jvlake (September 6, 2008 at 12:20 am)

1st year at most New Zealand Universities will see all Math done with a pencil and paper, calculators are not allowed for any tests/exams. I'm pretty amazed that they have all that tourism/geography in the American Math syllabus, I guess George was right - Childrens do learn & Rarely is the question asked: Is our children learning? *sniggers* Cluster :O)

twalfyearoldalert (September 5, 2008 at 5:37 am)

Briggs: She isn't clueless, she made a video bringing up good points. Teaching a kid abstract methods for simple things doesn't do anything the standard algorithm can't. Cluster method? more like cluster fuck. None of the examples in these books are useful for a 'higher understanding of multiplication and division', which are simple operations in the first place. The time-tested algorithms provide a way to deal with difficult numbers without a calculator. Relax with the pretentiousness.

sarrk (September 4, 2008 at 12:54 pm)

Who the hell needs multiplication of simple numbers anyway. Complex reasoning and problem solving is all that needs to be taught efficiently. I dumped all my simple math knowledge when I hit college; 7 years on, still no problems.

BortekTheWhinyWimp (September 4, 2008 at 7:40 am)

If you need a calculator for stuff like 7*6 then you fail pretty hard, but that's not math. Math is not and never has been about calculating. It's about abstraction and forms, and that's exactly what these cluster problems try to teach. It's another question if it should be taught at that age, and if the kids are sufficiently prepared. But that's what is essential to college math and science. If you don't go for that, a calculator is everything you'll ever need.

MonsieurGarcia (September 2, 2008 at 3:02 pm)

Post one on this website then. Impress me.

mrwatermelon3 (September 2, 2008 at 5:22 am)

I'm going into my sophomore year in high school my school used everyday math and a system similar to the terc system and I would agree that I am one of those students that can not do simple math and I have been greatly encouraged to use calculator no in algebra, I am unable to most simple mental math, and struggle with out a calculator

BriggsBU (September 2, 2008 at 2:34 am)

Already done. Unlike her (and apparently you) I have taken a professional speaking course. And yes, you learn very quickly to speak without staring at your cards every 5 seconds.

MonsieurGarcia (September 1, 2008 at 4:12 pm)

Before you begin babbling, I'd like you to do a better 15+ minute speech without using such cards. Then we'll talk.

BriggsBU (August 31, 2008 at 9:00 am)

(sorry for doublepost) early age. Nourish their minds and help them learn math, not just memorize. And finally, someone send this woman to a public speaking class so she can learn to speak without a teleprompter. The number of times she had to look down at her hidden cards was absolutely appalling.

BriggsBU (August 31, 2008 at 8:58 am)

endeavor to make students understand HOW multiplication and division work. Come up with two ways to multiply? Great, that's excellent because it's getting the student THINKING which is the most important part of school. If you want mindless zombies who are great at plugging information into set formulas, then do as she says and memorize formulas. If you want truly intelligent students capable of creating their own formulas and who actually UNDERSTAND the math, then don't hinder them at such an