Math Education: An Inconvenient Truth

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Math Education: An Inconvenient Truth

Uploaded by: prestondave
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M.J. McDermott is speaking about the current state of math education, as a private citizen . KCPQ does not endorse this video.
Math Education: An Inconvenient Truth

Tags for this video: An Education: Inconvenient Math Truth

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"We don't need no ... ( 1 week ago by JuciShockwave)

"We don't need no education
We don't need no thought control
No dark sarcasm in the classroom
Teacher, leave those kids alone
Hey, teacher, leave those kids alone
All in all, it's just another brick in the wall
All in all, you're just another brick in the wall"
Pink Floyd "The Wall"
That's what I think of the whole "there is only one way to teach". Schools are creating a bunch of sheeps and no one cares. Watch some Bill Hicks and George Carlin videos you'll see what I mean.

As a math teacher, ... ( 1 week ago by MrRodriguez314)

As a math teacher, I am very happy to hear the old methods worked for you. You are part of the approximately 5% of Americans who enjoy mathematics as an adult. In my experience, the other 95% are unfortunately not so lucky. Please don't discount another method for learning solely based on your own experiences. Peace!

The algorithms ... ( 1 week ago by tekteren)

The algorithms McDermott is a proponent of aren't difficult to learn. The point is that these algorithms are applied in the SAME WAY for all problems, and can be used to multiply ANY whole numbers. Some of these alternative methods aren't even proper algorithms, that is, there's no set way to proceed for the student, which makes it harder. Some of the alternatives could be good because they promote mathematical understanding, but efficient algorithms MUST be taught.

I am a math major ... ( 1 week ago by Y2ANJ)

I am a math major at Rutgers and I am surprised by this. It's important for kids to learn the standard methods at a young age so that the most error proof method becomes second nature to them in the future. Teaching a bunch of methods for basic arithmetic will only leave them confused and is ultimately detrimental for their long-term prospects in math. Also devoting all that time to pictures and overemphasis of calculators is tremendously harmful. Smart teachers will just refuse to use this.

Thank you for ... ( 1 week ago by YFLOInternational)

Thank you for revealing this. I have tutored Algebra to K-12 for 2.5 years and have often questioned the methods and techniques found in such texts and am glad that you have now explained this to the general, online public. Parents ought to be more aware of the poorly structured math, English, and science books that tend to be purchased by these same parents for their children.

*yawns* ... ( 1 week ago by Willamette53594)

*yawns* BOOOOOORRRRRRIIIIIINNNNNGGGG!!! *snores*

then go back to ... ( 1 week ago by disciplinemisanthrop)

then go back to watching cartoons

F.Y.I. I don't ... ( 6 days ago by Willamette53594)

F.Y.I. I don't watch cartoons as long as they're from the Fox 61, Adult Swim, or Comedy Central networks. Besides, I spend most of my time playing Xbox.

Actually, 20% of ... ( 6 days ago by hockeyfreak827)

Actually, 20% of Adults of America are mathematic freaks. Of course how can they teach Math to us if they don't like it. And also Says in the Video. Mostly all Adults know the Division, Multiplycation, and all the Mathematical Terms of use. So oviously Adults have to be in Mental Math experience. Now moved up too 100%

i feel public ... ( 6 days ago by ionxi)

i feel public education failed me. some students get to be in special programs with more experienced teachers and having more resources. this is unfair among students as they do not look at each other as having the same potential. as a result the students from the program are way better prepared for colleges and beyond. i strongly believe school should help foster self-esteem in the students because once they believe they can achieve something then they are more likely to make it happen

I don't see why ... ( 6 days ago by Apache45)

I don't see why math isn't a bigger priority.
Math is the underlying order of the universe; Behind everything that happens there lies an equation. Everything, psychology, music, sports, can be improved with mathematical understanding. With recent developments in technology, math is becoming even more crucial.

yes home school ... ( 6 days ago by ladyxeona)

yes home school seems to be the answer for an alternative to the current sad joke called public school. my 2 yr old needs to be starting 1st grade but she cant start kindergarten until the age of 5.

(fyi: i love math.) ... ( 6 days ago by ladyxeona)

(fyi: i love math.) so teach everyone quantum physics, Microbiology... cell division. what is the point of teaching all the details when the majority of students are not going to use it. it should be an elective if the individual has an interest in it. kids are too busy killing themselves, brain cells, and other ppl... lets not worry about that... just make sure they are given pointless information that will never be used.

i was in honors ... ( 6 days ago by ladyxeona)

i was in honors classes and they were easier, the teachers were nicer.
the main point of school should be self- esteem to show the kids they all have a special ability and help them find it, give them confidence and support and not kick them out of the door with a diploma but enroll them into college.
i hate the public school system it is disgusting. why are ppl so confused and shocked as to why kids are killing each other and themselves at school.

Hmm this is ... ( 3 days ago by C0ldhead)

Hmm this is disturbing, I got a solution, fix carculators to show answer and the carculation as the stadard version, make sure everyone understands, i mean this is the big problem for me atm, I am in college now, and i cant fucking keep up, Thanks to a stupid system that had no effect on me, i mean i can call me stupid, but that would not increase the intelligence of the Human Gene pull.

go ahead, screw up ... ( 3 days ago by malialani89)

go ahead, screw up your child socially! Home schooling is not the answer. As a recent graduate I can tell you these methods are not that bad. I got through AP Calculus just fine. They do teach the normal algorithms, the latices and such are a stepping stone for kids to understanding the algorithms. Besides, In a world full of technology why would you bother to long hand the math? Calculators and spell check are quicker and easier.

As a teacher, I ... ( 2 days ago by maliko541)

As a teacher, I have to defend terc on this one.While traditional algorithms are important, using them as the sole method of computation does not develop number sense for children. Kids need to apply thinking to problems through the use of various strategies, not rote procedures. In her example of 26x31 for terc, she uses the distributive property to break the problem down into chunks. She fails to mention that there are other more efficient strategies to solve this type problem under terc.

Great job! ( 1 day ago by rchlovn)

Great job!

I don't think that ... ( 1 day ago by zfk1000)

I don't think that the alternate methods that the woman described are that egregious. However, excluding the standard algorithms is extremely problematic. Furthermore, I feel that the primary attraction to the Singapore math textbooks is that they are short, <100 pages. The World and US Tour chapters in the Terc books demonstrate everything that is wrong with US education. Its time to banish the irrelevant pictures in our math and physics books, increase the rigor and decrease the size.

The main point of ... ( 1 day ago by hawkeyefile)

The main point of school is to learn. Screw feelings. I was private schooled for all of middle school and high school. I god 4 years of high school condensed down to 2.5 years. I gradated at 16 instead of 18 and Now I have a two year degree in Electronics. I have yet to see public education try that with anyone (they where going to hold me back in second grade because I could not write legibly).

Those are the kind ... ( 1 day ago by JennyFarlopez)

Those are the kind of algorithms people use mentally and they're quite error-prone when one doesn't know exctly what one's doing.
I think there is no point in teaching them before kids can multiply large numbers in the classic way.

I've been a private ... ( 1 day ago by JennyFarlopez)

I've been a private teacher for two years now and i have noticed how much math's abilities have lowered since i went to school.
Learning algebra and being confindent in what one is doing not only develops mental calculus (which is a must in all sciences), but also simbolic thinking, which is a must in every career.
Most students i've had have serious problems in more advanced mathematics, just because they don't know what they're doing nor if the answer is plausible.

Interesting point, ... ( 12 hours ago by sleeper2345)

Interesting point, though research shows just the opposite. Students do much better when they actually understand what they're doing. The traditional algorithms tend to mask the underlying meaning.

oh, i meant ... ( 8 hours ago by JennyFarlopez)

oh, i meant arithmetics, not algebra

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