Re:Math education: It’s not about numbers, it’s about learni...
by dahart on Tuesday July 11, 2017 @01:52PM
(#14746302)
I completely agree it would be more laborius, including the beginner.
Maybe I didn't make my point clearly. I'm not arguing against the use of notation or symbols. I'm asking whether Greek specifically is slowing learning down or intimidating people from starting. I'm asking whether learning the symbols with the concepts is the most efficient way to learn math, not whether it's the most efficient way to do math.
Maybe the laborious way is better if more people are comfortable starting that way, and easing more slowly into symbolic syntax.
Maybe there's a more compelling story about math that will get more people interested in it than teaching what symbols do.
If Greek is intimidating enough that many people never start, it doesn't matter how actually laborious the symbols are or not, the battle is lost.
Maybe I didn't make my point clearly. I'm not arguing against the use of notation or symbols. I'm asking whether Greek specifically is slowing learning down or intimidating people from starting. I'm asking whether learning the symbols with the concepts is the most efficient way to learn math, not whether it's the most efficient way to do math.
Maybe the laborious way is better if more people are comfortable starting that way, and easing more slowly into symbolic syntax.
Maybe there's a more compelling story about math that will get more people interested in it than teaching what symbols do.
If Greek is intimidating enough that many people never start, it doesn't matter how actually laborious the symbols are or not, the battle is lost.