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The problem is with mathematical notation, not the students. If you step back and look at mathematics from a product perspective, from a tool designers perspect
by iandanforth 8y ago
The problem is with mathematical notation, not the students. If you step back and look at mathematics from a product perspective, from a tool designers perspective, it's pretty clear that the user experience is awful. Generation after generation of students encounter this tool and say repeatedly, emphatically, "I hate math." and yet we seem blind to the possibility that the tool itself could be improved.
It's like we're forcing children to learn how to use an astrolabe and then blaming them for finding it complex and inapplicable to their daily lives. Google maps provides the answers they want with a better user experience. I would have astrolabe anxiety, I don't have Google maps anxiety.
Unfortunately there is a pseudo-religious connotation to mathematics. It is "pure", "beautiful", etc. Teachers rarely encourage students to change, improve, disrupt, or invent math.
Mathematical notation and pedagogy is continuously evolving and to think that we're at the global optimum right now both ignores the negative reviews users are constantly providing and ignores the history of math itself.
- CompelTechnic 8y agoI doubt that changes to notation could cause a dramatically easier experience for students. Pedagogy could be improved significantly.
- JJMcJ 8y ago> Google maps anxiety There are people who do.
- antidesitter 8y agoDo you have an example?
- tomatotomato37 8y agoSkipping all the way to college level, but the notation of quantum physics can get absolutely ridiculous. It's the only system that I can think of which will use both the upper and lower case symbol of a Greek symbol in the same handwritten equation while meaning different things; phi, psi, and theta being the most notorious.
- chongli 8y agoThe problem is with mathematical notation, not the students. I think that may only be the case at lower levels of math education. If I had to guess, I would say that notational rigidity is enforced by teachers who are themselves not confident in math. It's easier to behave like a cargo cult than it is to attain true understanding. The higher you get in math (undergrad, postgrad, research math) the less people care about notation. The only thing that matters is that your arguments are clear to a person suitably versed in your field. If you need to make use of some special notation for a one-off purpose, then you simply explain it beforehand.
- CalRobert 8y agoI had a colleague who loved math. All of his code used variables like "x", "y", etc. His code was a steaming pile of shit to review or decipher.