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Re: To K-12 teachers here: Another enjoyable post from Dan Meyer > myopia
Posted:
Jul 17, 2012 12:05 AM
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">> Algebra is not the study of problems, it is the study
>> of solutions, Algebraic solutions."
??? ###!!!
Any professional algebraist would take exception to either such myopic high
school interpretation of algebra. Beyond the introductory levels (college
algebra and below) algebra is the study of mathematical systems with regard
for operations imposed, thereon. Even in upper undergraduate studies, most
of algebra has little to do with "problems" or with their mechanistic
solutions.
Unfortunately, the American scholastic fetish with mechanically "solving"
algebraic "problems" totally obscures the fact that all civilized humans
routinely use various kinds of intuitive algebras without even knowing that
they are doing mathematics.
Cordially,
Clyde
- --------------------------------------------------
From: "Richard Strausz" <Richard.Strausz@farmington.k12.mi.us>
Sent: Monday, July 16, 2012 9:02 PM
To: <math-teach@mathforum.org>
Subject: Re: To K-12 teachers here: Another enjoyable post from Dan Meyer
>>
>> On Jul 16, 2012, at 8:38 AM, Richard Strausz
>> <Richard.Strausz@farmington.k12.mi.us> wrote:
>>
>> >> I'll look at this later tonight. I know that, as
>> >> defined by Dan, the 3-acts cannot teach Algebra.
>> So
>> >> the question is how is this teacher defining the
>> >> 3-acts and is this teacher teaching Algebra.
>> >>
>> >> Bob Hansen
>> >>
>> > As you look at this later (I don't know how you
>> have the time to do all that you do!!), please keep
>> in mind that 3-acts don't teach a curriculum. They
>> motivate students and add a focus to instruction.
>> >
>> > Richard
>>
>> You say that but Dan does not say that. I have looked
>> through his gigabytes of weekly lessons and it is
>> primarily these media problems over and over and what
>> little algebra there is it is an after thought. No
>> one here has disagreed with the idea that a
>> curriculum should include engaging problems. Dan goes
>> MUCH further than that. I think I can sum up the
>> issue as follows...
>>
>> Algebra is not the study of problems, it is the study
>> of solutions, Algebraic solutions.
>>
>> When you use engaging problems they should engage the
>> students in that study. Dan's problems do not do this
>> because Dan refuses to frame them up that way. You
>> can only frame them up that way with exposition and
>> lecture and Dan is of the religion that telling
>> students is wrong. I don't know why teachers like Dan
>> or the authors of that Discovering Arithmetic book
>> get so far off the track of teaching algebra. I gave
>> my most frequent thought. Their students and the fact
>> that they are forced to teach them algebra drive them
>> to it.
>>
>> Bob Hansen
>
> The 3-acts, begun (I think) by Meyer but now produced by others too,
> aren't Algebra or Geometry curriculum. I have never seen a claim to the
> contrary on his materials.
>
> Richard
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