The department of mathematics is calculating changes about how to improve the teaching program at Ohio State.’We’re trying to establish a better learning environment for students,’ said Gregory Baker, professor of mathematics and chairman of Math 2000, a committee looking at concerns in math education.Baker said that the availability of help for math-related course work, communication barriers with foreign teaching assistants and the size of lecture classes are among the problems being studied. ‘We would like to switch the lecture-recitation format over to a small-class format only,’ Baker said.This would mean adding a significant number of additional teachers, and the department doesn’t have the resources for that right now, he said.One of the tactics the Math 2000 committee implemented was a seminar series, comprised of eight to 10 speakers known in the math education field, Baker said.’The teaching of mathematics is a difficult endeavor,’ said Alan Tucker, the first lecturer of the series and professor of mathematics at the State University of New York at Stony Brook.Tucker spoke on Wednesday to a group of math professors, mathematics graduate students and others involved in math education.’Reform efforts are trying to make students more active learners and teachers more active teachers,’ Tucker said.Students aren’t understanding problems and concepts, which presents a legitimate problem that needs to be solved, he said.Jason Baker, a freshman majoring in computer and information science, noticed problems in his Math 148 course.’I don’t have a clue what’s going on in my math class,’ he said. ‘On our last midterm the average was a 53, which to me indicates that there’s a problem.’Baker said that the OSU math department will phase in various changes, including a new math and statistics learning center where students can go for help.Another area of change is in the placement exams given to entering students, Baker said. Many students feel the level they are placed in is not comparable to their skill level.’I sense a spirit of genuineness in the department that we need to face the problems,’ Baker said.The committee is gathering input from the national community of math educators through the seminar series, and from OSU faculty and students, Baker said.’I think it [looking into concerns] is a good idea,’ said Gabe Kleinhenz, an undecided freshman currently enrolled in Math 148. ‘Sometimes teachers are hard to understand, but other than that it’s not a problem.’