alt.education

In article ,
Jerry Beeler wrote:
>"Dom" wrote in message
>news:0eb57816-ceea-4380-90f3-44fdc349c0a6@b64g2000hsa.googlegroups.com...

>> 2. world-class education

>I've seen this phrase used by more than one politician ... I wonder .. just
>what IS a "world-class education"?

>3. 21st-century mathematics

>How has math changed since the 20th, or the 19th, or the 18th century?
>Granted, different (and at times detremental) ways to teaching it but ...
>for the most part I'm not all that sure that math has changed significantly.

>4. using technology to solve real-world problems

>I constantly tell my students that there is most assuredly a place for that
>every so vaulted word "technology" - but nothing can take the place of using
>that lump of matter that is located between the ears .. the brain.

>Every algebra class in my school (district) issues calculators within a week
>or two of classes starting ... mine have yet to have their hands on a
>calculator ... and .. son-of-a-gun .. they're the best in the district !

>Some rather startling results come when my freshman take the ACT (as they
>have for the last 5 years). The effect of a calculator dependency REALLY
>shows up ..

>Jerry

All this shows is that if one is faced with a test in which
the results of calculations matter, those who have had the
most practice in it will do better.


--
This address is for information only. I do not claim that these views
are those of the Statistics Department or of Purdue University.
Herman Rubin, Department of Statistics, Purdue University
hrubin@stat.purdue.edu Phone: (765)494-6054 FAX: (765)494-0558