very useful because all patient charts are now computerized. Group work and decision making is also important in nursing. I believe the group work within the class would be helpful but the computerized charts is something that is learned in clinical in a hospital setting.
    4.) I don’t believe I will need to use standard deviation but I could be wrong. I am not a math person so if there is a way that I could get out of doing math and learning complicated subjects then I would. I have learned standard deviation now, but if you ask me next year how to calculate it I most likely won’t know.

    • I agree that when she does become a nurse she will have to know all this new technology that the hospitals system uses. Technology is growing everywhere in every field it is something you can not get away from.

    • i would have to agree with Sarina’s order of what will be useful during nursing. I don’t really see using standard deviation in the field of nursing, but I could be wrong. I’m sure some form of statistics will be used, just hopefully in a less complicated form…

      • Yes, I agree with Sarina’s post also; everything is computerized, but standard deviation wouldn’t really be used in a hospital setting. Standard deviation and mean would be useful in a major like Marketing and Advertising. For example, people in that major might use formulas like that to determine the amount of people that purchase products based on the amount of advertisements being shown.

    • I agree because in the health field you need to learn the most recent technology because that makes your job much easier. It could help you make more money and help you customer service efficiency.

  2. My major is Hospitality Management. I am debating on going into the Hotel Industry and try to become a manager of a hotel or own my own dessert place. I will probably use number 2 the most because I never worked in this industry before to get my hands on their type of system.
    se a formula (correctly identify values, substitute them into the formula, and simplify the result to get an answer). Brainstorming would be another that I would most likely use because anywhere you go doesnt matter what job you have people always need a new innovation. I will need to use number 4 because word of mouth is a great way for a business to improve or go down hill. Number 6 would be the next likely because you can not work alone in the real world no matter how much you prefer you cant just do everything by your self. Number 5 is the elast likely and I am praying I will never really have to come across it again after this class

    • I agree with never being able to do things such as business on your own. There will always be someone who knows more than you and who can teach you and help you get better at something. Possibly with creativity for your own business!

  3. My major is Health Care Administration. It’s highly unlikely I will look for a job in this field after graduation. I currently have a career that I wish to change. As for now, I have two options after graduation in spring. One, go to grad school for management and change careers, or two, pursue my dream career of being a writer of non-fiction while as I stay in my current career.

    Assuming I pursue my dream career to be a writer, I’m listing the activities in this order 4, 3, 6,1,2,5,

    The first item on my list is 4, and this class definitely helps me in in analyzing data. For example, in research there are hundreds of different pieces of data and documents that have to be sifted through to arrive at the truth, since writers have different spins on the truth, especially when political agendas are involved; and statistics help to analyze the data, (even if they are not numbers), to arrive at the closest possibility, if not the truth itself. So this class is important and helpful to me as a tool for coming up with ideas and new ways of looking at research material, and to devise methods to sift the data to arrive at the truth.

    The last item on my list is 2. Although it is last on my list, I definitely think it is important for this reason: software programs change every day and I believe with the rapid pace of apps and program development, I may have to learn and use some new unfamiliar program to submit something I write and will have to learn that program and why I believe it is still important.

  4. Hello my major is Marketing and Sales and after graduation I want to be a creative director. In order from most to least likely to be a creative director.
    Most Likely Complete an assignment with a team of several people
    A little Likely Brainstorm
    Likely Learn a Computer System
    Might be Likely Make a Decision based on data
    Least Likely Use a formula
    Not Likely Calculate mean/ standard deviation

    Completing a task with a team is most likely required in a creative director’s job description and so far we have done a lot of group work so I believe this class is helping for my future in advertising. Standard deviation i doubt will help me in the future I do not feel like I need to learn this ; but I am just stating my opinion. I do not think its relevant for my future job ; but I can be wrong I just do not see the meaning of it.

    • i can almost agree,

      the use of data can relate both as verbal and observational since images have to be decided upon, of what to use for being consistent with a a verbal decision based a literal/verbal data such as from a survey or article.

      pc-software is used to assemble and create the result/expression of verbal data with a purpose for each image that is used.

  5. My major is marketing management and sales. After I graduate I would like to start my own business. For me all the activities are important because I am going to open a retail store therefore I’m going to do a lot of questioner to find out what are people likes and dislikes. Activity 3,4,5,1,2,6 will help me definitely to be successful in my future business life.

    • I like your idea of opening your own business. Be your own boss and of others. You will surely need all of those six on the list for all the various aspects of business. And I I hope you open a very successful business.

    • I disagree with your statement because when opening your opening your own business they are all important they all go hand in hand but I think as a business owner technology is by far the most important because without it you will lack competitive edge and your competitors will easily steal your market share.

  6. 1. Hospitality management. I expect to get a job working in the kitchen of a restaurant
    2. From the list of activities: 6, 3, 4, 1, 2, 5
    3. I Think activity #6 will play a major role in what I want to do because when it comes to working in the kitchen each person is in charge of completing a task and working together. Making sure everything gets done on time and as quickly as possible. I think this class will some what help prepare me to complete this task because we get to work in groups and interact with each other and we each get our own task to do. At he end coming together to give our final product.
    4. I think the last task on my list which is #5 to calculate the standard deviation I doubt that I will need to use this. However I think it is important to know how to calculate the standard deviation even though you might not ever need it. Calculating the standard deviation was complicating to me but now that I understand it I wont have a problem doing it if I had to.

    • I definitely agree with you when it comes to working in teams to get a certain job done on time. I am also in the same major as you and I have worked in a restaurant before in the back of the house. Team work and being able to manage your time wisely are crucial points to organizing yourself better, thus satisfying your customers.

    • Teamwork will definitely be vital in the kitchen! I agree, you will quite likely never have to calculate the standard deviation. It’s a little more likely that you might end up using some data at some point in which the standard deviation shows up, and having some sense of “what it means” could help you in understanding the data — keep that in mind as we work through the class material.

    • I agree with this statement because in the kitchen teamwork is vital because one persons mistake will become everyone’s problem.

  7. Hi Everyone:
    My Major is Hospitality management, and the job that i am hoping for doesn’t have anything to do with my major , because i changed my mind lately and i decided to be a linguist for the NYPD, since i speak 4 languages fluently. After completing my Bt degree, i am sure i will be able to use th emost of these tasks, except the Calculation of the mean or standard deviation. Maybe , i wil need it who knows?
    So ,From the list of activities above, i think the 1 st most likely to be required on my future job, will be Brainstorm a variety of responses to a problem and decide among several solutions, each of which has plusses and minuses, in order to translate a language , i think i will need to look at the words and sentences which may have 6 or 7 meaning , therefore brainstorming and knowing what is the situation is that word or sentence is used. 2nd ,Learn to use a computer system that is unfamiliar to you, and then complete a task on that system.3 Learn to use a computer system that is unfamiliar to you, and then complete a task on that system.4 Complete an assignment with a team of several people, including: finding a time and place to meet, dividing responsibilities, making sure everyone is completing their part, delivering the final product on time.5 Use a formula (correctly identify values, substitute them into the formula, and simplify the result to get an answer).and last Calculate the mean or standard deviation, this the last thing that i will need to use for the job, but hey, you never know. I think we should give every piece of information that we learn in college a value, because there are better oportunities everyday for everyone of us, so learning the best we can , without thinking what we need or what we won’t . Because one day will come , and we may feel sorry for not paying attention to that information.

  8. Hello everyone,

    1) My major is Hospitality Management and I am hoping to get a job in the hotel industry as soon as I am done with school. Although, my future goal is to open up my own restaurant, but for now, I would love to get into the hotel business.

    2) List of activities in order that I believe can be used in my situation:
    2,3,6,4,1,5.

    3) My first option is #2, which is to Learn how to use a computer system that is unfamiliar to you, then complete a task on that system. Most of the topics covered in this class may not really help me achieve this task. However, if this new computer program system involves creating graphs or charts that I must know in order to complete my tasks, then statistics may just come in handy. It is very useful to know how to draw graphs and charts such as the frequency table charts and histograms that we have been doing so far in class.

    4) The last item on my list is choice #5 which is calculating the mean and standard deviation. This is not something that I will be coming across with but it can be helpful in the future. It is always good to know more than what is expected of you in a certain job because it will always distinguish you from the rest of your fellow co-workers. Knowledge is key!

    • Hi Adriana – just wanted to point out that you’ve already had to learn to use two computer systems in this class, the OpenLab and WeBWorK. They each have their quirks, as with any new system, and you seem to be adapting well — nice job!

  9. 1. I’m currently majoring in Liberal Arts & Science, but I do intend to switch my major to Nursing. After college, I’d like to become a Registered Nurse, working in either a Pediatric department or the Emergency Room.

    2. From most likely necessary to almost unnecessary, I think I would have to deal with: 6,4,3,1,2,5.

    3. I think completing “an assignment with a team of several people, including: finding a time and place to meet, dividing responsibilities, making sure everyone is completing their part, delivering the final product on time” is most important, but I’m not completely sure if this class will help to prepare me for what’s to come in the future. In our class, we do all meet at 2:30 in room 403; Mr.Reitz teaches and we do our part by listening; if we pay close attention and ask questions, we learn all that we needed to learn by 3:45 and we’re responsible for our own grades. That sounds a lot like number 6, but people work together more often in a hospital than they would in a classroom.

    4. I don’t think calculating the mean or standard deviation is that important for Nursing, but I do think it’s good to know it. It might be helpful to figure out the average amount of people e have on a hospital floor and the amount of people we can have to a room or floor, which is similar to these theories.

  10. 1. My current major is Liberal Arts and Sciences, but intend to peruse a career in nursing, working in the E.R’s pediatric department or in neonatal care.

    2. From most likely to be required on the new job to least likely required:
    6, 3, 4, 2, 1, 5.

    3. For activity number 6, I think that this class will help me to prepare and complete this task because we sometimes break off into small groups where everyone in that group is given a task to be handed in at the end off class.

    4. Working in either the pediatrics or neonatal department, calculation of the mean or standard deviation would least likely be required on the job just for the simple fact that nurses working in these units don’t necessarily handle those types of procedures. However, nurses who analyze a substantial amount of research, whether it would be to understand the relevance of various prognoses for disease and treatments, would most likely have to calculate the mean or standard deviation as a job requirement.

  11. 1. My major is Human Services although I still have some time left to complete it I want to work with either adults with disabilities or at risk teens as well as LGBT youth. I’m hoping to get a career in this field because its something that I want to pursue and make some type of change in the lives of others.
    2. Based on the list my “most likely to be required on your new job” to “least likely” would consist of 3, 2, 1, 5, 4 & 6
    3. Brainstorming I believe will help prepare me to complete a task. When doing any type of problem solving a counselor has to come up with several ideas in order to solve the task or issue from different perspectives. In my field people come from various places and have all different types of issues so there needs to be options in order make one best solution.
    4. Completing an assignment with a team is crucial in my field so learning never ends. Society is constantly changing so we all have to adjust in order to accomodate for those who may not be able to do it on their own. Working as a team the end result is supposed to be something benefitted by all parties to accomplish something because of all the time spent to get the job done. Learning never ends it continues to grow and evolve as time goes on.

    • Anthony – the field you’re going into has such potential to have positive impact on people who really need it. I wish you all the best! I agree that brainstorming will be required often and will serve you well. I’m puzzled as to why you put “completing an assignment with a team” as the last item on your list, because (as you point out) it will be crucial in your field. Which one of the items in the list will be least important in your work?

    • I really like your career goals! It’s rare to see someone willing to promote such positivity for individuals who are frequently mistreated. Good luck!

      I agree that brainstorming is important for a field like this. Dealing with psychological and emotional issues with people who are more prone to be sensitive or unstable is a very careful, detail oriented process.

  12. Hello everyone,
    1. I’m in the process of trying to get into the nursing or radiology program. Honesty I’m not a 100% sure what I want to do with my life but I hope it will be something in demand and something that I’ll enjoy doing.
    2. In whatever career I choose I’m sure that I will have to use 6,3,4,and 2. I’m not too sure about the other options and I actually hope I won’t have to use those because they seem to be more math based and math is not my strong suit.
    3. I believe this class will help me with number 6 because we have already had to do assignments with other classmates and have them done before the end of class. This is preparing us for our future careers because it is teaching us how to interact with others to complete assignments and how to divide up the work so the assignment is completed in a timely manner, it is also teaching us how to interact with others from different cultures and races which is a necessary skill to learn for such a diverse community.
    4. Yes I think it’s important for me to learn because i will always have to learn programs on computers because everything is done on computers nowadays. Even for this math class a big part of our learning is done on a computer using these websites and like in our future careers we will most likely need to be able to use computer programs to complete our assignments.

  13. (1) My major is architecture. I am looking for a flexible job so that I can perform as a “design-artist” and “practical-builder”. I can either be a design architect, a drafter, or a Rendering-Designer/Graphic Artist.

    (2)
    The tasks that I would consider from “Most likely to Least likely” are 6, 3, 4, 2, 1, 5

    (3)
    For #6 as do other tasks, I believe the statistics class will help me to understand on how to use different types of data and create different methods to find answers as well as make decisions when i communicate with multiple clients of different backgrounds. I will be able to use groups of data like a sample set and also populations of various types while combing them with formulas and will prepare the foundation for developing a solution different problems. The field of Art and Architecture have various social aspects and has to deal to economical issues with the understanding of real-estate and marketing.

    (4)
    For #5 I believe it will only be needed by when a specific task is requested for the field of Architecture other than within the aspect of “Art”. That the importance of learning this task for mean and standard, is considered a secondary task which can relate to FAR and Building Code regulations. In relation to mean and standard deviation, the allowable space or required space can become questionable and filed under specific categories which can give an increase in flexibility to the architect. The class may be able to help by developing simulations or situations that can provide relative information to different types of methods in creativity/solutions for the task of #5.

  14. (FAR) is Floor Area Ratio…….must always be used and it is a tool used for allowable building height. Architects are excepted to know the calculations and perform the task as a daily routine for every project.

    This is a relative formula in comparison to mean and standard deviation, because it can change under certain or rare circumstances when considering the Zoning Envelope for the allowable Air and Ventilation to the community. Thus purchasing “Air Rights” of neighboring buildings with different businesses are a way to allow for flexibility within architecture. thus the average of allowable space can change if used wisely.

  15. 1. My major is Radiology and after graduation I am hoping to have a job as a rad tech in a hospital.
    2. In order of ranking it would most likely be 3,6,4,2,1,5
    3. Number three on the list, brainstorm a variety of responses to a problem, would be most useful because you must solve the patients problem to have an output of the right radiograph. Yes, I believe this course may help solve that kind of problem in a weird way a lot of math problems can relate to life.
    4. Calculate the mean or standard deviation I don’t think its useful towards my future major and I also do not believe it is useful to learn because in a life and death situation, it wont really help.

  16. 1) my major is marketing, and im hoping to find a high paying job in a office.
    2) 2,4,3,6,5,1
    3) this world’s technology is enhancing really fast so i guess in future my job would require me to use the new technologies. This class is kind of preparing me for this class with the webwork assignments since i would first figure out how i should pit my answer into the system in order for it recognize my answer.
    4) the past item on my list is 1 and its not important to learn it but it does hurt to know one extra thing

  17. My major is nursing. I hope one day to be a nurse anesthetist.
    The order of things that I see myself doing are 2,1,4,3,6 and 5.
    Mostly all information in hospitals is now found in computers. Patients charts and results are all imput this way. I’m sure that some form of statistics may come into play at some point, but hopefully at a very basic level. The last thing on my list was standard deviation. I can’t at this point imagine why I may have to use it, and I certainly hope that I don’t have to, but you never know…

  18. My major is nursing. I hope one day to be a nurse anesthetist.
    The order of things that I see myself doing are 2,1,4,3,6 and 5.
    Mostly all information in hospitals is now found in computers. Patients charts and results are all imput this way. I’m sure that some form of statistics may come into play at some point, but hopefully at a very basic level. The last thing on my list was standard deviation. I can’t at this point imagine why I may have to use it, and I certainly hope that I don’t have to, but you never know…

  19. Hello everyone, my name is Glen and my major is Hospitality Management. The job I am hoping to get after graduation is a job as a Chef in a Vegan Restaurant. I work at one now, after graduation I will hope to get a better one. I will also like to go into business for myself as a Vegan/Vegetarian Personal/Private Chef.

    From the list of activities above, my rankings in order from “most likely to be required on my new job” to “least likely” are 3, 5, 6, 2, 4, and 1.
    The first item on my list is item number 3. Item number 3 states, “Brainstorm a variety of responses to a problem and decide among several solutions, each of which has plusses and minuses.” I think that this class will help prepare me to complete that task. I think that this class will help prepare me to complete that task because; statistics is all about problems which most likely will include plusses and minuses.

    The last item on my list is item number 1. Item number 1 states, “Use a formula (correctly identifies values, substitute them into the formula, and simplify the result to get an answer).” I do think it is important to learn this item and I also do believe that I am likely to use it at my job. I just felt that it wasn’t important as the other items. I do think it is important to learn because in order to cost out an menu item I need to use a formula.

  20. 1. My major is Architecture Technology. I’m graduating this June and after i graduate I’m hoping to get a job at a Architectural firm doing design and construction works.
    2. 2,3,6,4,5,1
    3. In the world of architecture today mostly everything is done in the computers, starting with basic floor plan of a building to 3D models of buildings. I don’t believe this class would be helpful in that task because math and architecture software is two completely different things.
    4. I dont think i would ever use a formula in an architecture firm unless i am doing something that has to do with zoning calculations for an area but i will never get into that part of architecture because i am really bad at it to begin with.

  21. My major is Marketing sales and management. I have to cooperate in groups, collect date and analyze it. my major varies in different fields. Some jobs require math and some don’t such as advertising which is a job i hope to get after college. Although math might be sue through out but not necessary yet. I believe i might not need formulas for the advertising field but more of cooperation and handing things in on time. My order will be

    1) Brainstorm a variety of responses to a problem and decide among several solutions, each of which has pluses and minuses.
    2)Make a decision based on data (for example: a list of responses to a survey, a list of numbers, a table, or chart)
    3) Complete an assignment with a team of several people, including: finding a time and place to meet, dividing responsibilities, making sure everyone is completing their part, delivering the final product on time.
    4)Learn to use a computer system that is unfamiliar to you, and then complete a task on that system.
    5)Use a formula (correctly identify values, substitute them into the formula, and simplify the result to get an answer).
    6)Calculate the mean or standard deviation.

  22. 1. My major is Hospitality Management and I do not know what I want to do after college but I am currently climbing the career ladder in food and beverage management working as a manager on NYC’s first natural gas food tuck.

    2. 6, 3, 2, 4, 1, 5

    3. The first item on this list is completing an assignment with a group of people. Restaurant work is an extraordinarily team-based profession, and I think that this is the most relevant of the skills listed. I think the only practice we’ll get in class for this will be working in groups to solve problems together. It’s more “real world” experience as opposed to “by the books” teaching, but the class could still offer a learning opportunity.

    4. The last item is finding mean and standard deviations. I think it’s very valuable information and should even be reinforced earlier than it currently is – calculating mean is something I first remember learning as early as third or fourth grade, but many of my classmates seemed to have confusion during the first few weeks of our class. Clearly it’s something that should be leaned if it keeps coming up in everyday life and as a fairly simple calculation, its all in your benefit to learn it.

    • That natural gas truck sounds awesome I want to see if you guys have tasty natural food too!

      This line struck me:
      “It’s more “real world” experience as opposed to “by the books” teaching, but the class could still offer a learning opportunity.”

      Mean seems very practical right, so why does college make it seem like theory is the only way to teach?

  23. 1. What is your major? What job are you hoping to get after graduation?
    Unclassified Health soon Liberal Arts. I am going to Medical school to become a doctor.

    2. From the list of activities above, give your ranking in order from “most likely to be required on your new job” to “least likely”.
    My predictive rankings [Most likely (1)]:
    1. Brainstorm a variety of responses to a problem and decide among several solutions, each of which has plusses and minuses.
    2. Make a decision based on data (for example: a list of responses to a survey, a list of numbers, a table, or chart)
    3. Learn to use a computer system that is unfamiliar to you, and then complete a task on that system.
    4. Complete an assignment with a team of several people, including: finding a time and place to meet, dividing responsibilities, making sure everyone is completing their part, delivering the final product on time.
    5. Use a formula (correctly identify values, substitute them into the formula, and simplify the result to get an answer).
    6. Calculate the mean or standard deviation.

    3. Discuss the first item on your list. Do you think that this class will help prepare you to complete that task? If so, how? If not, what could be done in this class to help prepare you for that task?
    This class will help me tremendously because the real life probabilities help me think in terms of possible outcomes. Decision-making based on probability is extremely important.

    4. Discuss the last item on your list. Do you think it is important to learn (even if you are not likely to use it at your job)? Why or why not
    I honestly don’t know how standard deviation will be applied to my profession besides data & health management, for instance, measuring potential risk factors of a population.

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