There is no such thing as a fundamentally correct system of units. The only advantage of the metric system is that it uses base 10 rather than a mixture of bases, and hence is so much easier to use, and imo better.
In Australia we changed over to metric in 1966. I stilll remember the old conversion figures ( as well as calculating ridiculously difficult problems either by hand or with my trusty slide rule). Belive me, the metric system is MUCH easier to use, although I still find some primal force in me doing conversions from L/100km to mpg - or maybe thats just to relieve the boredom of long car trips.
I must say I find it quite amusing that a technologically advanced nation such as the US is still embracing a clearly inferior unit system, with sometimes expensive and embarrasing consequences. Or maybe there really are extra terrestrials out there that cause billion dollar space explorations to go crashing out of control into far away planets.
A better site for it would be over Canberra...... thats where most of the hot air is produced - by politicians that wont support innovative technologies.
Many of math teacher collegues I talk to would agree (based on anecdotal classroom evidence I will admit) that there is little difference in mathematiical ability of high school children. What there does appear to be however is a difference in how boys and girls are able to process and respond to various types of question.
1) Generally speaking, boys are more comfortable with questions that can be answered quickly, without requiring any written explanation of what they have done. Girls on the other hand are more comfortable with questions that to require some written explanation of what they have done. Call it laziness from the boys or whatever else you like, but thats what shows up in the classroom. I believe that this actually reflects what we see in the school yard. Girls hang around in groups talking, boys generally are in smaller groups 2's and 3's making monnosylabic grunts to each other.
2) There seem to be more boys who can process a written question - eg in trig - into a suitable diagram and then to a solution. Girls on the other hand are more comfortable with questions where the diagram is given.
3) many boys seem to have a better spatial awareness than girls - eg in map reading.
The solution. Provide a classroom environment where all skills and learning preferences are practiced and encouraged, and follow that up with assessment that is also rich and varied, without being trivial mathematically.
Before you flame me out, these are based on observations over a 20yr+ period in math classes. Yes they express my personal opinion.
As for girls playing with trucks. Both my daughters were given trucks as well as dolls to play with. The eldest plalyed with both more or less equally, the youngest rarely played with trucks and had a strong preference for dolls right from the start. Coincidentally, both are quite good at math, and both have very good spatial awareness.
I just love reading about build your own stuff. Takes me back to my youth when everyone did just that. Believe it or not I can still remember the old cats whisker crystal radios. Them were the days.
For the last 2 years we have been trading, via an ethernet network connection (cable strung between the houses) , our broadband internet access with our neighbour. In return he cuts our grass.... I now no longer own a motor mower. Suits us both.
Is it only my imagination or did I read recently that Linux is no threat to MS? If thats so, then why the recent crap from Balmer trying to undermine its growing popularity? Maybe he's really trying to decide where which is the truth, so he's covering both options.
"Come sit beside me I said to myself, and though it doesnt make sense, as a small sign of trust, I held my own hand, and together I sat on the fence." (Michael Leunig)
A friend of my brothers who is an opthalmic surgeon says that he would never have it done because of the risks - mind you he depends on his own eyesight to earn his keep.
All we need now is an attachment for the iPod to block those tossers who leave their cellphones on in theatres, restaurants etc and think that everyone else wants to hear their conversations.
This is yet another example of the Auatralian Govt blindly following the USA, without any deep thought of the consequences. Frankly John Howard has butt licked George Bush so many times they should start sleeping together.
I'll preface my comments with the admission that I am a long time mac user at home and PC/windows user at work. I can only wish that my work machine was as easy to use and trouble free as my - now ageing - macs. Cant say I have any substantial experience with linux, but from what I have seen it seems equal to or better than windows in a number of areas.
The only thing that PC's do better imo is gaming - just listen to salesmen use that pitch when selling PC's. "look at all the games you can get yourself/your children/granny" - nothing about education, ease of use, ease of setup, freedom from virii etc etc.
It seems to me that the only way MS will die is when other OS's give consumers what they want, ie a machine to play dozens of shit games, and a few good games on.
Essentially the general populace and businesses have been "brainwashed" into believing there is no alternative to MS.
End of MS? I dont think so for some time
The article highlights what I and other math teachers have been arguing for some time now. Technology is no substitute for deep understanding, and that the basics, such as tables and arithmetic skills are as essential for success in math are the alphabet and spelling for success in english.
Slashdot Mirror
There is no such thing as a fundamentally correct system of units. The only advantage of the metric system is that it uses base 10 rather than a mixture of bases, and hence is so much easier to use, and imo better. In Australia we changed over to metric in 1966. I stilll remember the old conversion figures ( as well as calculating ridiculously difficult problems either by hand or with my trusty slide rule). Belive me, the metric system is MUCH easier to use, although I still find some primal force in me doing conversions from L/100km to mpg - or maybe thats just to relieve the boredom of long car trips. I must say I find it quite amusing that a technologically advanced nation such as the US is still embracing a clearly inferior unit system, with sometimes expensive and embarrasing consequences. Or maybe there really are extra terrestrials out there that cause billion dollar space explorations to go crashing out of control into far away planets.
A better site for it would be over Canberra...... thats where most of the hot air is produced - by politicians that wont support innovative technologies.
I wonder how many are using microsofts secure products - those ones that are more secure than the alternatives that is?
Many of math teacher collegues I talk to would agree (based on anecdotal classroom evidence I will admit) that there is little difference in mathematiical ability of high school children. What there does appear to be however is a difference in how boys and girls are able to process and respond to various types of question. 1) Generally speaking, boys are more comfortable with questions that can be answered quickly, without requiring any written explanation of what they have done. Girls on the other hand are more comfortable with questions that to require some written explanation of what they have done. Call it laziness from the boys or whatever else you like, but thats what shows up in the classroom. I believe that this actually reflects what we see in the school yard. Girls hang around in groups talking, boys generally are in smaller groups 2's and 3's making monnosylabic grunts to each other. 2) There seem to be more boys who can process a written question - eg in trig - into a suitable diagram and then to a solution. Girls on the other hand are more comfortable with questions where the diagram is given. 3) many boys seem to have a better spatial awareness than girls - eg in map reading. The solution. Provide a classroom environment where all skills and learning preferences are practiced and encouraged, and follow that up with assessment that is also rich and varied, without being trivial mathematically. Before you flame me out, these are based on observations over a 20yr+ period in math classes. Yes they express my personal opinion. As for girls playing with trucks. Both my daughters were given trucks as well as dolls to play with. The eldest plalyed with both more or less equally, the youngest rarely played with trucks and had a strong preference for dolls right from the start. Coincidentally, both are quite good at math, and both have very good spatial awareness.
I just love reading about build your own stuff. Takes me back to my youth when everyone did just that. Believe it or not I can still remember the old cats whisker crystal radios. Them were the days.
I think I see George Bush, Tony Blair and John Howard amongst the collection.
http://gsc_oz.tripod.com/gentlemenssteamingclub/in dex.html
For the last 2 years we have been trading, via an ethernet network connection (cable strung between the houses) , our broadband internet access with our neighbour. In return he cuts our grass.... I now no longer own a motor mower. Suits us both.
Is it only my imagination or did I read recently that Linux is no threat to MS? If thats so, then why the recent crap from Balmer trying to undermine its growing popularity? Maybe he's really trying to decide where which is the truth, so he's covering both options. "Come sit beside me I said to myself, and though it doesnt make sense, as a small sign of trust, I held my own hand, and together I sat on the fence." (Michael Leunig)
Thats a bit rich coming from arguably the biggest corporate theives of software in history.
My youngest sons response: "Suck shit you pack of idiots - but it was probably Bills grog money for the weekend that got wasted"
A friend of my brothers who is an opthalmic surgeon says that he would never have it done because of the risks - mind you he depends on his own eyesight to earn his keep.
All we need now is an attachment for the iPod to block those tossers who leave their cellphones on in theatres, restaurants etc and think that everyone else wants to hear their conversations.
This is yet another example of the Auatralian Govt blindly following the USA, without any deep thought of the consequences. Frankly John Howard has butt licked George Bush so many times they should start sleeping together.
I'll preface my comments with the admission that I am a long time mac user at home and PC/windows user at work. I can only wish that my work machine was as easy to use and trouble free as my - now ageing - macs. Cant say I have any substantial experience with linux, but from what I have seen it seems equal to or better than windows in a number of areas. The only thing that PC's do better imo is gaming - just listen to salesmen use that pitch when selling PC's. "look at all the games you can get yourself/your children/granny" - nothing about education, ease of use, ease of setup, freedom from virii etc etc. It seems to me that the only way MS will die is when other OS's give consumers what they want, ie a machine to play dozens of shit games, and a few good games on. Essentially the general populace and businesses have been "brainwashed" into believing there is no alternative to MS. End of MS? I dont think so for some time
The article highlights what I and other math teachers have been arguing for some time now. Technology is no substitute for deep understanding, and that the basics, such as tables and arithmetic skills are as essential for success in math are the alphabet and spelling for success in english.