Hey guys, welcome to the blog, here is a video of how I spent my summer - rapping about some of the service projects and trips I led:
For hdubz I have found a few articles on the current state of math education in the world. Some of them are very college based or United States based, but I think they get their point across. Please choose one to read and comment on this blog posting with a minimum of a 50 word response. You will not be graded on your opinion, but you will be graded on how closely you read the article and how well formulated your opinion is. Please let me know which article you've chosen and include your name, there is a sample below.
Is Algebra Necessary? New York Times:
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/29/opinion/sunday/is-algebra-necessary.html?smid=tw-share&_r=0
Mathematics. Trust Me. It's Important in Your Life. ABC Science:
http://www.abc.net.au/science/articles/2013/01/23/3674843.htm
Do The Math Right. Edutopia:
http://www.edutopia.org/blog/do-the-math-right-ainissa-ramirez
Thanks. See you tomorrow,
Mr. Schiff
For hdubz I have found a few articles on the current state of math education in the world. Some of them are very college based or United States based, but I think they get their point across. Please choose one to read and comment on this blog posting with a minimum of a 50 word response. You will not be graded on your opinion, but you will be graded on how closely you read the article and how well formulated your opinion is. Please let me know which article you've chosen and include your name, there is a sample below.
Is Algebra Necessary? New York Times:
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/29/opinion/sunday/is-algebra-necessary.html?smid=tw-share&_r=0
Mathematics. Trust Me. It's Important in Your Life. ABC Science:
http://www.abc.net.au/science/articles/2013/01/23/3674843.htm
Do The Math Right. Edutopia:
http://www.edutopia.org/blog/do-the-math-right-ainissa-ramirez
Thanks. See you tomorrow,
Mr. Schiff
I read the article: Do the Math Right and I completely agree with the article. Math classes are designed to be too difficult for students these days and many people, like myself feel frustrated and easily defeated by math classes. I often wonder why it is important to learn a lot of the material. When they said that a lot of money was being spent for students not to even learn math, I found this incredibly true and thought provoking. How depressing! But it is my goal to enjoy the school year and try harder in a math class which is much more project based and very hands on. I want to ask a lot of questions and really grow more comfortable this year with math. -Danny Schiff
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteI read the article, "Is Algebra Necessary?" from the New York Times. This article explains how Algebra may not be as important to teach in schools as is currently thought. I disagree with this article. In today's society, a good education has a very high value. Part of a so-called 'good education' is attending a prestigious college. As this article explained, however, most prestigious colleges require a high SAT score on the mathematics section. In the mathematics section of the SAT, Algebra appears frequently, telling us that without having a good sense of Algebra, it will be hard to score well on the maths section of the SAT, which poses a problem for the millions of students struggling with Algebra.
ReplyDeleteThe article's author defends his case that Algebra is not as important to learn in school by making the point that the difficulties students face in Algebra is causing more to drop out and give up altogether, but trying to successfully convince those students to give it another try would be very costly. I think the solution is better teachers. Of course, a helpful, engaging, patient teacher can be hard to find. But the right teacher can make a huge difference, in the world of the student and in the world of the ancient language of Algebra.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteI read the article "Do the Math Right" by Edutopia.com. The article talks about the crushing of dreams in STEM-field oriented students due to class difficulty and an old-fashioned method called “weed-out classes”, where only best and most motivated remain.
ReplyDeleteI disagree with the stance the article takes. Its approach, to improve enjoyment of classes, cannot be taken in such a competitive world by any means. In countries across the world, for example China, Russia, and Poland, Algebra is by far the most important subject. In China's system, the nationwide Gao Kao examination decides about the life and survival or the remaining in poverty of an enormous percentage of students. The exam tests on every subject, including Mandarin, English and Algebra. Taking this under consideration, I think it wrong for such an article to call American mathematics classes "dream-crushing", or as having "that much power, especially to stop people from doing good things." It is this way due to the motivation of students being too low. It seems logical that if a student cannot keep up with a high level math class, he or she is probably not persistent enough to complete his or her studies to be a STEM-field oriented worker.
In conclusion, the article should take under consideration that it's more appropriate for teachers to be setting the expectations to their students, not the students for their teachers, and that it is as much the students’ fault as any teaching style’s.
I read the article "Do the math right" and I can say that I agree with it. It is not fair for us, students and for our dreams to be ruined, if we don`t pass some exams. I don`t mean that there should be no exams at all, I mean that people should except the conception about teachers teaching the math wrong and eliminate this issue and its possible consequences like not passing an exam, because of that. I believe that students shouldn`t be the only ones responsible for their mistakes, but the ones who taught them that should also be affected. That`s why it is extremely important to DO THE MATH RIGHT.
ReplyDeleteI have read the article "Is Algebra Necessary" By Andrew Hacker. I do not completely agree on all the points stated in this article. Mr. Andrew suggests that Math is not useful to everyone, and that it shouldn't be as important as it is now, I have a different opinion. Math is a subject that only dedicated and hard working students can get good grades in, this helps universities know that any student that can pass Math is a hardworking student, that appreciates his/her education. Universities always want to get good students that will represent the universities's name in a good way, being a dedicated and hardworking student increases the chances of you being able to become a successful person.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Mr. Andrew that if Math will not directly effect your career, you should not need to learn advanced Math. I believe this because if you are going to become a doctor you should be able to put 100% of your energy and your precious time into Science, and not have to spent that time in an advanced Math class, but rather working hard in the subjects that will directly effect your career and life.
In the past 100 years we as a human race have improved the quality of life higher then that we thought possible! We have boomed in technology and inventions! We have our ups and downs as a human race, but after all, we are doing much better then our ancestors. Is it really worth it to change something that could stop us from advancing, we are doing something right, is it worth it to take the chance and fail like our ancestors?
I’ve read the article “Do the math right” by Ainissa Ramirez and I think even if a lot of students tend to struggle with math, it is still very important part of our daily lives and we should consider it as a huge part of our every day life, whether you are in a math class or not. So, I say that we have to improve math and not remove it.
ReplyDeleteI read the article: Mathematics. Trust Me. It's Important in Your Life. I totally agree with the opinion of the author. Many people, for example Jodi Picoult, as well as me, don’t even realize that our daily life is based on advanced math. Sometimes I think about how the Internet and computer applications work, but I’ve never known that even meteorology is related to math. I can’t even imagine how one person, Isaac Newton, could invent calculus and many other basic rules all by himself. Many discoveries have been already made due to math, and our future mainly depends on it. I would like to learn more about applications and systems which are based on calculus to save people’s lives and warn the society of different dangers. -Sasha Kandel
ReplyDeleteHi its alexander I have read the article "Do the Math Right" and I agree , its very sad know that gave everything to walk in one direction and a suddent their dreams get destroy by Math or especially in the STEM fields because it is to difficult. Math class is made for you to think but not give up on your dreams. Math can be fun if its tought that way.
ReplyDeleteI read the article "Mathematics. Trust me. It's imoprtant." In that text, Dr. Ron Sandland disagrees with Jodi Picoult's statement: "Calcules. Trust me. You will never use it." In response, Dr. Sandland wrote some arguments. There would be no internet, social medias or weather forecasts without math. Scientists, who had calculated it, made everything work. In my opinion, Dr. Sandland was right and wrong at the same time. Of course, you need to use some basic math in order to know how much to pay or how much time is left before something. Meanwhile, you don't need to know some hard stuff, as some people have already done it for you. Math is important in your life, but you don't always have to know how to calculate hard stuff. - Maria Dod
ReplyDeleteI read the article "Is Algebra Necessary" by Andrew Hacker, this article was very well written and has also changed my way of thinking toward math, I do and also do not agree with Mr. Hacker.
ReplyDeleteI agree that many levels of math are not entirely necessary to know or learn, we do not need to know so much of high level math in our everyday lives. Yes math helps in life, but it does not mean that ALL students should have to be forced into learning such a high level of math.
I agree with Dr. Hacker because I have seen many adults forget how to do many of the math that has been taught in math classes, they have graduated middle school and high school and learned all the math they were supposed to learn which was required for graduation, yes they all have enjoyed math, but now after college and after master degrees or PHd’s they still have trouble with some math problems, this means that not only did they learn math but they also don’t technically need to know such a high level of it.
Many times a day people calculate and use simple math in life such as calculating pounds to kilograms or adding and subtracting, which we are taught at a very young age, but then again, there are many high school/college dropouts and this either means the student is not interested in a future or is not interested in learning which is both sad and affecting a better future.
Although I understand the point Dr. Hacker was making I do not entirely agree with it. I do think math is important and I often don’t think of it as a subject that I need to learn but as a language I’m learning, which now I realize has its ups and downs, there have been countless of times I have wanted to quit math, but I know if I do my options would be limited as to what I would want to be in life whether it's a math teacher or a mathematician or even a scientist, I can't know for sure until i'm older, so my final conclusion would be: yes, I think math is very important and necessary in any human life, and it should be taught with more passion and excitement so then there will be less dropouts and more change.
Hi it's Uzay I read '' Do the Math Right'' and they are right. In my opinion these students are small kids who has big dreams. So I understand again that we are so lucky and we have lot's of opportunities to improve ourselfs. I think math is really important but they use it in a bad way. Those students also need to learn other things. For example they have to learn how to cominicate and act in public. They have to understand the life is not exams. But STEM field thinks it is. In conclusion if I were there I would advice them to live with their dreams and never forget them.
ReplyDeleteI read the article "Is Algebra necessary?” from the New York Times and it explains that it’s not necessary to take students through the ordeal of Algebra because it is not useful at workplaces. I agree and disagree because of the following explanations:
ReplyDeleteMoore’s law states that the computer power (chip capacity) grows exponentially about every eighteen months, thus following this rule an average computer will have the same processing power as the human brain (10^16 computations per second) in year 2023. This means that with in ten years we will be able to buy an average computer which has more processing power than the human brain.
The left hemisphere of the brain handles logic, sequence and analysis such as algebra. However the right brain handles emotional expression (creativity),
context and the big picture. Thus, in the near future, the majority of the left brain activity will not be able to compete with average computers. From this perspective on could say that learning algebra is superfluous because technology can do a better and a faster job.
One can assume that the skills required in workplaces (jobs), will be more right- brain oriented. But to be creative and put things in context one needs to have a basic understanding of the STEM credentials (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math)
~Olivia Haunsø
I read the article 'Do The Math Right' from Ainessa Ramirez. I learned that few countries around the world are using this old style method like Weed-Out to teach their pupils. Especially in USA that is happening very often. People are using power of the money to teach poorly. Mostly for Maths. They make parents pay so much to the school. So they make parents think that it is going to be helpful for their child or children. It isn't helping it is absolutely stealing. They give such a poor Math education and charge you for that. It has been like this in USA for a while . I didn't like the way of their teaching. They make people think that they are not good at maths besides smart people. It is horrible that they prevent people from reaching their dreams. It is out of humanity. Money shouldn't be that effective. I am against this Weed-Out teaching system and I think they have to modernize this immediately.
ReplyDeleteI read the article: "Mathematics. Trust me. It's important in your life." I couldn't agree more. Even though you don't really come to think of it every time you use your phone or search something on the internet is all made up of many math problems put together to make what we use. These different types of math can do so much, and make your life so much simpler and can even save lives. Like Algorithms which let you do your tasks "in a step by step procedure". Then there is the case in which you the meteorologists which make equations and find patterns to predict the weather. These are some of the things that they can do with what we have of technology today, imagine in the future how much can and will be done. This article has made me realize how used math really is. -Valentina Correa da Silva
ReplyDeleteI read the article of the new york team, and realized that algebra is important to
ReplyDeletepeople teham a thorough knowledge of everything that is countable in real life and can also develop more advanced things and more without the need algebra would have nothing perfect nowadays
I have read the article titled: "Do the math right" by Ainissa Ramirez. It has talked about math teacher making the class more fun which will affect the students attention during he class. As well as making a statement that United States has the highest attention/ grades in the 8th grade math.
ReplyDeleteI completely disagree that we should work on making making math more fun, because no matter how hard we try we cannot make a student like a subject he dislikes.. No matter how many games the math class is if the student doesn't open up his mind towards the subject it will not work.
I also want to add that the graph that was added to the article showed that countries like: Russia, Poland, Singapore, etc don't have as high of "attention" level. When on the other hand in counties like Russia they are much more advanced in the math department than many american schools. In one year they study things that in American schools it takes them around three years to teach the same material.
In conclusion, I think that the author of the article should have done more research or even went to the countries which he listed in "lower attention achievement" math classes.
I read the article "Mathematics. Trust me. It's important in your life." This article completely changed my thinking about math. I have never thought that almost all we have in our world is based on math. I am using Facebook a lot in my social life, and it was based by the algorithms which are also based on math. Math gives us all the technology that we are using, and I just cant't imagine Isaac Newton realizing that our whole world is based on motion and gravity. I hope that we will learn more about how apps work, because after reading this article my thinking about math changed.
ReplyDelete- Nogin Egor
I read the story "Do the Math Right " and I agree with this text because Math need to do our world more simple and help us,but should not destroy student's dream.
ReplyDeleteAuthor tell to us "dirty and rotter true" about how some teachers teach their students. I realize what teachers need to teach well,because we need to understand the Math.
For me this text was helpfully and usefully,in future I will know,how some teachers teach, thank for this story.
My name is Zeno de Angeli and I have read the article: Do the math right.
ReplyDeleteI completely agree with this article and I think that in many school they make test the most important thing ever. In many schools test are like the most important thing in the class so every students just concentrate on tests, and not on enjoying the class as they should be. Another thing that I really don't like is when teacher thinks that all of their student are amazing in math so they make difficult test and quizzes, but i think this is wrong. I think this is wrong because many students need their time to learn something. There are different types of student for example there are students who learn fast, and there are students that are very slow to learn. That doesn't mean every student is bed it just mean they need they time to learn.
Anyway I completely agree with this article.
Zeno de Angeli
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteI read the article "Mathematics. Trust me. It's important in your life" from ABC Science, and I completely agree with it. Mathematics are used for each and every thing in our life. When we enter on Google to track down something. It is using sophisticated mathematical and statistical algorithms to search and try to find out what we need. Mathematics calculations are also used for daily weather forecasts, and long term predictions. Another example, where more calculations are presented is basically on Google maps, which uses advanced imaging algorithms to enable us to find places. In sum we will always be using mathematics.
ReplyDeleteI read the article 'Do the Math Right' by Ainessa Ramirez. I learned a lot of things about the math education system and I agree with the author's opinion. Math curriculum and most of the classes are too difficult. Even if the basic concept is easy to understand, the problem is an applied question. So students need to pay a great cost to get good grades. I disagree with this style of teaching math. Sometimes I even wonder why I should study these complex things. In my point of view, the system must be changed to make the students not just learn math, but learn how to do math without no stress. I mean we should learn and do the mathematics right. -Irene Lee
ReplyDeleteI read the article 'If algebra necessary?'. The author suggests that algebra might be not so important, as it is considered to be now. Not many students really like math and I'm not an exception, but I still do not entirely agree with it. Of course sometimes algebra seems to be challenging, difficult or simply boring, despite that it gives you lots of opportunities. Nowadays things like programming are really popular and important, so they need a lot of young professionals, so for this you need algebra. Many other things and jobs in life also need mathematics. However if you are a gifted painter or writer, or someone else not related to math, you still need even high levels of algebra because if you want to go to a good college or university, you should take the exams and they require pretty high level of math, especially algebra. Things like good education is considerable in modern world, so if you want to live good you need to study. Although I realize that people start forgetting things like algebra as they become older , they use just simple math for everyday needs and it becomes less important, then it was in school, when we were forced to do it. All in all I think that we should study algebra, it will help us anyway, if it won't you will be just fully developed.
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ReplyDeleteI read the article 'Mathematics. Trust me. It's important in your life' by Dr. Ron Sandland which talks about the use of math in our daily lives.
ReplyDeleteReading this article has changed my opinion on the use and importance of math in a students normal life. Thinking that sites like Facebook, Google, Amazon, Google Maps, etc.. all work on some incredibly complex algorithms has completely mind blown me. I now think math is a whole lot more useful even in our daily lives. For example Facebook friends suggestions are also based on algorithms developed by mathematicians and computer scientists and it shocked me since Facebook isn't something that I associate with math. This article has completely changed my perspective on math and on its usage in daily life activities.
Filippo Cipolini