[Blindmath] Math for everyday use

[George Bell]

Like many, I hated pure math at school.

But when I left to become an apprentice mining mechanical engineer, what we called "Day Release" to college was compulsory.  

It was there that "Applied Mathematics" was also a compulsory subject.  Now suddenly the math theory was taught as it applied in working life.  I suddenly began to see a practical application for what they had been trying to teach me at school.  Not only did I now enjoy the subject, but I also passed the exams.

You would have thought after all this time that teachers of pure math would realise that for many pupils, they would understand things better if real life examples were used in explanations.

George.

-----Original Message-----
From: Blindmath [mailto:blindmath-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Bente via Blindmath
Sent: 08 December 2014 17:47
To: Wilson_KC; Blind Math list for those interested in mathematics
Subject: Re: [Blindmath] Math for everyday use

Well if I had a penny for every time a student asked me that ... well you know.
 The truth is, not every concept will be used by every student in their adult life.  However, the idea of thinking both critically and logically is essential
to everyone.    I taught in middle school for quite a few years and I understand
their mindset, scary but true.  They want to know if the task is worth the effort.  We live in a society of instant gratification.  The key here is to get them to understand that the ability to "problem solve" is a life long skill.
 Being able to look at a particular situation and ask questions like, 1/what did they give me 2/ what do they want 3/ what do I already know in my head and from past experiences that can help me with this particular problem, well that is life skills!!  We are, or should be teaching them how to think and reason. So to sum it up: you may not use this particular concept depending upon what you choose to do as an adult, but there are many other things that may depend on previous knowledge Education, especially in math, is like a brick house, if you build a weak foundation by leaving out blocks in the beginning, the higher you build the walls, the weaker they get, until they eventually fail and crumble.
Education is power and strength.  No expert (insert name here...Michael Jordan,
etc) got where they are today by going right to their end game.  They practiced skills in isolation and then put them together and developed strategies based on skills and knowledge.  All this being said, just remember, we are talking to an 8th grade child and they do live in an alternate universe LOL, so as sponge bob would say... "Good luck with that" !!

Bente J. Casile
Math Learning Specialist
Disability Support Services
Wake Technical Community College
Raleigh NC
bjcasile at waketech.edu


> On December 8, 2014 at 11:57 AM Wilson_KC via Blindmath 
> <blindmath at nfbnet.org>
> wrote:
>
>
> I have an 8th grade blind student in pre-algebra. She constantly asks 
> the question, "When will I ever use this?" or "Why do I need to learn 
> this?" I'm going to have her do some of her own research on practical 
> applications for math, I have some of my own ideas, but I wanted to 
> ask you all for some "come back" answers. I realize many of you are 
> math geeks, but this student is not, at least at this point in time. 
> So can you let me know how you, as a blind person, use math in your every day life?
>
>
>
> Thanks.
>
>
>
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