From: Erik Aronesty (erik@zoneedit.com)
Date: Sat Dec 06 2003 - 13:10:37 MST
People are all very, very good at calculations. Ony some people, however, have taken time to translate their innate ability into numbers and symbols.
Perhaps the problem with mathematics, as taught, is that we spend too much time telling kids how to do math, and too little time letting them experience, discover, recognize and verbalize their innate mathematical abilities. When that is done, it reinvigorates interest and confidence.
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Conversation with a young girl:
I finished adding them up, but I know it's wrong. (Her answer: 55 real answer 57)
How do you know it's wrong?
I just can tell
Do you think it's too big or too small?
Too small.
By how much?
Two or three.
What would your answer be if it was two or three bigger?
57 or 58
Which one seems more right to you?
I don't know
Does 58 seem too small or big?
Big.
Does 57 seem too small or big?
No.
So which one feels closer?
57
Right.
Now remember how we did that. Did you like it?
Yes!
It's the art of refining estimation, and it is an important math skill that you do all the time, and that some people, like you, are very good at.
You can use your built-in math skills to spot-check your answers to help you on tests. Not everyone does this. This will help you throughout you math career.
And if you keep in mind how we came up with the answer, you'll learn math faster.
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Regarding education as a science. I've spoken with many teachers since founding nypif.org - and most of them agree that advanced educational methods are something that most teachers have not learned. My next door neighbor trains teachers how to teach for a living... so I know a bit about this.
-----Original Message-----
From: "metahuman" <v1@metavirus.net>
Date: Sat, 6 Dec 2003 00:55:31
To:virus@lucifer.com
Subject: Re:virus: I have a good idea
[Epistaxis]
I'm bothered by metahuman's mathematics allergy...
The math/science allergy is another harmful epidemic of a meme.
...this meme spreads by telling people they can be so lazy as to ignore even that step...
I believe that's why metahuman said this; if he/she weren't infested with this meme, he/she would either have succeeded in understanding the rather simple topics involved or would have sought aid, instead of just saying "I don't get it" and expecting that to win friendship.
[metahuman]
First of all, I could care less about friendship as friendship is trust's method of memetic manipulation. Friendship is an illusion. Anyone that says otherwise has been manipulated.
Secondly, all belief is essentially irrational, and your belief in such a thing also includes an unsupported assertion. You're trying to psychoanalyze me by guessing. Psst! It's not working out so well, tiger.
Thirdly, I am NOT allergic to mathematics. I simply prefer non-mathematical discussions.
Finally, I do mean offense to you when I say this: fuck off asshole!
Never insinuate that I am ignorant, lazy, stupid, unpopular, infested, incapable of comprehension of "simple" topics, or interested in friendship... ever again. In fact, I want you to stay away from using my name or any of my aliases from now on. I want you to completely ignore me. Do not reference me at all.
Cynicism and skepticism are not interchangeable. Look up the words in a dictionary since you obviously do not what the fuck they mean.
You need to back off, jerk. Drop your pro-math ego and try to be a bit more sociable just, like I said, stay away from me.
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