People Don't Understand 21st Century Math

[socialist]

Sorry Socialist, you poor fellow. You've failed to enumerate the many other posters who quite frankly, think you are completely out to lunch, lost in some socialist groupthink. Anyone here support Socialist's views on his "21st century" math? Anyone at all?

My take is correct, but it's a tough row to hoe when I'm dealing with "back to basics" fanatics. Most of you have no clue what a modern math class is like. You can't see past 1970.

[socialist]

I hire teenagers, they have no idea about math or even grammar. Now my grammar is not that good but I am old school. But I can do math without a calculator. Teachers are to worried fighting for them selves then worry about the kids.

Your grammar represents what was wrong with schools in the past. Luckily, with 21st century learning, students will no longer be stuck in the academic dark ages.

[Ash74]

Why is socialist so committed to trolling us on this topic?

In his defense he started the thread. He has a passion about education. He does truly seem to care about teachers which he feels translates to caring for students. I disagree with his all or nothing 21st century learning is the only way to teach but he has in the past showed some great articles on where it is lacking. He cannot make a point himself and usually resorts to name calling when people differ in opinion and back it up. But he does care about this topic for some reason. I am interested because I have children in the public school system .

Your grammar represents what was wrong with schools in the past. Luckily, with 21st century learning, students will no longer be stuck in the academic dark ages.

Wait I dont poke fun at your spelling or grammar and you claim to be an educator.

[socialist]

In his defense he started the thread. He has a passion about education. He does truly seem to care about teachers which he feels translates to caring for students. I disagree with his all or nothing 21st century learning is the only way to teach but he has in the past showed some great articles on where it is lacking. He cannot make a point himself and usually resorts to name calling when people differ in opinion and back it up. But he does care about this topic for some reason. I am interested because I have children in the public school system .

Wait I dont poke fun at your spelling or grammar and you claim to be an educator.

That wasn't directed at you. It was directed at the person who thought he should troll my thread with nonsense.

[Ash74]

That wasn't directed at you. It was directed at the person who thought he should troll my thread with nonsense.

k

But back to the topic.

I showed three articles that disagree with your opinion that were from more trusted news sources including the CBC. Something is not working with the math curriculum and the longer it is denied the more damage it will do to the students. Not saying scrap it I am saying that a more basic view is needed.

[socialist]

k

But back to the topic.

I showed three articles that disagree with your opinion that were from more trusted news sources including the CBC. Something is not working with the math curriculum and the longer it is denied the more damage it will do to the students. Not saying scrap it I am saying that a more basic view is needed.

All those articles are simply knee-jerk reactions from old fashioned back to basics fanatics who don't understand education in the 21st century.

[Ash74]

All those articles are simply knee-jerk reactions from old fashioned back to basics fanatics who don't understand education in the 21st century.

That group of people are getting larger and larger everyday

[socialist]

That group of people are getting larger and larger everyday

Ummmm...no they're not. Just a few loudmouths.

[socialist]

That group of people are getting larger and larger everyday

There is more emphasis on the explanation and the how in math, instead of just memorizing an answer. This is what you don't understand , ash. You haven't attended any PD on the subject. I have. I hear what the experts say. Here's a short clip that explains it.

[GostHacked]

There is more emphasis on the explanation and the how in math, instead of just memorizing an answer. This is what you don't understand , ash. You haven't attended any PD on the subject. I have. I hear what the experts say. Here's a short clip that explains it.

The way we live means that 3x4=12. Otherwise technology would not work very well. Cars would not work. Planes would not fly, we would not have been to the Moon.

Edited March 3, 2015 by GostHacked

[Ash74]

There is more emphasis on the explanation and the how in math, instead of just memorizing an answer. This is what you don't understand , ash. You haven't attended any PD on the subject. I have. I hear what the experts say. Here's a short clip that explains it.

Ok You actually made a point there. But all I have is that fact the students are not learning to answer the questions correctly. I could care less how a person does a job (as long as it is safe and legal) as long as it gets done correctly. If this was working the way it was planned than I doubt we would be having this conversation. The debate is in the fact the students have not been getting the final answer right. If they cannot get the correct answer than what is the point

[Mighty AC]

That group of people are getting larger and larger everyday

Should teaching methods be selected based on research or popular opinion?

[On Guard for Thee]

Your grammar represents what was wrong with schools in the past. Luckily, with 21st century learning, students will no longer be stuck in the academic dark ages.

Dont think so. It has been reported various times that younger people tend to have terrible grammar skills. Dont know first hand about the math problems but I do have some personal experience with the former. I play around a bit on a site where people get you to re-write posts they want to put on a blog site they have. Some of them even have post secondary, are not very log out of it, and grammar, sentence structure, even punctuation need huge repairs. Oh well, I collect a bit of beer money from it.

[socialist]

Dont think so. It has been reported various times that younger people tend to have terrible grammar skills. Dont know first hand about the math problems but I do have some personal experience with the former. I play around a bit on a site where people get you to re-write posts they want to put on a blog site they have. Some of them even have post secondary, are not very log out of it, and grammar, sentence structure, even punctuation need huge repairs. Oh well, I collect a bit of beer money from it.

In today's schools, we focus on 21st century skills such as critical thinking, creativity, and collaboration, because we heard that that is what employers seek. Grammar is somewhat important but not as important as the Cs of 21st century skills.

[On Guard for Thee]

In today's schools, we focus on 21st century skills such as critical thinking, creativity, and collaboration, because we heard that that is what employers seek. Grammar is somewhat important but not as important as the Cs of 21st century skills.

Hard to be all that creative if you cant do math or write a report.

[Ash74]

Should teaching methods be selected based on research or popular opinion?

Of course not. It should be based on the best possible methods available. Never once did I say it should all be scrapped and we should bust out an abacus.

I was basing my opinion on what I have seen in the schools and what I have read in news reports. Plus what has been posted on this forum. Something is not working.

Are you suggesting we just keep on keeping on and hope for the best and that this will just sort itself out?

That would be politics.

[Mighty AC]

Are you suggesting we just keep on keeping on and hope for the best and that this will just sort itself out?

That would be politics.

So the opinions of the general public are of little importance, despite your comment?

Here is what I said on the matter:

With traditional methods of teaching, math students could do problems presented to them but had little understanding of the concepts behind the computations and difficulty identifying math concepts in the real world. Several nations tweaked the math curriculum to address these issues and improve math literacy skills. Problem identification skills and the understanding of math concepts improved while computation on timed tests has declined. As is the norm for implementing new programs, this one isn't yet perfect and needs more tweaking, but that is an on going process for every single subject. Though, one that always has a frustratingly high number of obstacles.

Education is always a political issue and as such opportunists seek to use it for political gain. The public in general also tends to be partial to educational methods they experienced. As such there will always be those pushing to implement research backed pedagogy countered by those that seek political gain by selling "traditional" methods to people like us. Unfortunately, this slowing of progress in education has led to a disconnect between how the system is structured and the needs of our modern economy. There are several revolutionary, structural improvements and solutions available however, the push back from the politically ambitious and regular people like us ensures that progress in perpetually inadequate.

[Ash74]

So the opinions of the general public are of little importance, despite your comment?

Here is what I said on the matter:

I understand what you are saying but what is being said is basically that this generation of students are the guinea pigs and we hope that they will catch on. A person can understand the concept of riding a bike but if he or she cannot ride it than guess what. They cant ride a bike.

The students are learning why 3x4 is 12. But they are not learning that 3x4 is 12. This is not politics or juvenile I told you so. Every party across Canada is implementing 21st century learning yet in Manitoba (which has an NDP government) is the one saying something is wrong. Not the backwards Conservatives or the elite Liberals but The NDP.

Hey Socialism looks good on paper too. Does not mean it works

[socialist]

I understand what you are saying but what is being said is basically that this generation of students are the guinea pigs and we hope that they will catch on. A person can understand the concept of riding a bike but if he or she cannot ride it than guess what. They cant ride a bike.

The students are learning why 3x4 is 12. But they are not learning that 3x4 is 12. This is not politics or juvenile I told you so. Every party across Canada is implementing 21st century learning yet in Manitoba (which has an NDP government) is the one saying something is wrong. Not the backwards Conservatives or the elite Liberals but The NDP.

Hey Socialism looks good on paper too. Does not mean it works

Ash, you genuinely seem like a nice guy. But you are not trained as an educator. You really don't kn ow what works and what doen't. You haven't read the research to prove that Discovery learning is superior.

I'll tell you what. Go to your kids school tomorrow and have a chat with the principal. Ask him or her if the school is focusing on 21st century skills. Maybe their explanation will satisfy you. Get off this forum and do your own investigating. Once you hear the truth from experts, I'm confident you will change your tune, which seems stuck in the 70s.

[Ash74]

Ash, you genuinely seem like a nice guy. But you are not trained as an educator. You really don't kn ow what works and what doen't. You haven't read the research to prove that Discovery learning is superior.

I'll tell you what. Go to your kids school tomorrow and have a chat with the principal. Ask him or her if the school is focusing on 21st century skills. Maybe their explanation will satisfy you. Get off this forum and do your own investigating. Once you hear the truth from experts, I'm confident you will change your tune, which seems stuck in the 70s.

Fair enough but as I have mentioned I have spoken with the Principal. He is a really good guy and has been awarded for his work recently.

He has been pushing for students to go back to a more basic approach to arithmetic due to the poor test scores. We have discussed the issue because as an employer I am having a hard time finding students that can do simple math in their heads . This is not one or two people having issues but to the point where I now give a simple arithmetic test before I employ and I am not having much luck for those under 25.

Really not arguing just to argue. Seriously concerned about the math abilities of students. The reading and writing seem to be going well my own children are doing very well at it. My oldest spells much better than I do and well her grammar is much better than the book I wrote The Gooder Book of English.

I know you are not wrong in saying I am not an expert in the field. It is after all not my field nor do I pretend it is but I look for the final result and so far it has been lacking.

Edited March 3, 2015 by Ash74