LP students in AP calculus recently took 2 and a half class periods participating in the Emergenetics program. This well-known program is a 30-40 minute survey that shows students which of the 3 behavioral attributes and 4 thinking attributes they relate to. But was it beneficial, or did they just waste their time?

The 3 behavioral attributes include the student’s flexibility, which is their ability to adjust well to different situations. Their assertiveness (their communication skills), and socialness.  

The student’s thinking attributes tell them whether they are an analytical thinker, who is clear, logical and rational. A conceptual thinker, who is imaginative and comes up with great ideas. A social thinker, basically a “people “person”. Or a structural thinker, who is extremely practical.

The overall goal of the program is to help students understand how they best learn, and the best teaching style for them.  Because of this, supposedly, students will be able to better succeed in school and life.

However, a few students only viewed it as a waste of time and energy.

Hosea Dodds 11 states that “It was interesting to take the survey and find out how I think, but at the same time it slowed down the process of learning calculus.”  

“It was interesting, but unnecessary because it took away valuable class time when we could be learning calculus, and calculus is hard.” says Michaela Adams 11.

Is this program beneficial?  Well, I would have to agree with the majority. I do not believe that it was so important as to waste class time taking the survey and discussing the results.  Seeing as how students cannot control how teachers present the material, knowing how they best learn would be interesting, but relatively useless.

However, in a long-term perspective, after students graduate, knowing how they think and best understand concepts would help them to succeed if they choose to apply it.  Chances are, while it was interesting at the time, most students will likely forget their results in a matter of months.  

As AP calculus is said by many students to be one of the hardest courses at Lewis Palmer, taking two and a half class periods to discuss this program was wasteful, as none of the information they learned was immediately applicable into their daily lives.