{"id":158362,"date":"2023-11-15T08:18:52","date_gmt":"2023-11-15T13:18:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/news\/?p=158362"},"modified":"2024-12-19T09:50:20","modified_gmt":"2024-12-19T14:50:20","slug":"in-katy-otts-math-classroom-stress-low-and-learning-high-heres-how-she-does-it","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/news\/2023\/11\/15\/in-katy-otts-math-classroom-stress-low-and-learning-high-heres-how-she-does-it\/","title":{"rendered":"In Katy Ott’s math classroom, stress = low and learning = high. Here’s her winning equation"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Associate Professor of Mathematics Katy Ott was the first teacher to introduce Nerea Barranco Aramburu \u201925 to the experience of learning through small group collaboration. Ott also introduced Arumbu to the idea of learning by revising assignments \u2014 many times over, if necessary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One result is constant feedback, Aramburu says, which helps students feel more included in the classroom, which makes learning math less stressful and more meaningful \u2014 even fun. \u201cIt was completely different. And it turns out it really works.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Associate
Associate Professor of Mathematics Katy Ott shares a bit of levity with her students in “Mathematics For Social Justice,” on Sept. 28, 2023, in Carnegie Science Hall. Ott co-created the course with colleague Adriana Salerno, professor of mathematics. (Phyllis Graber Jensen\/Bates College)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Ott\u2019s inclusive approach to her craft<\/a>, her embrace of innovations in teaching, and the positive response from students adds up to an equation for teaching success \u2014 and a big reason she earned the college\u2019s 2023 Kroepsch Award for Excellence in Teaching, the college\u2019s highest award for teaching.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Students and alumni who nominated Ott for the award praise Ott\u2019s teaching talents. \u201cI learn more than ever before while remaining calm,\u201d said one student. \u201cShe keeps stress low but learning at a high,\u201d said another, adding a humorous note about Ott\u2019s \u201cbaffling\u201d ability to make math interesting in a low-stress environment, which \u201calmost tricks you into understanding the subject.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

Kroepsch Nominations<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

For alumni and students, nominating a faculty member for the Kroepsch Excellence in Teaching Award<\/a> is an opportunity to reflect on a dedicated and innovative professor who set the bar high, taught you how to think about the world \u2014 and yourself \u2014 in new ways; and created learning experiences that sparked a desire for knowledge and understanding.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n\n\n\n

Ott is part of a cohort of willing Bates faculty members who are shifting their pedagogy \u2014 in dramatic fashion, in some cases \u2014 to make their classrooms and the material they teach more accessible to students of all backgrounds. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The shift means taking on, and disrupting, longstanding attitudes about teaching, including the \u201cdeficit mindset,\u201d says Lindsey Hamilton \u201905, director of the Center for Inclusive Teaching and Learning<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With a \u201cdeficit mindset,\u201d an educator believes that a students\u2019 lack of skill or knowledge needs to be fixed or filled in. It leads students very often to say, \u201cI can\u2019t do this,\u201d Hamilton says. A more productive approach, which Ott uses, is to \u201ccoach them to say, \u2018I\u2019m still learning how to do this.\u2019 It\u2019s a minor thing. But it\u2019s impactful.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Associate
Associate Professor of Mathematics Katy Ott works on a lesson with Dani Levy ’25 of Brookline, Mass., during \u201cMathematics for Social Justice” on Sept. 28, 2023, in Carnegie Science Hall. Behind Levy, right to left, are Qwynn Kobertz ’26 of Framingham, Mass., and Saunders Thompson ’25 of Hinsdale, Ill. (Phyllis Graber Jensen\/Bates College). <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Hamilton says Ott \u201creally takes the time to get to know her students and talk to them about all the ways they are thinking mathematically, about how they are mathematicians. And we know from all sorts of literature that if students feel they belong in the classroom, if they are happier in the classroom, they do better, they learn better, their grades show gains in their knowledge.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Small-group collaboration is standard for Ott, but it does not start with her saying to her students, \u201cFind a partner.\u201d A mountain of research, says Hamilton, shows that when the instructor places students into groups, it benefits introverted, neurodivergent, and those from minoritized groups by removing the stress of finding a group partner or navigating social circles. It keeps the focus on the learning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

\u201cAlmost everything I do now is revision without penalties. Learning math is not about memorizing or performing under pressure. It\u2019s about deep thinking and being persistent, making space to understand things.”<\/p>\nAssociate Professor of Mathematics Katy Ott<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Another of Ott\u2019s approaches that surprises Aramburu  as she arrived at Bates from Spain is the idea of unlimited revisions of homework. \u201cIn Spain I would submit something, get a grade, and move on,\u201d she says. Same goes for most math teaching the U.S., too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In Ott\u2019s classroom, \u201cI either get it, or I\u2019m not there yet and I do it again, or I almost get there, and I do it again. It makes you a better mathematician, and I actually enjoy math more because I learn from my mistakes now.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAlmost everything I do now is revision without penalties,\u201d Ott says. \u201cLearning math is not about memorizing or performing under pressure. It\u2019s about deep thinking and being persistent, making space to understand things. I\u2019m trying to help them put their finger on where they\u2019re struggling. Where are the boundaries of their understanding? Don’t hide because it\u2019s a failure. Know what to work on.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While allowing unlimited revisions might seem, to traditionalists, less rigorous, the advantages are irrefutable, Hamilton said. But it also involves an immense time commitment by the instructor. \u201cKaty got a big laugh in her talk with faculty when she said, \u2018Hey, I\u2019m not going to lie. It\u2019s also a ton of work,\u2019\u201d Hamilton said. \u201cKaty is committed.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Open
Director of the Center for Teaching and Learning Lindsey Hamilton \u201904 (second from right), seen hosting a CITL open house in Dana Hall in September 2022, says that Katy Ott (left) does a great job talking with students “about all the ways they are thinking mathematically, about how they are mathematicians.” Second from left is Dean of the Faculty Malcolm Hill, and at right is Professor of Psychology and Associate Dean of the Faculty Krista Aronson. (Phyllis Graber Jensen\/Bates College)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Ott, who also credits support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute Inclusive Excellence Initiative<\/a> for improving her teaching, says that when students make mistakes and are allowed to revise and revise, the process can illuminate parts of a student\u2019s unique approach to problem solving. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When students get a clearer picture of what works for them personally, she said, they make progress. Educators should help students embrace their unique skill set, not punish them for it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Like many of her students, Ott said she came from a traditional math background where her high school instructors lectured at the board, then expected students to prove their comprehension by scoring well on timed exams. The final grade was the average score of all the exams. That approach was more or less repeated throughout her undergraduate and graduate math courses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Associate
Associate Professor of Mathematics Katy Ott listens as Zain Erakky ’26 of New York, N.Y., shares questions and ideas during a lesson in class on Sept. 28, 2023, in Carnegie Science Hall. (Phyllis Graber Jensen\/Bates College).<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

But when Ott began doing research in graduate school, en route to earning a Ph.D. in mathematics at the University of Virginia in 2008, she saw another way. She recognized that there was a lot to learn along the road to finding a correct answer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Using that experience, she tries to mimic the process of mathematical discovery. Her grading is now focused on encouraging students to revise and reflect on their work, rather than on test scores. Her classes celebrate communal collaboration, rather than hierarchy or \u201cstar\u201d students.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

An infamous contributor to the deficient mindset in education is the timed exam because students who perform poorly are often seen as lacking what it takes. \u201cI was very lucky in that I was predisposed to liking math. So none of that turned me off. And I did well on timed exams. But I don\u2019t think that should be an entrance to mathematics because, in the end, it\u2019s not a skill you need,\u201d Ott said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Convocation
In addition to the Kroepsch Award, another testament to Katy Ott’s reputation as an outstanding teacher was being chosen by the senior class in 2021 to deliver the Convocation Address to the incoming Class of 2025 the following September. Ott told the new students that it’s OK to ask questions about what they’re trying to learn as soon as they get confused. “Be honest and forthcoming about where you are with your understanding. Don\u2019t let questions or confusions get buried.\u201d (Phyllis Graber Jensen\/Bates College)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt\u2019s unfortunate for so many who really enjoy math, but are left out, turned away, or lose interest because of these high-stakes exams. I think if a class has clear learning objectives and students can  show they\u2019ve met those learning objectives, in my view, that deserves a good grade.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Today, Ott watches carefully for a defeatist mindset among her students, especially those who didn\u2019t benefit from a strong math background, or those who see themselves lacking problem-solving skills. It\u2019s her undying quest to put equity at the forefront of teaching.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMathematics is dominated by men and the representation of Black and Hispanic Americans is very, very low,\u201d Ott said. \u201cI\u2019ve gotten a lot of professional development at Bates to help create an inclusive classroom. At the beginning it all felt really overwhelming. It\u2019s this huge systematic problem. But I started making small, local-type changes, and then adding more and more.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One class she teaches that focuses on the issue is \u201cMathematics for Social Justice,\u201d in which students look at problems in society through the lens of math. It is a class Ott helped to co-created in 2021 with colleague Adriana Salerno, professor of mathematics. The ability to do math is a form of power, Ott said. \u201cIn our current society, everything is about data. Knowing math and not being afraid of it puts you in a position of power.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Associate
With her students in working groups she selected, Associate Professor of Mathematics Katy Ott encourages a collaborative approach to learning during a class on Sept. 28, 2023, in Carnegie Science Hall. (Phyllis Graber Jensen\/Bates College)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

For Christian Cabello \u201925 of La Canada Flintridge, Calif., taking Ott\u2019s social justice course drove home how important and valuable math is for navigating daily life. He\u2019s been able to use the skills gained from the course to help with an ongoing project that seeks to give a Hispanic community in Providence, R.I., better access to online information on critical public issues in their community. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cabello got connected to the project through the project\u2019s founder, Carrie Diaz Eaton, an associate professor of digital and computational studies at Bates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMy grandparents on my dad\u2019s side are from a Latin American country, so I can relate to the older Latin-American community not knowing really how to use technology and not knowing what is accessible to them,\u201d said Cabello, a math and Hispanic studies double major. \u201cWe\u2019re trying to make them more aware of these resources, to provide really basic information that is easy to navigate.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cabello calls Ott\u2019s approach to teaching a winning formula, and he\u2019s grateful to have benefited from Ott\u2019s insights and guidance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cShe\u2019s aware of what her students are capable of even if the student doesn’t know that,\u201d he says. \u201cShe really wants us to be the best version of ourselves.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

An innovative and inclusive teacher, Ott received the 2023 Kroepsch Award for Excellence in Teaching for helping students be “the best version\u201d of themselves.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1705,"featured_media":158456,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_hide_ai_chatbot":false,"_ai_chatbot_style":"","associated_faculty":[],"_Page_Specific_Css":"","_bates_restrict_mod":false,"_table_of_contents_display":false,"_table_of_contents_location":"","_table_of_contents_disableSticky":false,"_is_featured":false,"footnotes":"","_bates_seo_meta_description":"","_bates_seo_block_robots":false,"_bates_seo_sharing_image_id":0,"_bates_seo_sharing_image_twitter_id":0,"_bates_seo_share_title":"","_bates_seo_canonical_overwrite":"","_bates_seo_twitter_template":""},"categories":[4,11011],"tags":[5091,5764,11356],"class_list":["post-158362","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-academic-life","category-awards","tag-kroepsch-award-for-excellence-in-teaching","tag-mathematics","tag-stem"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/158362","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1705"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=158362"}],"version-history":[{"count":17,"href":"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/158362\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":164310,"href":"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/158362\/revisions\/164310"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/158456"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=158362"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=158362"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=158362"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}