caseys Posted September 10, 2010 Share Posted September 10, 2010 I read a little article on the BBC website earlier about how a parent was astounded at how kids are taught maths in schools currently http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-11258175 It's an interesting article and I'm not sure whether to be amused or shocked by the idea of this 'chunking' method. If someone asked me to do a sum of 27x43 I'd do (30x43)-(3x43). I wouldn't consider doing it either their demonstrated long method or chunking it into (20x40)+(20x3)+(7x40)+(7x3) - talk about long winded! Same with their method for division, 18 divided by 6 calculated by a method of subtraction, rather than inversely working out the multiple of 6 into to create 18. And the article talking about how 6x0.5 is a confusing sum. I suppose it goes to show many different methodologies on how to learn maths but for some reason the article left me concerned about the simplification of education and wondering how my daughter will be schooled. Not being a parent yet with any children at school, but has anyone else been astounded by teaching methods or homework or such yet? My god this makes me sound like an old fogey, but I just don't care about that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TonyP Posted September 10, 2010 Share Posted September 10, 2010 It's unbelievable. My daughter's 13 and the first time I saw that "chunking" thing I couldn't belive it! What the fcuk is wrong with good old fashioned multiplication and long division. It's been 20+ years since I did my o level and a level maths but exams seem to have been dumbed down so much I think I could probably pass it tomorrow. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris_k Posted September 10, 2010 Share Posted September 10, 2010 Maths is so useless though, any normal person would get a calculator Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
evinX Posted September 10, 2010 Share Posted September 10, 2010 I know /\ chris k, theres no point filling your head with all that crap that heleped none of us, nowdays if you want to know something, whip out your blackberry and google it, its that simple. Personally school was a waste and i learnt more things outside school that i still use up to today. Biology, physics, maths, english - shakespare....whats the point? The point is, waste half your life at school and the other half working, and thats you out of the way. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caseys Posted September 10, 2010 Author Share Posted September 10, 2010 nowdays if you want to know something, whip out your blackberry and google it, its that simple. Personally school was a waste and i learnt more things outside school that i still use up to today. Biology, physics, maths, english - shakespare....whats the point? Google is all your source of information? Do you never think to question sources etc? I think school is quite important, it gives you a basis for learning and how to approach many aspects in every day life. Not only that but it's a true environment to nurture talent before you're under the pressure to perform in any sort of job/career. The point is, waste half your life at school and the other half working, and thats you out of the way. Not having a go at you or anything chap, but if you feel that your education was a waste I feel sorry for you Yes, some things in school cannot tangibly be applied to real life (for instance I have no application for knowing about long shore drift for geology), but feel happier that I can observe the world and understand different aspects about it. Did physics/maths/mechanics/engineering not give you an appreciation for how a car works etc? Maths is so useless though, any normal person would get a calculator Ok, I can understand that there are tools now that make life easier, i.e. calculators, computers, software and other labour/thinking devices but the people who design them and build them and advance us as a society/culture (I'll also include art and music here) had to get their basis somewhere. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
monsween Posted September 10, 2010 Share Posted September 10, 2010 I had an excellent teacher that taught us mostly mental arithmetic and problem solving Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
monsween Posted September 10, 2010 Share Posted September 10, 2010 Maths is so useless though, any normal person would get a calculator I have to disagree. That's complete shite. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnny g Posted September 10, 2010 Share Posted September 10, 2010 I have to disagree. That's complete shite. Agree - reliance on basic items is what's ruining our new generation. They can't do anything without some kind of "aid". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Havard Posted September 10, 2010 Share Posted September 10, 2010 Agree - reliance on basic items is what's ruining our new generation. They can't do anything without some kind of "aid". This is true. Calculators make you lazy and the minute you can't find one you are fooked. I work in an industry where calculations, water storage, flowrates, pressures are all part of the game. If I was in a meeting and needed a calculator for basic maths then I wouldn't get much work as people prefer to deal with clever people. FWIW I got a D in GCSE maths but I now work with it all the time so I suppose I should go back and redo it as when I was 16 I was only bothered about girls and playing football.... H. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Purity14 Posted September 10, 2010 Share Posted September 10, 2010 Google could one day say 2+2=5 Would you believe? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
monsween Posted September 10, 2010 Share Posted September 10, 2010 What is it you do havard? I work in oil and gas and rely on the maths I learnt at school in my work on a daily basis English, now that's a different matter lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
James Posted September 10, 2010 Share Posted September 10, 2010 Maths is so useless though, any normal person would get a calculator Are you being serious?! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Havard Posted September 10, 2010 Share Posted September 10, 2010 What is it you do havard? I work in oil and gas and rely on the maths I learnt at school in my work on a daily basis English, now that's a different matter lol I am a pump and pressurisation engineer/salesman. I look at boosting water up tall buildings, football stadiums, schools etc, storing water and distribution through pipework. Most calulations are based on flowrates, resistances through pipework, weights etc. The other part of the business is heating pressurisation so dealing with expansion at different temperatures and how to deal with it. It's a great job and you have to think on your feet whilst in meetings with clients. I tend to do the maths in my head and then check it on a calculator, when the answer is correct I say to the customer "I could do this for a living..!!" When I get it wrong, I blame the calculator..... H. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jevansio Posted September 10, 2010 Share Posted September 10, 2010 Me like turnips, me not like numb3rs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Havard Posted September 10, 2010 Share Posted September 10, 2010 Me like turnips, me not like numb3rs Are you thicker that a Ghurka's foreskin Jay?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TonytotheB Posted September 10, 2010 Share Posted September 10, 2010 Maths is more than basic sums, surely? Basic probability and how to use the ! command means you can figure out that winning the Euromillions (5 plus the two stars) is a stupidly small possibility (~1/74 million approx) I studied maths and further maths at a-level and then Phys-wigs at Uni. They say the better you get at maths the worse you get at mental arithmetic I once worked out that I only needed to win 8 races on Gran Turismo 3 to win the whole event. I did this through 6.x + 4.(10-x) > 0, where x was the number of races, 6 points for a win, 4 ponts for the next guy and the assumption that the same car wins second each time. This came from a knowledge of inequalities. This comes to 7. something, which rounds up to 8. Made me smile anyway lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ozz Posted September 10, 2010 Share Posted September 10, 2010 This is true. Calculators make you lazy and the minute you can't find one you are fooked. I work in an industry where calculations, water storage, flowrates, pressures are all part of the game. If I was in a meeting and needed a calculator for basic maths then I wouldn't get much work as people prefer to deal with clever people. FWIW I got a D in GCSE maths but I now work with it all the time so I suppose I should go back and redo it as when I was 16 I was only bothered about girls and playing football.... H. I think both statements are sweeping. Its a tool, tools are there to improve efficiency and reduce error. It depends what you mean by 'basic' maths, but in the scenario you mentioned I'd prefer someone who backed up their musings with spreadsheets etc. Its not lazy, its progress. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Purity14 Posted September 10, 2010 Share Posted September 10, 2010 I created a batch file to do a job in my old work. It was something just to shorten an overly long process. People relied on the said batch file. Update on systems mean batch file didnt work. Office: CRISIS > THE BATCH FILE DOESNT WORK > WHAT DO WE DO? Me: Well, you'd do it manually, until I can fix it. Office: We dont know how to do it manually. Me: Oh dear. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snake Posted September 10, 2010 Share Posted September 10, 2010 Buy them a dart board they will soon work it out Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedM Posted September 10, 2010 Share Posted September 10, 2010 1/2 the time I'm great at maths. The other 2/3 I'm rubbish. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Purity14 Posted September 10, 2010 Share Posted September 10, 2010 1/2 the time I'm great at maths. The other 2/3 I'm rubbish. http://trollcats.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/09/I-see-what-you-did-there_trollcat.jpg Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ewen Posted September 10, 2010 Share Posted September 10, 2010 Buy them a dart board they will soon work it out Theres a lot of truth in that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
a98pmalcolm Posted September 10, 2010 Share Posted September 10, 2010 i think we do need to learn maths as a subject at school to teach the brain to use numbers correctly. not sayin it will some usful as i learnt more maths as a manager of a shop than i did at school. but either way its an important subject Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Purity14 Posted September 10, 2010 Share Posted September 10, 2010 i think we do need to learn maths as a subject at school to teach the brain to use numbers correctly. not sayin it will some usful as i learnt more maths as a manager of a shop than i did at school. but either way its an important subject So is English. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedM Posted September 10, 2010 Share Posted September 10, 2010 So is English. You beat me to it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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