This cartoon by @adamsacks.bsky.social is a reflection of how math education has veered off course. I regularly meet college students interested in fields like engineering, data science, AI, and research, but they lack the foundational math needed to pursue these paths. #edusky #math - ThreadSky

math-teach.bsky.social • 71 days ago

This cartoon by @adamsacks.bsky.social is a reflection of how math education has veered off course. I regularly meet college students interested in fields like engineering, data science, AI, and research, but they lack the foundational math needed to pursue these paths. #edusky #math

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cathycarrwrites.bsky.social•71 days ago

People love these kind of jokes, but my husband was a math major. He's found those skills amazingly useful and they opened up some great career paths for him. Keep working away at your math. It really is worth it in the long run.

adamsacks.bsky.social•71 days ago

Interesting but I don’t think I fully understand. Are you saying students

a) don’t know the QF

b) know the QF but don’t understand concepts that build off it

c) know the QF but not other unrelated foundational math concepts

d) something else entirely

math-teach.bsky.social•71 days ago

Hi Adam, I don’t think the QF is particularly important, but it’s often used (not always effectively) to help students build essential algebraic reasoning & evaluation skills. Without the ability to manipulate or evaluate algebraic expressions, students will find advanced mathematics inaccessible.

barkofdelight.bsky.social•71 days ago

I think that the point of the cartoon is that math education has become entirely about memorization and regurgitation of formulae without any context or thoughtfulness. Perhaps your experience has been more positive.

math-teach.bsky.social•71 days ago

I can't say that my experience was always more positive, but I am trying to make my students' experiences better! #edusky #matheducation #academicsky

math-teach.bsky.social•71 days ago

I completely agree. We frequently take a rich & interesting subject and reduce it down to something that feels meaningless to students.

naemmanuele.bsky.social•71 days ago

I’m not a math teacher: can you briefly mention the foundational math concepts/skills you notice are missing most often?

math-teach.bsky.social•71 days ago

Hi Nicholas, many students struggle with algebraic reasoning and, at times, even basic numeracy. While it's not impossible to develop these skills in college, it can be quite challenging.

starrynovember.bsky.social•68 days ago

I think some cultural baggage hurts students, especially as they begin learning how to do the "hard" thing of learning math. I feel many who may be excellent STEM professionals don't even try or quit because they feel they don't "get" math; they must not be a right fit for those roles in STEM.

math-teach.bsky.social•71 days ago

They face a tough choice: invest time and money to learn the foundational skills or give up on their dreams.

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