This calculus? Oh yeah, never, you'll never use it. Well, unless you go into engineering or other math and science heavy fields...
In this short TED talk from February of 2009, Arthur Benjamin, argues that the pinnacle of math education in the United States should not be calculus, it should be statistics.
Statistics is math that can and should be used in every day situations. It helps people understand risk, reward, randomness, understanding data, game theory, analyzing trends, and predicting the future. And I could not agree more! I was on the fast track for math classes throughout my education taking Algebra in seventh grade leading to Calculus BC as a junior. I am so lucky to have gone on this track because as a senior I was able to take AP Statistics--a class that would change my life. I found that while calculus had been challenging for me, in part because it seemed so contrived, statistics was absolutely enjoyable and meaningful. I loved every moment of that class and went on to minor in statistics in college. It was through my love of data that I have been (loving) named "the data dork" at my school. I have compiled and analyzed our school's data in every way possible over the last four years. Whenever we need to gather data, create a survey, or show growth to our school board and parents, I am the one that is called on. And it is a position that I love!
Benjamin, in his closing, relates the changing of the times to a literal changing of the times. We no longer use analog clocks in favor of using digital clocks (yes, that's my interpretation of his comparison) and our world has changed from analog to digital. It is time for our math classes to reflect the changes that technology has made on our world. To shift from the more classical mathematics, namely calculus, to the more modern, discrete mathematics (statistics), the mathematics of uncertainty, of data, of using math to make sense of every day occurrences and understanding the world around us.
That is the type of mathematics that will get used daily.
oh god yes! he had me in the first minute! HS would be drastically different if we did statistics instead of Alg 2. I feel like when I talk with math teachers, they often seem comfortable with the fact that lots of these courses in HS math are gatekeepers to make sure students show they can get through something. Perhaps a justification for the fact that they have to teach something meaningless. Alg 2 is super lame. Sorry if I am being tough here...I know you are a math teacher...I guess Im just taking advantage of anonymous commenting.
ReplyDeleteNo offense taken at all. Yes, I am a math teacher, and am passionate about math, but I could never say that every student needs to learn algebra 2, pre-calculus, or calculus. I think that students need a strong foundation in practical math (and for me, that includes the basics of algebra for problem-solving) and statistics, which in my opinion is practical math as so much of our daily world revolves around data and probability.
ReplyDeleteWhat would be best for students is to create in them a love of math, whatever level it may be, so that we stop creating generations of students with math-phobia. How many times at parent conferences have I heard a parent say in front of their child "Well, I was terrible at math too"? Way too many to count. Maybe if we didn't force people to take math courses just to show that "they can get through something" we wouldn't have so many people that break out the crosses and garlic at the mention of solving equations.