Cleveland Clinic Office of Civic Education Initiatives

eXpressions™ Math Program

FAQs for the eXpressions™ Math Program

About the Program

  1. What is the eXpressions™ Math Program? The eXpressions™ Math Program utilizes project-based, peer-to-peer learning to engage high school students in an interdisciplinary exploration of mathematics, science, art, and literature. Program participants select a scientific research project and both an artistic and literary interpretation of this project – all of which have been produced by fellow high school students through other Cleveland Clinic initiatives. After examining these three bodies of work, the program participant's challenge is to tie them all together by demonstrating how mathematics plays a key role in each. In addition to giving students a deeper appreciation of these four disciplines, Math eXpressions™ fosters critical thinking, creativity, communication, and teamwork.
  2. What are the criteria to participate? The program is available to all high school art students; in order for a student to participate, though, the student's math teacher must first register for the program. Only interpretations from students whose teachers have officially enrolled in the program will be accepted for review.
  3. As a teacher, how do I register for the program? To register for the 2009 program, teachers must visit www.clevelandclinic.org/MATHeXpressions and complete the online Teacher Registration Form by January 21, 2009.
  4. How do I know if a student from my high school participated in a Cleveland Clinic internship or eXpressions™ Art or eXpressions™ Language programs? To find out if a student from your high school participated in a Cleveland Clinic summer internship over the summer, visit www.clevelandclinic.org/MATHeXpressions and click on the 2008 Intern List. In addition, you can also visit the Virtual eXpressions™ gallery at www.clevelandclinic.org/eXpressions and review the literary pieces at www.clevelandclinic.org/LITERARYeXpressions.
  5. How can I become an intern? High school students interested in applying for a Cleveland Clinic summer internship with the Office of Civic Education Initiatives should visit www.clevelandclinic.org/CivicEducation for guidelines and criteria.
  6. Are there any fees involved with participation in the eXpressions™ Math Program? There are no fees to participate.
  7. I'm a math teacher at a school that did not have a student participate in one of the internships over the summer. Can my math students and I still participate in the eXpressions™ Math Program? Yes. Schools that did not have a student participate in an internship over the summer will be able to access virtual student-research presentations through a program called mRi™: myRESEARCH illuminated. The mRi™ website is www.clevelandclinic.org/mRI. In addition, you can also visit the Virtual eXpressions™ gallery at www.clevelandclinic.org/eXpressions and review the literary pieces at www.clevelandclinic.org/LITERARYeXpressions.
  8. I am a senior in high school and I graduate next year. Can I still participate in the eXpressions™ Math Program? Yes, you can participate - as long as your math teacher registers for the program.
  9. My teachers don't know about the eXpressions™ Math Program. Who can they contact to learn about the program? First ask your teachers to visit the eXpressions™ Math Program web site: www.clevelandclinic.org/MATHeXpressions. If they still have questions after reviewing the online information, they can email Bryan Pflaum, Director of Creative Learning, at pflaumb@ccf.org.

About the Process

  1. When does the program begin? The program begins in January of the school year, The registration deadline for the 2009 program is January 21, 2009.
  2. What are the criteria for submission? A complete list of submission criteria is available at the beginning of the Online Submission Form. Please note that all submissions must be interpretations of Science projects from Summer 2008 and Art/Literature projects from 2009.
  3. What is the submission deadline for eXpressions™? The submission deadline for the 2008/2009 eXpressions™ Math Program is March 11, 2009.
  4. Is this a competition? Yes. Submissions are evaluated by a panel of judges.
  5. Who are the judges and what criteria do they use? Participants will submit their final project(s) to Cleveland Clinic, and submissions will be judged by an esteemed panel of professionals in the fields of mathematics, science, art, and language arts. Four criteria will be used in evaluating submissions:
    • Interpretation
      • How compelling is the student's analysis of mathematics' role in the success of the research project, the work of art, and the piece of literature?
    • Explanation
      • How effectively does the student communicate the role of mathematics in each of the three projects?
    • Creativity
      • How innovative is the student's presentation of ideas?
    • Initiative
      • How much effort did the student put into the program?
  6. What do winners get? Selected pieces will receive a ribbon award. Each blue-ribbon winner will receive $100, each red-ribbon winner will receive $75, and each white-ribbon winner will receive $50. Ribbon-winning artwork will be featured in a publication of all the award-winning submissions, and will also be displayed at the 2009 eXpressions™ Math Program Award Ceremony, which will open with a formal reception and dedication at the InterContinental Hotel in May. In addition, all teachers who mentor an award-winning student will receive a $100 educational grant.
  7. Is there a format for the project that has to be used for eXpressions™ Math Program? No. eXpressions™ Math Program participants may submit their final project(s) in a variety of forms. An essay, a video, and a work of art are all acceptable formats. Students may submit one project that interprets the role of mathematics in all three of the peer projects (scientific research, art, and literature); or they may submit a set of three projects: a separate one for science, art, and literature. For samples of projects visit www.clevelandclinic.org/MATHeXpressions and click on the Sample Submissions tab. All written project-submissions must be contained to within a total of 1,500 words.