Why can't schools in the US embrace things such as this?

[nageov3t]

You know what's the worst part of education? It's when a teacher says, "this is how it is. Don't worry about how we got there, just memorize it." All of the formulas and such should be given on a test - the emphasis should be placed on being able to do some simple math and knowing what's going on in a problem.

at the grammar school level, some of it is just going to be above most students' heads.

if your college professors are going that, you've got bad teachers.

 

[DrPizza]

You know what's the worst part of education? It's when a teacher says, "this is how it is. Don't worry about how we got there, just memorize it." All of the formulas and such should be given on a test - the emphasis should be placed on being able to do some simple math and knowing what's going on in a problem.

Uhhhh, so we're not supposed to ever go beyond "simple math"??! Wow, and I thought the dumbing down of the standards was bad.

Tell me, should I ask students to memorize the quadratic formula? Or, since it's bad to say "don't worry about how we got there, just memorize it" should I make the students understand how to derive the quadratic formula (it's actually their quiz late next week.) And, if they don't memorize it, and I just give it to them, am I supposed to just give them the quadratic formula in algebra II? Pre-calculus? Calculus? Hell, by the time they get to differential equations, my test will be 40 pages long just to give them room for all the formulas. And the poor, suffering students in upper level physics courses. With all those pages of formulas, it's going to be hard for them to find the formula to determine the 3rd side of a right triangle, given the other two sides.

And, I guess it makes sense to wait until students can handle the derivation of the formula for the area of a circle before we ever have them find the area of a circle. Let's move that formula toward the end of high school. Never mind that many of the kids will never get to that level of mathematics, thus will never be able to find the area of a circle.

 

[ConstipatedVigilante]

Uhhhh, so we're not supposed to ever go beyond "simple math"??! Wow, and I thought the dumbing down of the standards was bad.

Tell me, should I ask students to memorize the quadratic formula? Or, since it's bad to say "don't worry about how we got there, just memorize it" should I make the students understand how to derive the quadratic formula (it's actually their quiz late next week.) And, if they don't memorize it, and I just give it to them, am I supposed to just give them the quadratic formula in algebra II? Pre-calculus? Calculus? Hell, by the time they get to differential equations, my test will be 40 pages long just to give them room for all the formulas. And the poor, suffering students in upper level physics courses. With all those pages of formulas, it's going to be hard for them to find the formula to determine the 3rd side of a right triangle, given the other two sides.

And, I guess it makes sense to wait until students can handle the derivation of the formula for the area of a circle before we ever have them find the area of a circle. Let's move that formula toward the end of high school. Never mind that many of the kids will never get to that level of mathematics, thus will never be able to find the area of a circle.

That's not what I said. Essential stuff, like the quadratic formula (which I and most people I know have memorized, along with all the other stuff you mentioned), is....essential to know. By "simple math," I meant being able to do division/multiplication of fairly uncomplicated fractions and decimals on paper. There are some basic things that everyone should know. I was talking about the high-level physics formulas, like finding the effect of gravity on an object by another object.

 

[shortylickens]

This shit is minor.

We really need to switch to the modern European method of education sometime soon. For EVERYTHING, not just specific stuff like the article shows.
hat we're using now the Germans came up with about 500 years ago. They have since moved forward. So has most of Asia and parts of South America.

 

[Hayabusa Rider]

This is great! No knowledge, no effort, no having to learn anything other than how to be an effective Googler.

Why have to understand anything when you can have someone else do your thinking for you?

 

[purbeast0]

because, in the real world, you can't use the internet when you are at work and need to look something up.

oh ... wait ...

 

[sunzt]

I had these "open everything" exams during my Intro to Computer Organization course during college..... it didn't help one bit lol. Trust me, you don't want to be wasting your time googling the answer to a question when you only got 60 mins to finish everything including the problem solving questions at the end. Its best to have all the relavent info on your laptop before these type of exams begin.

 

[Linflas]

While we don't allow internet access during testing we did all our SOL (Standards of Learning) testing online in middle and high schools in my district for school year 2008-2009.

 

[JDub02]

because, in the real world, you can't use the internet when you are at work and need to look something up.

oh ... wait ...

You can't if your back at my main office. They killed internet about a month ago. Glad I'm out in the field.

 

[ivan2]

but they are allowed to post on ATOT ask for the answer of the questions, no?

 

[JS80]

Why can't everyone in the US be pale skinned blonde hair blue eye upper middle class?

 

[TallBill]

This is great! No knowledge, no effort, no having to learn anything other than how to be an effective Googler.

Why have to understand anything when you can have someone else do your thinking for you?

These tests will be a little bit harder than "What year was the war of 1812"?

 

[ForumMaster]

as long as you know about this site, you can't fail!

http://www.wolframalpha.com/

 

[AyashiKaibutsu]

you can't have a kid look up 2+2 = 4 and expect them to become a scientist or mathematician though. some things simply need to be ingrained into memory by repetition. basic math, reading, etc. most definitely need to be taught strongly. as you get closer to college the process (and concepts) become more important than equations and whatnot. many of my teachers allow us to use notes for this very reason - you won't be able to memorize every equation, but you will be able to know where to look when you need something.

I learned my mutliplaction tables by cheating on tests... and I went on to become a computer scientist. If you're exposed to stuff and smart enough to do more complicated things, you'll pick it up along the way even if you don't go out of your way to memorize it.