How is mathematics used by those in the pubic domain? To address this question, explore the news or print media in the next few days to get an idea of its power to decide. What does this imply for the teaching of mathematics, constructivism, and who can do mathematics?
There's a broad spectrum of uses for mathematics in the public domain. One example is the use of statistics to influence decisions. The validity of research and studies on which many arguments and theories are based depends on the statistical analysis of data generated by experiments, surveys, polls etc. In sports, statistics could determine the value of an athlete.
Meteorologists depend on mathematical models to predict the weather. If the price of oil per barrel increases significantly, it would raise the price at the pump, which in turn could affect consumer spending and the economy. If a particular stock goes up or down by a certain percentage, stock holders would be affected.
Implications for the teaching of mathematics: the teaching of mathematics must prepare students for the real-life tasks that await them, and understanding the world around them. Teachers need to draw more on these examples for use in their classrooms to make math more relevant. By implementng constructivist strategies, the math makes sense and becomes 'doable' for everyone.
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2 comments:
I agree, teacher need to provide more relevant examples to capture and keep student's attention.
Students must be aware that there are so many employment opportunities for them out there, and that most, if not all, involve mathematics. That's why math must be relevant now. We must engage the student's before it's too late and we lose them.
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