Math has been introduced to us since a very young age. Often times the teachers would slap down a math book with basic steps in it and teach them to us, only for us to go home and repeat similar steps in our homework. Now I see why this would be the way to teach kids the mindset of learning methods and combining them with other methods to find a solution that works, and when it does, it's great! But often times, we are stuck with only "regurgitating" the information that was given to us a few classes ago and then forgetting about it.
In a class like history where repetition is key to learning the facts, we constantly piece together the bits of history to create a broad view of the events that happened. In math, this is not what happens and shouldn't happen either (since it is math after all); but the idea that we simply take in the methods we learned to solve problems, do homework, then forget about it is what I believe causes people to lose their connection to math and learning it.
Another reason why I believe Americans aren't very math savvy is the mindset of being lazy and getting through with the most minimal amount of effort. This is simply learned through the way technology is advancing, letting us find answers to questions and having much more at the touch of our fingertips. While this does not relate directly to math, the idea of "oh I'll just look it up" continues on in our life to the point that it applies to math as well.
Thursday, August 29, 2013
Sunday, August 18, 2013
Jamm'n Peaches Response
GA2
I think this blog makes a special connection between adapting to new situations and problems as they arise and to always have an open mind. This concept applies to math a lot due to how often students give up or can't solve a certain problem and end up not learning from the experience. I believe you want us to always carry an open mind to trying new things and even if we don't like what we're doing, you want us to learn and adapt to the problem.
I sometimes get frustrated in math when I can't figure out a problem and end up not learning much from it, but other times when I do understand the problem, I like it. Math ends up being very tedious so I might rush through it, but the times when everything works out is just when I can stop myself and actually think about the problem.
I think this blog makes a special connection between adapting to new situations and problems as they arise and to always have an open mind. This concept applies to math a lot due to how often students give up or can't solve a certain problem and end up not learning from the experience. I believe you want us to always carry an open mind to trying new things and even if we don't like what we're doing, you want us to learn and adapt to the problem.
I sometimes get frustrated in math when I can't figure out a problem and end up not learning much from it, but other times when I do understand the problem, I like it. Math ends up being very tedious so I might rush through it, but the times when everything works out is just when I can stop myself and actually think about the problem.
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