Posted on 12/19/2017 2:44:20 PM PST by RicocheT
"The U.S. is about to spend a small fortune on teaching science, technology, engineering and mathematics, or STEM....That’s a good investment in theory, but the American education system is in no position to make the most of it."
"...Students should reach college prepared to take serious science and engineering courses, yet many don’t. Our math teaching is half a century out of date, and without math there is no STEM. Computer science builds on electronics and “discrete mathematics,” as opposed to the classical type leading to calculus."
(Excerpt) Read more at wsj.com ...
And todays “educators” won’t have the faintest idea what you’re talking about.
Oh yeah they will, that’s why they changed it to “STEAM” by adding in A for “ART”.
Because math’s hard...
Funny how calculus hasn’t changed in hundreds of years
This stupid effort to make kids learn the new new new math is insane.
Other countries don’t engage in this teacher union driven crap
They need to know how to do arithmetic, algebra,geometry... and if they are real advanced trig
School children don’t need discreet math before college
Electronics for those interested other wise a good chemistry year and a good physics year.
Digital approximation through finite differences is close enough and the way to go.
Unless you have exceptional skills, do not pursue a STEM degree.
Why?
H-1B and OPT foreign work visas, that's why.
All “average” American STEM graduates will be working for below-market salaries.
And, most “average” American STEM graduates will be evicted from their STEM jobs by age forty.
Realistically, though, there is no real application for Calculus other than Physics - and today we have computers to do the work. Yes, a basic understanding should be required, but is teaching differential equations a good use of tuition dollars? Remember, we should be looking at college - particularly in STEM - for the ROI.
If you want learning for learning’s sake go study sociology and then go work at Starbucks and default on your student loans.
Common core math is turning a lot of kids off. Paging Betsy DeVos.
Oh Lordy you really don’t understand calculus at all
There are applications galore including economics , physics, chemistry, nuclear, and si much more. It is the study of rage change. Without it you will not be able to do any of the advanced math that is required for real science and engineering
I am STEM(Programmer). Math was unnecessary.
Our math teaching isn't a half century out of date, it needs to go back half a century to the way it used to be taught, and taught successfully.
“And, most “average” American STEM graduates will be evicted from their STEM jobs by age forty.”
Garbage. Only people who can’t code are evicted. I’m 60 and I still get offers for everything from COBOL to Groovy/Grails.
LOL! I can’t believe someone else brought that up!
My cousin is an art teacher, and years ago she mentioned that they should include art in it so it is STEAM!
LOL - I kept my mouth shut. I’m an engineer who took art classes in the very same rooms she teaches in succession to my own art teacher, so I know a thing or 2 about similarities and differences. There are enough differences NOT to include “art”, whatever that may be!
Rate change!
Though you could model “rage change” as a rate, say the “change in rage per fortnight” .... That would be a medieval rage change!
1) Don’t learn to code. That work will be done in a mud hut in India at 1/100th the cost of you.
Exactly.
I hate phrases like “out of date” when it comes to rigid issues like math and science (most of it).
How does math change?
For that matter, how has language changed that we need to approach it a different way from what worked for centuries?
And mathematics, and engineering, and statistics, and economics, and physical chemistry, and astronomy and ... (please don't comment on things you don't understand)
Correct.
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