By Kimberly Andrews
Elm Staff Writer
As a liberal arts college, Washington College seeks to offer interdisciplinary education. The special topics course, mathematics of quilting, taught by Associate Professor of Mathematics and Co-Chair of Mathematics & Computer Science department Dr. Emerald Andrews embodies the significance of the education WC hopes to give to students.
In the mathematics of quilting, students engage with mathematical concepts through creative lenses. As most of the students are non-STEM majors, this class promotes a different experience with mathematics that goes beyond the common negative perception of math and provides a community where students form a brand-new concept of math.
Dr. Andrews encourages her students to discard the idea that only certain majors get to be successful at math. She uses a retrospective style where students write to her about their past math classes. In response to the trauma found in these writings, she introduces her students to a different side of math – one where it is safe to try new things and experiment.
Aside from eliminating this negative mindset, the course highlights the intersection between mathematics and art that students are sometimes oblivious to. The process of quilting, which is inspired by creativity, requires not only an artistic mind but a mathematical one as well.
“I want this class to show students that their creativity is an asset in a mathematical environment – and that they don’t need to color within the lines to be successful at math,” Dr. Andrews said.
Liberal arts education heavily involves experiential learning and at its core, this class is a perfect balance between problem solving and hands-on learning.
“This is a type of class that you can only get at a college like WC,” junior biochemistry major, Helen Tsigehet said.
Dr. Andrews’ students mentioned that as they learn, they find themselves rotating between measurements and geometry and quilting as an art. This class transfers critical thinking skills across fields.
“When I first came in I did not expect quilting to be so math based, but when figuring out patterns and measuring it is a super important aspect,” sophomore psychology major, Grace Pitman said.
Dr. Andrews’ class goes past being just a course; it serves as an inspiration to her students. Some students picked this class simply because she taught it. Her range in teaching is a prime example of the professors that operate with the goal of free expression and adaptive thinking at WC.
“She is an activist promoting well-rounded math, showing that it isn’t just formulas , [it’s] shapes and measurements for fabric that can turn into beautiful quilting projects,” junior English major, Evie Kaye said,
Students reflected on what they would like to take away from this class. Their goals range from simply wanting to complete with a good grade to translating this class into their careers. With the skills they learnt, they will be able to realize hidden patterns of mathematics in their own fields of study and recognize that this ability to be successful in mathematics has been with them all along.
Dr. Andrews thinks about her students’ future encounters with mathematics. She hopes, one day, in response to a child mentioning what they did in math class, her students are able to share a positive story about what they once learned in math.
Photo Caption: Dr. Andrews’ class combines math skills with creative art projects.
Photo by Ella Humphreys