Quote:
Originally Posted by dpastern
Exactly.
As to maths, tell me, how did my maths teacher, and those of his generation learn Calculas? Why did he, with 30 years of teaching experience, think that calculators were bad, were introducing dumb students?
Why is it that most kids cannot add up, even basic maths? If they don't have a calculator, or a PC, they're lost. I find it amusing that even those doing accounts style roles are lost with a calculator! Even for basic Maths. I'm no genius, but I'm fully capable of basic Maths in my head, on the fly. Do they even teach long division in primary school these days? We now have MIS (Maths in society, aka dummies math), at least in the HSC in NSW. It might have changed names in the 20+ years since I left school. Giving high school students the option of opting out of normal maths curriculums, and chilling out doing basic dummy maths (which they should have been able to do by the time they leave primary school I might add) is not smart. Make them use their brains, it's the *only* way to learn.
Similarly, EMail and Internet is creating kids who are unable to converse with others in face to face situations, with poor interpersonal skills.
Some may have misunderstood my intentions here - technology is great, but for crying out loud, make sure the kids can do it the old fashioned way before you allow them to use technology and take short cuts!
Dave
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Dave I think you are looking into your memories of school with rosy glasses on. There have always been kids who struggle with even the most basic maths. In my day we were split into 4 groups, advanced, intermeadiate, elementry and basic. From memory there was 1 advanced class with 15 of us, 1 intermeadiate class, 3 elementry classes and 3 basic classes. They still teach times tables and basic mental maths and arithmetic in primary (over here at least) but the use of calculators has allowed many students who would have in the "good old days" been relegated to the scrap heap to learn the difference between AM and PM, to gain some ability in maths. Artificial means? yes. Can they work out the answer? Yes. Do they have some confidence in maths? yes. personally I do not see the problem. The more capable students will go on to more difficult concepts whilst the least capable will be able to do something. It's win win in my book.
Mark