[Newsbot]

Title: Lack of science and maths skills 'can hamper adults'
Category: Science
Posted By: DrCaleb
Date: 2015-09-04 07:27:24

[Tyler_1]

Everyone already knows this I am guessing.

[DrCaleb]

Tyler_1 Tyler_1:

Everyone already knows this I am guessing.

That's the trick though, they might not know!

[Tyler_1]

DrCaleb DrCaleb:

Tyler_1 Tyler_1:

Everyone already knows this I am guessing.

That's the trick though, they might not know!

Well I know a few sneaky tricks so I'm good.

[BartSimpson]

I see this problem all the time in my workplace.

People can't make change for coffee at the coffee place near here, a growing number of young people don't understand that cars use different amounts of fuel at different speeds, and never mind algebraic thinking! That's a no-starter with way too many people these days.

One of my younger co-workers was suffering with basic math and I gave him a set of flash cards and a laminated multiplication table and showed him how to use the multiplication table for division. He's doing better now.

But really? Do we really need to be teaching remedial arithmetic to grown adults who have government jobs?

[Lemmy]

I see this problem online all the time.

People can't comprehend the mathematics of probability and statistics. They deny climate change despite the overwhelming scientific evidence. They're afraid of getting a perfectly safe inoculation but they're not afraid of astronomically more dangerous behaviours, like smoking cigarettes. They're afraid of being killed by a terrorist but not afraid of the gun in the house that is thousands of times more likely to cause them harm.

What we need to be teaching is remedial statistics.

[DrCaleb]

Lemmy Lemmy:

People can't comprehend the mathematics of probability and statistics. They deny climate change despite the overwhelming scientific evidence. They're afraid of getting a perfectly safe inoculation but they're not afraid of astronomically more dangerous behaviours, like smoking cigarettes. They're afraid of being killed by a terrorist but not afraid of the gun in the house that is thousands of times more likely to cause them harm.

What we need to be teaching is remedial statistics.

It looks complex, but people don't know just how much this governs their lives!

[DrCaleb]

(Sorry Tyler)

[fifeboy]

Lemmy Lemmy:

I see this problem online all the time.

People can't comprehend the mathematics of probability and statistics. They deny climate change despite the overwhelming scientific evidence. They're afraid of getting a perfectly safe inoculation but they're not afraid of astronomically more dangerous behaviours, like smoking cigarettes. They're afraid of being killed by a terrorist but not afraid of the gun in the house that is thousands of times more likely to cause them harm.

What we need to be teaching is remedial statistics.

Well, as a former teacher I say what is needed is adherence to the curricula. If they can't do grade 3 work, don't pass 'em to grade 4. If they can get through grade 12 and actually know grade 12 material they will do ok.

[Lemmy]

fifeboy fifeboy:

Well, as a former teacher I say what is needed is adherence to the curricula. If they can't do grade 3 work, don't pass 'em to grade 4. If they can get through grade 12 and actually know grade 12 material they will do ok.

I agree, but it's not teachers' faults, it's the government's fault. The way school funding works now, schools have to pass kids to preserve jobs. Principals straight out tell teachers "if you fail kids, you're going to cost the school teachers". Funding is tied to performance and since performance can't be measured, it falls to things like "graduation rate" and standardized testing to determine which schools get funded.

To fix the problem you raise, we need to undo the changes that have been made to education funding over the past two decades and stop standardized testing. Then teachers will no longer be afraid to fail students.

[fifeboy]

Lemmy Lemmy:

fifeboy fifeboy:

Well, as a former teacher I say what is needed is adherence to the curricula. If they can't do grade 3 work, don't pass 'em to grade 4. If they can get through grade 12 and actually know grade 12 material they will do ok.

I agree, but it's not teachers' faults, it's the government's fault. The way school funding works now, schools have to pass kids to preserve jobs. Principals straight out tell teachers "if you fail kids, you're going to cost the school teachers". Funding is tied to performance and since performance can't be measured, it falls to things like "graduation rate" and standardized testing to determine which schools get funded.

To fix the problem you raise, we need to undo the changes that have been made to education funding over the past two decades and stop standardized testing. Then teachers will no longer be afraid to fail students.

I tend to agree, but I am mixed on my feelings about standardized tests. I don't know of a better way to check out a students abilities but have met too many "teach to the test" teachers. Any ideas?

[DrCaleb]

[Lemmy]

fifeboy fifeboy:

I tend to agree, but I am mixed on my feelings about standardized tests. I don't know of a better way to check out a students abilities but have met too many "teach to the test" teachers. Any ideas?

Testing skills is fine. Tying funding to results is the mistake.

[BartSimpson]

Lemmy Lemmy:

Testing skills is fine. Tying funding to results is the mistake.

Try that argument with your employer:

Measuring my performance is fine. Tying my salary to my results is a mistake.

Good luck with that if you're not a teacher.

[fifeboy]

Lemmy Lemmy:

fifeboy fifeboy:

I tend to agree, but I am mixed on my feelings about standardized tests. I don't know of a better way to check out a students abilities but have met too many "teach to the test" teachers. Any ideas?

Testing skills is fine. Tying funding to results is the mistake.

I agree