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I once knew a 2nd grade kid who was learning calculus and competing in AIME. An incredible outlier? Or is it possible for children to develop these skills throu
by bllguo 9y ago
I once knew a 2nd grade kid who was learning calculus and competing in AIME. An incredible outlier? Or is it possible for children to develop these skills through practice and early training? I wonder how many of our attitudes and beliefs towards early education are dictated by tradition (what we went through in our childhoods), vs. what is actually possible.
Think of the potential when someone learns to program at 6 years old, and keeps at it! I hate to use the word "disruption" but I really wonder if education could potentially be "disrupted."
- gertef 9y agoIt depends on what you mean by "learning" calculus. Of course it's an incredible outlier. Even for designated geniuses, the ones who excelled all life and ahd strong parental support and become world-famous mathematical achievers, calculus at age 8 is unusual. There's plenty of room to increase the level of achievement across many inherent-skill-level bands, though, with focused training.
- bllguo 9y agoYeah I didn't word it too well. I was just trying to say that this example made me question if the ceiling for normal 2nd graders is really basic multiplication and division, as is taught in public school curricula. I'm leaning towards no. Of course not all kids will be able to reach this level. But surely they can go beyond the current level.
- Cozumel 9y ago>'calculus at age 8 is unusual.' It is, but it shouldn't be. I taught my niece calculus, programming, foreign languages (mostly swear words, her mom got mad!) She was like a sponge and just soaked it all up, I made it fun and she loved it. I think all kids have that potential but the education system lets them down, class sizes are too big and can only go as far as the curriculum or slowest kid there.