Monday, March 7, 2011

Old School Math

“The Way You Learned Math Is So Old School”
NPR, March 5, 2011

Topic: Elementary math is being taught in a much different way than in the past.

Summary: Less emphasis is being placed on arithmetic than in the past. Even though “arithmetic is the gateway to algebra”, elementary math lessons are being taught differently and are now geared towards teaching students to think algebraically at a very young age. “There is nothing elementary about elementary mathematics education.”

Intended audience: Teachers, parents, general public.

Key Points:

  • Students are being taught math in a way that makes them think algebraically at a young age.
  • Often, parents don’t understand even elementary math homework, because it is so much different from the way they were taught as kids.
  • Everyone is capable of understanding math and kids are brilliant!

Relevance: I know only a few of us are going into elementary education, but I thought this piece was really interesting. I took a couple of elementary math classes over the Summer/Fall at Portland Community College and noticed many people struggling with the ideas and methods. I think the way I was taught and the way kids are taught today was a mix of the “old school” and the “new school” methods. Good to remember as teachers that parents might not always be able to help students with some of what we may perceive to be easy topics!

3 comments:

  1. i could really relate to this discussion. as someone who was not strong in math as a child, i have been baffled by how hard it has been to help my own children with their math homework. [luckily for my youngest, i've been able to suggest that they ask their older sister.]

    a few months ago, i came across this Conrad Wolfram: Teaching kids real math with computers. he states that the part of math we teach -- calculation by hand -- isn't just tedious, it's mostly irrelevant to real mathematics and the real world. his idea? take advantage of computers to allow us to be more practical and conceptual - e.g. creating programs to demonstrate understanding of math concepts. here's the link:

    http://www.ted.com/talks/conrad_wolfram_teaching_kids_real_math_with_computers.html?utm_source=newsletter_weekly_2010-11-16&utm_campaign=newsletter_weekly&utm_medium=email

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  2. As a parent, it is very frustrating trying to figure out exactly what the teacher is getting at with some of the homework. Although the problems themselves are easy, the method in which the teacher wants them solved is not always clear. It's a good point, if you want parents involved and helping at home, they need guidance.
    As for relying heavily on calculators and technology early on...I'm not sold on that. It's painful to see kids who can't do simple multiplication without a calculator. An over-reliance on technology can lead to problems when that technology is not available. (Often that is the time you need it the most.)

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  3. As I mentioned above, I took a couple of elementary math classes at PCC over the Summer and Fall. The methods used for teaching fairly basic subjects were different from the ways I learned (really not THAT long ago). The other thing I enjoyed about the courses is that they presented a variety of ways to teach concepts in math. I loved that some ways clicked easily for some people in the class and other ways clicked quickly for the other students. I think it's important to have a variety of ways to teach each subject because not everyone will understand one specific method or strategy.

    Interesting video Anita! At first, I thought this would be very "Skinner-ish", as he was such an advocate for mechanization in instruction. But, Wolfman criticizes the idea of kids needing to learn the "basics" before using a computer. I do agree with some points that he makes. Kids should be allowed and taught to use computers early in education. Many of them have computers at home, and it is very likely that they will need to use them in the future in their education as well as the professional world.

    I do agree with Dough though in the sense that there is value to learning how to solve real world math problems when technology isn't available. Even something as simple as being able to determine the right tip to leave at a restaurant.

    I think that using a computer or other technological devices to aid the instruction of math (or other subjects) can be one of many effective tools or methods. This method may click with some students and may not with others, but I view it as a resource available to us, as teachers, to help interest and engage students.

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