K-12 Mathematics Some Warning Signs.pptVIP

K-12 Mathematics: Some Warning Signs Professor Clifford Mass Department of Atmospheric Sciences University of Washington Warning Sign One:Students Are Less Mathematically Capable in College Freshman Courses Atmospheric Sciences 101 students today are clearly less math capable than 10-15 years ago. Most have poor algebra skills. Many are uncomfortable with even simple equations. As a result, we have had to “dumb-down” the class. Other professors in a variety of disciplines have noticed the same thing. Objective Evidence The UW Gave the Same Math Placement Exam Between 1990 and 1999 After Scores Plummeted…They Created a New EASIER Exam While Math Placement Scores Have Dropped, It Has Become More Difficult to Get Into the UW And Their High School Grade Point Averages Have Risen Considerably! What is going on? Are Washington State students getting dumber in mathematics? Are external factors (video games, cell-phone usage, two-wage-earner families) taking a toll? Could changes in math curricula be part of the story? A Relevant Side Issue Foreign-born and foreign-educated individuals are increasingly dominating the more mathematical disciplines. Why aren’t their enough Americans to fill math-related positions? 1989: The National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NTCM) Standards Really more of a set of guidelines then true detailed standards. Promote the discovery approach—students are led through exercises, experiments, and hands-on projects designed to motivate them to discover mathematical principles on their own. Far less emphasis on proven algorithms (e.g., long division) and more emphasis on using calculators. Less emphasis on acquiring mastery through practice. Less emphasis on algebra and geometry. Also known as reform math…or by some as fuzzy math! A Range of New Curricula Sprung From the NCTM Standards Examples include TERC Investigations, CMP, and the McDougal–Littell Integrated Math. McDougal–Littell Integrated Math has been around for over a decade and