[Phys-L] Re: student mathematical capability

[Jack Uretsky <jlu@HEP.ANL.GOV>]

Hi all-
        Remedial math is no remedy.  The problem, as someone has already
intimated, is that problem solving is reserved for a short period in the
math curriculum entitled "word problems", hated by students and teachers
alike.
        Try, if you haven't already, to get hold of your elementary and
high school textbooks and sit in on a few classes.  One way, if you're not
in the school system, is to sign on as a substitute teacher.  I guarantee
an eye opener.
                        Regards,
                                        Jack


On Wed, 14 Sep 2005, John Denker wrote:

> Rick Tarara wrote in part:
>
> > ... VAST majority of intro-level students ...
> > ... except for a gifted (or perverse) few ...
> > ... students for which the Pythagorean Theorem is 'heavy math'
>
> Hmmmm.  IMHO if physics students find the Pythagorean theorem to be a burden,
> this is a problem.  This problem cannot be solved by dumbing down the physics
> curriculum.  The advising system should be set up to ensure that such students
> take remedial math now, and not take physics until later.  If there is a
> breakdown in the advising system, the problematic students should be identified
> early in the year, so they can make a timely transfer out of physics into remedial
> math.
>
> ======================================
>
> As a secondary, less-useful line of inquiry, I am confused about how such a
> problem could possibly arise in the first place.
>
> 1) According to
>    http://www.saintmarys.edu/~admoff/General/
> incoming freshmen are required to have taken three full years of
> high school math.  Presumably the least-aggressive sequence of HS
> courses would be
>      -- Algebra I
>      -- Geometry
>      -- Algebra II / Trig
> and other more-aggressive sequences would only support my point (below)
> more strongly.
>
> 2) Also, according to
>    http://education.yahoo.com/college/facts/8462.html
> some 82% of incoming freshmen have SAT math scores over 500.
>
> 3) We are told that by the time the students get around to studying
> relativity in physics class, "the Pythagorean Theorem is 'heavy math'"
>
> I find it difficult to reconcile point (2) with point (3).  One might consider
> the hypothesis that primarily the least-math-capable students -- i.e. the
> bottom 18% -- sign up for physics.  But that seems unlikely.
>
> I find it even more difficult to reconcile point (1) with point (3).  A
> possible hypothesis is that students who could have handled the Pythagorean
> theorem on the day they arrived can no longer do so, because they have
> become less skillful during their time at college.
>
> I'm confused.  What am I missing?

--
"Trust me.  I have a lot of experience at this."
                General Custer's unremembered message to his men,
                just before leading them into the Little Big Horn Valley
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