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OK, I appreciate your openness to understanding my point of view. I will articulate/respond respectfully. First, some quick points: 1. I must apologize for mi

OK, I appreciate your openness to understanding my point of view. I will articulate/respond respectfully. First, some quick points: 1. I must apologize for misinterpreting "Math Wars". I though it was referring to the recent little "skirmishes" between certain math professors and Khan Academy (as found here, for example: http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/answer-sheet/post/khan-academy-readers-weigh-in/2012/08/02/gJQA83rW9W_blog.html http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/answer-sheet/post/khan-a...) 2. Your tutorials sound fantastic. I haven't had the pleasure of working through them, but they certainly sound like they are raising the level of worldwide math education. So, before I go any further, let me ask -- are you at all entangled with (or even on the periphery of) the skirmish referred to by the link I posted above, between Mathalicious founder Karim Kai Ani and Khan Academy? Or the skirmish triggered by some of Frank Noschese's criticisms, as in http://fnoschese.wordpress.com/2011/12/02/you-khant-ignore-how-students-learn/ http://fnoschese.wordpress.com/2011/12/02/you-khant-ignore-h... ? The reason I ask is because this is what I (perhaps mistakenly) though you were referring to, and it is many of these criticisms that I feel are baseless and petty. If those criticisms really have nothing to do with your current post or even your current mental outlook, then all that's left for me to do is apologize for jumping to conclusions and getting overheated for something that has nothing to do with you. If those criticism are relevant to your posting and current outlook, then perhaps it would make sense for me to continue onward by listing those criticisms that I feel are baseless. If so, I will proceed.

kalid 14y ago
Hi Charlie, Really appreciate you taking the time to explain. I strive to understand people's point of view, especially when they disagree, because there's probably some insight or viewpoint I'm missing. Nope, I'm not personally involved in any of the current incidents but have been asked several times (privately) to comment. I see the current debate over Khan Academy as the latest unfortunate incident in the general Math Wars which have consumed much of the education community's attention [I'm not a formal teacher, just a programmer who likes math, and wants to explain things as I wish they were taught to me. I'd really appreciate any feedback if you get a chance to read any tutorials]. I agree that some silly arguments have been made (on both sides of the debate) and when egos get involved, tensions rise and it's hard to work towards a common understanding. So, not personally involved, and that said -- I'd still be interested in hearing your thoughts if I've made unfair statements in the essay!
- charlieflowers 14y ago
  OK, then to sum this up quickly: 1. I was wrong in lumping you in with the criticisms others have made of KA, and I apologize. 2. My mistake came from the term "Math Wars" in the title, followed immediately by your link referencing the "skirmishes", which points to those criticisms that I find so baseless. Not knowing that "Math Wars" is actually a specific term, I concluded that the wars were the Khan Academy skirmishes you linked to. I think a decent percentage of your readers might make a similar mistake, so maybe this can help you clarify your post. 3. I didn't see anything I'd call unfair in the essay. You don't explicitly say that Kahn is a "bad teacher", but you might be implying it. If so, I disagree and many others would too, but I don't know that the claim is unfair. 4. I really can't wait to dig into some of your tutorials. The desire "to explain things as I wish they were taught to me" sounds very promising.
  - charlieflowers 14y ago
    OMG! After ALL THIS, I flipped over to glance at some of your tutorials, and what do you know ... I HAVE WORKED THROUGH SEVERAL OF THEM AFTER ALL! lol In particular, a few years ago on a snowy day I dug into the imaginary number tutorial, which I found to be fantastic. I had learned about them in school, of course, but never to the depth that you explained them. I was actually doing some hobby reading on quantum physics, and needed a good review of imaginary numbers. Your tutorial was all that and more. I even tweeted "Imaginary numbers have the rotation rules baked in: it just works." Small world. Pleased to have had a conversation with you, even if it did start with me misunderstanding you and harping at you for no reason.
    - kalid 14y ago
      Haha, what a small world! Happy to have the conversation too -- in my years as a blogger, I've realized many disagreements just boil down to misunderstandings. Glad if it was able to help you get into quantum, that topic has been on my to-study list for a while.
      - charlieflowers 14y ago

kalid 14y ago

Hi Charlie, Really appreciate you taking the time to explain. I strive to understand people's point of view, especially when they disagree, because there's probably some insight or viewpoint I'm missing. Nope, I'm not personally involved in any of the current incidents but have been asked several times (privately) to comment. I see the current debate over Khan Academy as the latest unfortunate incident in the general Math Wars which have consumed much of the education community's attention [I'm not a formal teacher, just a programmer who likes math, and wants to explain things as I wish they were taught to me. I'd really appreciate any feedback if you get a chance to read any tutorials]. I agree that some silly arguments have been made (on both sides of the debate) and when egos get involved, tensions rise and it's hard to work towards a common understanding. So, not personally involved, and that said -- I'd still be interested in hearing your thoughts if I've made unfair statements in the essay!

charlieflowers 14y ago
OK, then to sum this up quickly: 1. I was wrong in lumping you in with the criticisms others have made of KA, and I apologize. 2. My mistake came from the term "Math Wars" in the title, followed immediately by your link referencing the "skirmishes", which points to those criticisms that I find so baseless. Not knowing that "Math Wars" is actually a specific term, I concluded that the wars were the Khan Academy skirmishes you linked to. I think a decent percentage of your readers might make a similar mistake, so maybe this can help you clarify your post. 3. I didn't see anything I'd call unfair in the essay. You don't explicitly say that Kahn is a "bad teacher", but you might be implying it. If so, I disagree and many others would too, but I don't know that the claim is unfair. 4. I really can't wait to dig into some of your tutorials. The desire "to explain things as I wish they were taught to me" sounds very promising.
- charlieflowers 14y ago
  OMG! After ALL THIS, I flipped over to glance at some of your tutorials, and what do you know ... I HAVE WORKED THROUGH SEVERAL OF THEM AFTER ALL! lol In particular, a few years ago on a snowy day I dug into the imaginary number tutorial, which I found to be fantastic. I had learned about them in school, of course, but never to the depth that you explained them. I was actually doing some hobby reading on quantum physics, and needed a good review of imaginary numbers. Your tutorial was all that and more. I even tweeted "Imaginary numbers have the rotation rules baked in: it just works." Small world. Pleased to have had a conversation with you, even if it did start with me misunderstanding you and harping at you for no reason.
  - kalid 14y ago
    Haha, what a small world! Happy to have the conversation too -- in my years as a blogger, I've realized many disagreements just boil down to misunderstandings. Glad if it was able to help you get into quantum, that topic has been on my to-study list for a while.
    - charlieflowers 14y ago