What do you think about math/science education in the US?

I think it is a complete failure. What they are teaching us is simply step by step procedures and basic memorization, which we all forget when the class is over. Mathematicians and scientists need to know how to work around problems and think abstractly, which they don't teach in school. I'm in college and it is so frustrating to know that I am wasting most of these years memorizing pointless shit which I am going to forget over the summer. And for the first two years you don't even learn anything about your major since there are these things called "prerequisites" which are bullshit classes you have to take before you can get into your school for your major.

Learning theory is an attempt to describe how humans and animals learn. It has two parts to it, one is providing us with vocabulary and a conceptual framework for interpreting the examples of learning that we observe, and the other is teaching us how to solve problems. As you can tell, formal education is almost all of the first part, and none of the second part, which brings up the question; are we really learning? But anyways, this article pretty much summarizes everything I think about this bullshit that they call "formal education":

http://headrush.typepad.com/creating_passionate_users/2006/11/why_does_engine.html

 

Education in the US is all basically memorization and steps on how to solve but you don't know really know why it happens. For example in science when you learn about valence electrons they just teach you a method on how to find the valence electron but they don't tell you why it happens.

I can actually say this because where I am studying in Peru, they make you think and don't give you study guides and they actually tell you WHY things happen

 

I guess I'm lucky. The school I went to for high school, all the teachers let us use notes, etc. on our tests, so we didn't have to learn anything.
But yeah, that also proves the US education system is fail.

 

That's lucky because you don't have to do anything but also unlucky because It's not helping you at all to learn how to study which in College you will need badly

 

How hard is it to learn how to study? Just look at the stuff and try to memorize it. I'm pretty sure everyone knows how to do that. It's the getting yourself to sit down and actually do the studying that people have trouble with, which is based on how diligent you are. And you can't teach diligence, that is up to the individual.

 

People have different ways of studying, some better than others...

 

Yeah, but does that justify spending 4-8 years of perfecting that practice? Seriously, learning how to memorize vocabulary words is not rocket science...

 

Studying isn't just memorizing vocabulary words

 

It was an example. Simple memorization isn't rocket science, just look at it until you have a firm memory of it in your head. The point is if this is practically the only thing we learn from formal education then formal education is a waste of time.

 

Yeah I know. Unlike most of my classmates I didn't just not review anything and just use my notes and stuff on tests. I actually reviewed the material and tried not to use my notes as much as possible, so I did actually learn stuff.

 

Its because you live in florida. They have bad education system.

 

You completely missed the point... I went to a private school before when I lived in Ohio and it's exactly the same, except they make you memorize even more bullshit and they test you more. The school curriculum is the same in all the schools in the US, Algebra I, Calculus AB, Physics B, etc. and it's all just memorizing formulas and passing tests. They don't teach any of the things that actual mathematicians and scientists use to solve problems.

 

It's not just in the US, In Australia we walk into our Maths room, sit down, we have a senile 55 year old man tell us to leave the class room if we're wearing a jumper that isn't associated with the school, if our shorts are black instead of gray etc etc.

He will slowly tell us to open up a text book, and he will write up two examples on the board of and tell us to copy them down into our books, after that he will tell us to flick to a certain page in our Maths Textbooks and to work on the chapter on that page, If you get stuck on somthing you'd raise your hand to ask a question and he'd stare at you for about 5 minutes before it processes through his brain you're stuck.

Just the other day in class it got to the point where I was ready to punch him.I was talking to a friend sitting next to me, minimal whisper, asking if he knew how to do a certain question, when the teacher told me to shutup and do my work, I told him I couldn't do it because his lack of teaching skills, and he just relied on the "Shutup and do your work" statement again, so I told him to fight me and stood up, being the man he was, once out of his comfort zone of being the "King" which he thinks he is, he couldn't take it and left.

He's just one of those teachers who can't teach, shouldn't be teaching, and just think because they're a teacher they have every right in the world to abuse younger kids, some of the shit he does builds up to the point where it makes you snap, but he's a coward when it comes down to it.

I know I shouldn't be trying to fight 50 year old men, but it's just annoying being taught by a closed minded old man, who constantly gives you shit for every little thing, he dosn't know how to teach, he dosn't know how to be social, he dosn't know how to make a friend, he's such a bland, dull character, and I hate him having authority over me, and trying to talk down to me like I'm nothing.

So yeah, that's my story of my awesome maths teacher, I'm in year 12 (grade 12) Final year at highschool now, and I'm doing poorly in maths due to this teacher, I know I should be doing some studying for it, so yes, it's half my fault I'm failing aswell, but it's just one of those things where I really don't want anything to do with that subject now due to the teacher, if you know what I mean...But yeah, Maths education in my school is lame, I'm sure it's like this with the other teachers there aswell, according to others.

 

Ya man I had teachers like that before. Old ones who didn't have a sense of mind to teach effectively anymore, but the school couldn't fire them because of the seniority rule so they think that they are Gods or something and could do whatever the fuck they want. They don't even teach and give you bad grades because you don't even end up knowing what's on the tests. But finally I'm out of high school so it's not as bad for me anymore.

 

I can agree with you guys on the shit teachers. I have this bitch of a teacher that'll kick you out if you ask for an explanation on something. It's either shut your mouth or out of the classroom. Fucking bitch.
On a side note, I usually don't study. In a different thread I explained my "auditory learning." All I have to do is listen to what the teacher says and my brain registers what I feel is important.
(Btw i'm in Canada so I can't give a legit justification for my choice on your education system)

 

You must of had teachers that taught out of the book and followed state curriculum.

 

US education fails...

It's COMPLETELY rope learning (Just remembering facts, and having no understanding of them).