Delicious LiveJournal Links for 6-7-2009

[andrewducker]

• The Difference Between An Amateur, A Scientist, And A Genius
  Sorry, can't summarise it, you'll have to read the article.
  (tags: science genius creativity psychology intelligence inspiration)
• A mathematician's lament
  That we do not teach mathematics in school, and what we do teach is almost entirely useless.
  (tags: education mathematics teaching art)

Comments

[ajax-nz.livejournal.com]

As a one-time maths postgrad I think the math one is over the top.

'Maths' covers 3 very different things:

1. Survival numeracy. (mental arithmetic, physical & financial units and conversion)
2. Applied maths. Maths as used in physics, engineering, economics, statistics etc
3. Pure math. Pushing the boundaries

This guy is a pure mathematician.

Its kinda like 'English'
1. Reading, writing, grammar, spelling (survival literacy)
2. Essays, rational argument, document structure etc (language as a tool for other fields)
3. Poetry & Shakespeare appreciation. (language for its own sake)

The first two have value, but not the same type of value as the 3rd.

Everyone needs the first. Most 'knowledge workers' need a fair touch of the 2nd. But only a few specialists need to really study the 3rd.

[andrewducker]

But I think that he'd argue (and I'd agree) that the way we teach maths almost prevents people from learning (1) and (2) unless they have the kinds of brains that overcome the way maths is taught.

Comparing to English, I learned (1) and (2) by _doing_, not by being taught. It's now generally accepted that starting people off with "This is a verb" before they actively enjoy Englush for its own sake causes them to go off it for life.

[ajax-nz.livejournal.com]

I guess I went through a different education system - which might be better at doing vs parroting.
(and survived it and went on to do math so I'm obviously one of those few %)

I agree it needs a rejig, but I think english is a better model than painting. Math is a survival skill, tool and artform. Painting is by and large purely an artform.

[andrewducker]

I'd agree that English is a better model too.