Re: weight vs. mass (was: Units and Conversions)

[Herbert H Gottlieb <herbgottlieb@JUNO.COM>]

It's hard to believe that the college students in Tina's
math class have such difficulty doing the most simple
arithmetic problems. Since college is not compulsory
I was wondering about the ability of those high school
graduates who are not accepted into any college.

Herb Gottlieb from New York City .
(Where high school diplomas are now being granted to illiterates)





On Tue, 02 Jul 2002 18:47:02 -0500 Tina Fanetti
<FanettT@QUEST.WITCC.CC.IA.US> writes:
> > > Some of them do.  By far the majority of them do.
> They weren't born knowing it, but they figure it out.
> This thread started out referring to a college class.<<
>
> Yes and it still is.  Let me describe this class for you.  I start
> ou=
> t teaching the students how to add, subtract, multiply and divide
> who=
> le numbers.  About 1/3 of the class can't do that.  Then we move to
> d=
> ecimals, which most can do via calculators.  Then comes positive and
> =
> negative numbers.  3/4 or more of the class can't get that.
> Eventual=
> ly they get it via the calculator.  Then we do fractions.  I suspect
> =
> only 10% of the students get fractions before the course. Then come
> p=
> ercents.  Few students can do this.  I love it.  I love taking them
> f=
> or a ride because we all know that if something costs $100 and it is
> =
> on sale for 20% off that means it should ring up $120 right?
> (believ=
> e me they think it does)  Or it should ring up $20.  After that it
> is=
>  unit conversions.
> Then onto what perimeter, area and volume are.  They think it is the
> =
> same.  Love to be a contractor here.  Then we do incredibly simple
> al=
> gebra.  Then they learn how to plug numbers into formulas.
>
> Okay I went to a not so good private school.  I learned how to do
> thi=
> s in grade school.  For about half my students this is the first
> time=
>  they have seen this material at all. =20
>
> Most just don't get it.  I have nurses to be, electricians to be,
> con=
> tractors to be, police to be amoungst others.  They frighten me.
> Rea=
> lly bad. =20
>
> If you have ever tried teaching at this level it is frightening that
> =
> they just dont get it.
>
> Today one asked me when I was going to start teaching.  This is only
> =
> the 5 week of the semester.  I was like what do you think I am doing
> =
> up here?  She is like you are working out problems, but that is not
> s=
> howing us how to do it.  It is not like i work the problems out in
> si=
> lence.  I tell them what steps I am doing....
>
> Tina Fanetti
> Math at WIT
> a^2 + b^2 =3D (a+b)^2
> x+y=3Dxy
> 4^5/4^3=3D1
> (mistakes my elementary students made on the last test)
> I could go on but it gives me nightmares.
>
> Tina Fanetti
> Physics Instructor
> Western Iowa Technical Community College
> 4647 Stone Ave
> Sioux City IA 51102
> 712-274-8733 ext 1429