Re: Don't Call It "Algebra"; Call It Something Warm And Fuzzy

hrubin@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
 (Herman Rubin) wrote:
>>Because this is what has been taught, and this is what a student is
expected 
>>to knwo.
>
>And this is NOT what should be taught.

That is what the state standards expect him to know.  If you don't
teach it, you get fired.

>>So how would you grade a student who uses outstanfing toechnique to
rpesent 
>>linear eq. in point-slope form when the question alled for the 
>>slope-intercept form?
>
>>Did he just not follow instructions, and shouldn;t that be punished?
>
>I would be unlikely to ask the question.

The state test will ask the question, and you as the teacher will be
blamed if he cannot solve it in the required manner.

>I am not even sure
>that I would give such, except as how to normalize the equation
>of a line for certain purposes, and leave it at that.  Memorizing
>trivia is not that im****tant.

It is, when the state tests ask questions about trivia.  Which they
do.

>Look at the above.  It is a matter of normalization of the
>equation of a line and nothing more.  The rule of equality
>covers this quite well.
>
>>Further complicating the decision is a certaintity that just becaue he
could 
>>do the problem correctly ont he board yesterday does not mean he could
do it 
>>today.
>
>STOP concentrating on memorization and routine.  Minimize them.

Memorization and routine lead to automatization, which is required on
a timed test.

lojbab
Bob LeChevalier - artificial linguist; genealogist
lojbab@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
   Lojban language www.lojban.org