"An algorithm is simply a rule that tells you how to do stuff. For example, how do you add 2,368 and 9,417? If you learned the standard way, you’ll stack the numbers and start adding from the right: 8+7=15, carry the 1 and so on. "That may be efficient, but it’s hopelessly uncreative. With “discovery” math, kids are encouraged to reinvent the wheel by, say, starting on the left, adding the thousands, then the hundreds, then the tens and ones, and adding them all up at the end. Then they have to write a story about how they got the answer. Needless to say, this takes a whole lot longer. "The trouble is that math is built on fundamentals. If you miss a building block, you’re likely to become progressively confused. To make things worse, the current practice of social promotion – moving kids from grade to grade even if they’re hopelessly at sea – guarantees that armies of youngsters whose parents can’t afford Kumon will be left in the dark. So much for equality in education." The comments left at the article indicate there are many who agree with her. theglobeandmail/commentary/whos-failing-math-the-system/article14112165/
Posted on: Mon, 09 Sep 2013 16:40:36 +0000