tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10348701.post2578275762030254170..comments2024-03-13T21:26:03.011-07:00Comments on Right on the Left Coast: Views From a Conservative Teacher: What Math Do College Students Need?Darrenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15730642770935985796noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10348701.post-60564823102969065472013-05-12T16:11:10.084-07:002013-05-12T16:11:10.084-07:00They can get away with throwing statistics around ...They can get away with throwing statistics around because they know most Americans won't ask the most-basic questions about them, don't even know which questions *should* be asked, or know how to judge whether they are being bamboozled or tricked by the lies, damned lies and statistics.Auntie Annhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05777983027361603449noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10348701.post-29589211278882081252013-05-12T12:47:26.441-07:002013-05-12T12:47:26.441-07:00Since when has Algebra II been a "more advanc...Since when has Algebra II been a "more advance" subject? My daughter took it in 9th grade and had no problem with it. Things have changed a lot since I was in school. I started Calculus in 10th grade, and I was far from being a math whiz.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10348701.post-29248830100747189702013-05-12T09:23:38.110-07:002013-05-12T09:23:38.110-07:00It always bothers me when people use statistics to...It always bothers me when people use statistics to support an argument, if they don't provide access to the study they cite. If I can't see the data that was collected, how it was collected and analyzed, how can I begin to know if the conclusions are reasonable?PeggyUnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10348701.post-17862502817305681602013-05-11T17:54:29.397-07:002013-05-11T17:54:29.397-07:00Somewhere in high school there should be more lear...Somewhere in high school there should be more learning about statistics. Most students won't use calculus, but we all are bombarded by statistics every single day.<br /><br />Knowing how important "doing xaybcz will double your risk for cancer!" is, depends on what your risk was to begin with. Doubling from one chance in a million to two in a million isn't so bad.<br /><br />Knowing that a study with only 10 examples isn't worth much is important.<br /><br />Knowing that you have no chance of actually winning the lottery could come in handy when you're counting on it for your retirement.Auntie Annhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05777983027361603449noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10348701.post-61697989514411775292013-05-11T15:17:54.108-07:002013-05-11T15:17:54.108-07:00"...elementary-level concepts necessary for c..."...elementary-level concepts necessary for college-level work, such as geometric visualization and complex measurement." But this sort of math was removed from the curriculum as "drill and kill" and "boring" and "too low on the Bloom's Taxonomy of thought" so no one teaches it anymore. And with discovery learning, you are supposed to uncover the methods for doing all of this yourself - why are we "teaching" them anything at all?<br /><br />I remember being taught visualization using Legos and Erector Sets. Complex measurements via a ruler, a compass, a Spirograph, and string art. Math was FUN.<br /><br />I also think that Art Benjamin has it right - the upper level class we should be aiming most students for isn't calculus, it's statistics. Then we can teach calculus, and let them learn that stats is all calc anyways :)Joshua Sasmorhttp://people.setonhill.edu/sasmornoreply@blogger.com