13 Sep 08
Originally posted by AThousandYoungExactly.
I'm a science teacher and they had me teach a math class or two as well, though due to issues with what kind of credential I'm applying for, they had to take me out of the math classroom.
They teach children boring, uninspiring math. Algebra, calculus, geometry can pull you in like a black hole. They can be fascinating, but there's too much time b ...[text shortened]... homework should look like this:
n + 2 = 5
n = ____
Or even
2 + 3 = n
n = ____
13 Sep 08
Originally posted by AThousandYoungRight, and right again.
They teach children boring, uninspiring math. Algebra, calculus, geometry can pull you in like a black hole. They can be fascinating, but there's too much time being spent on stupid baby stuff.
My hypothesis for the math teacher - start with very simple algebra. Use variables early on. If the kid is learning addition, his homework should look like this:
n + 2 = 5
n = ____
Or even
2 + 3 = n
n = ____
I struggled with/disliked algebra before realizing how useful it was in taking chemistry, which I really enjoyed immensely. Then it didn't seem the least bit irritating to me since I was actually looking at real life.
It was more of a fun challenge to understand at that point, and did become surprisingly enjoyable.
Seeing for oneself the practical application changes things.
That too needs to be made clear when presenting geometry/algebra
to first timers. The books I've seen (word problems too) seldom make clear the real-world uses of the techniques.
It could be presented better, I agree totally w. ATY.
-J
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14 Sep 08
Originally posted by mlprioryes, to be good at math, you learn the rules, and apply them, which holds for chess. To be great at math, you must make your own rules, and you can guess as to what follows?😉
Good point!
Seriously, chess is a completely different ball game than math.
14 Sep 08
Originally posted by Jaminwell maybe it's different in different countries, but my experience has been just the opposite: we had too much of the practical math, the useful stuff. engineering math. and while I never disliked it, I've always felt that there's so much interesting weird stuff which is ignored. like fractals, which we passed in one hour, as a side note.
Right, and right again.
I struggled with/disliked algebra before realizing how useful it was in taking chemistry, which I really enjoyed immensely. Then it didn't seem the least bit irritating to me since I was actually looking at real life.
It was more of a fun challenge to understand at that point, and did become surprisingly enjoyable.
Seeing for ...[text shortened]... -world uses of the techniques.
It could be presented better, I agree totally w. ATY.
-J
one thing is sure about practical math though. it far easier to grasp the essence of mathematical concepts when you apply them to practice. - like when I had big difficulties in understanding fourier analysis, it was always so abstract. I sort of learned it blind, going through the motions, passed the exams but never really understood any of it. then later I got the exact same math in signal processing, and suddenly it all clicked. it became easy, and I just couldn't believe how it felt so hard before.