What do you make of the arguments expressed in the following video...
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Math Education: An Inconvenient Truth...
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leftrightleftrightleft
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Wow, that is somewhat frightening. Cluster problems? Atlases in math textbooks? Calculator instruction manuals?
If people can't understand multiplication how can they possibly cope with mortgages, interest and other incredibly applicable things to their lives and the economy?
I also don't understand why not just teach the simple algorithm that has been used for years (if not centuries?). What is the motivation to alter it?
(Oh right...big conspiracy to convert people to sheep
)
If people can't understand multiplication how can they possibly cope with mortgages, interest and other incredibly applicable things to their lives and the economy?
I also don't understand why not just teach the simple algorithm that has been used for years (if not centuries?). What is the motivation to alter it?
(Oh right...big conspiracy to convert people to sheep
)
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I sure hope so -- because the next step in that algorithm is:
Matthew 25:33 And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.
And from there ...
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I learned the "proper" algorithms to do math with, but also instead of memorizing the whole multiplication table did pretty much what the alternate methods in the video had if I needed to fill in a gap in my memory. I don't remember if I was actually taught that or figured it out on my own.
Anyhow, it seems that the methods taught will ensure that the students will never forget how to do the calculations on paper if need be, but also that they won't be as quick doing so and will prefer calculators. Anyhow, I've given up on doing most math with pen and paper; if I can't do it quickly in my head I almost always have Google calculator handy. Oh, and I've also taken 400 level math courses in college.
Real mathematicians don't use arithmetic
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Keeps "cluster problems" out of the loop -- (someone didn't watch the video, did he)?
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I have to agree with AV in that the cluster problems were kind of a WHAT THE POOP IS THIS?! thing in the video. Teaching the dependence on calculators is kind of silly, imo. And while mathematicians might not use arithmetic, over in science, people in the science classes I TA would definitely benefit from some old school multiplication and addition to help with their significant figures.
I've run into that lattice thing, and it just confused me.
And what's the whole 'it's not worth spending the time teaching them how to learn the algorithms?' deal? It seems to have worked pretty well for previous generations.
Metherion
I've run into that lattice thing, and it just confused me.
And what's the whole 'it's not worth spending the time teaching them how to learn the algorithms?' deal? It seems to have worked pretty well for previous generations.
Metherion
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Lattices are indeed useful -- the 3x3 Latin square, for example, is an extremely useful tool in scheduling appointments.
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Gracchus
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There isn't one best method for teaching math. I was usually bored out of my mind in math class, because I had to go over the same things over and over until the teachers had dragged the "not so bright" up to minimum competence.
The "new" methods demonstrated in the video are certainly interesting but not really to the point. If you are going to use a calculator for everything, then all you have to do is teach the calculator. But you'll never get beyond the calculator and you will have to learn a new set of procedures with every new model.
You don't learn by memorizing facts or methods as much as you learn by thinking about the facts and methods. You don't learn as much from memorizing the Pythagorean Theorem as you do by proving it.
The "new" methods demonstrated in the video are certainly interesting but not really to the point. If you are going to use a calculator for everything, then all you have to do is teach the calculator. But you'll never get beyond the calculator and you will have to learn a new set of procedures with every new model.
You don't learn by memorizing facts or methods as much as you learn by thinking about the facts and methods. You don't learn as much from memorizing the Pythagorean Theorem as you do by proving it.
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leftrightleftrightleft
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Does no one see the ridiculousness of having a calculator manual and a world atlas in a math textbook?
In virtually all my math courses as well as a few of my physics and geophysics courses, we have not been allowed calculators in final exams. If you want to become a doctor, you have to write the MCAT and you're not allowed calculators in that exam. (And if you've ever looked at sample questions from the MCAT, the calculations certainly aren't simple and I am fairly convinced that you would NOT be able to work them out in any more efficient a way than the standard algorithm given the intense time-pressure inherent in the MCAT.)
Teaching math via "cluster problems" will not enable any of those students to become doctors (or geophysicists for that matter) because its not giving them the BEST educational learning tool for them to excel. Calculator dependence is the reason why the cashier at your local grocery store doesn't understand what change to give when you hand him 10.02 on a 6.82 purchase and he has already punched in 10.00 not realizing you were going to give him the extra 2 cents. Suddenly he gets confused and flustered because the precious calculator in his cash register has already told him to give you 3.18 and he can't figure out in his head that he's supposed to give you 3.20. I've seen it happen. Its really sad. Calculator dependence is sad. Math illiteracy is sad. I'm fine with students not being required to learn calculus, but simple multiplication and division is an essential tool to everyday life and you won't always have a Google calculator at your fingertips.
In virtually all my math courses as well as a few of my physics and geophysics courses, we have not been allowed calculators in final exams. If you want to become a doctor, you have to write the MCAT and you're not allowed calculators in that exam. (And if you've ever looked at sample questions from the MCAT, the calculations certainly aren't simple and I am fairly convinced that you would NOT be able to work them out in any more efficient a way than the standard algorithm given the intense time-pressure inherent in the MCAT.)
Teaching math via "cluster problems" will not enable any of those students to become doctors (or geophysicists for that matter) because its not giving them the BEST educational learning tool for them to excel. Calculator dependence is the reason why the cashier at your local grocery store doesn't understand what change to give when you hand him 10.02 on a 6.82 purchase and he has already punched in 10.00 not realizing you were going to give him the extra 2 cents. Suddenly he gets confused and flustered because the precious calculator in his cash register has already told him to give you 3.18 and he can't figure out in his head that he's supposed to give you 3.20. I've seen it happen. Its really sad. Calculator dependence is sad. Math illiteracy is sad. I'm fine with students not being required to learn calculus, but simple multiplication and division is an essential tool to everyday life and you won't always have a Google calculator at your fingertips.
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