rfenst
  • rfenst
  • Herf-A-Holic Topic Starter
Monday, December 19, 2011 6:14:04 PM
I have two kids, one in 8th grade Algebra and the other in 9th grade Geometry. Both are "A" students in each of their honors math classes. But, neither of them get exams in their classrooms. Instead, they are taken to their Schools' Testing Centers where they answer multiple choice questions on a computer monitor. Either they get the question right or wrong. No partial credit for showing their work or following the proper steps. Zip, zero, zilch. No red pen marking their errors so that they can learn from their mistakes. Should they properly follow every single step while solving an equation, make stupid math error. I realize that tests like the ACT and SAT are multiple choice, but that's a different thing. Just doesn't seem right...
yardobeef
Monday, December 19, 2011 6:34:43 PM
I don't know. It sounds easier if you ask me. If I finish a problem and my answer isn't one of the choices, I know to back because I must have done something wrong.
rfenst
  • rfenst
  • Herf-A-Holic Topic Starter
Monday, December 19, 2011 6:42:36 PM

I don't know. It sounds easier if you ask me. If I finish a problem and my answer isn't one of the choices, I know to back because I must have done something wrong.

yardobeef wrote:

That is an exact part of what I see wrong with this.

z6joker9
Monday, December 19, 2011 6:46:50 PM
I took one of my later Calculus classes in college as a distant learning class (I finished up at a satellite campus). It was mostly on the computer but you actually entered your answer using an on screen keyboard that included higher level functions. Incorrect answers could not only be viewed, but the computer would even give you a little instructional session on the ones you missed, working it and getting you to work it step by step. I found it invaluable.

Can't speak for multiple choice, but just wanted to point out that there are better way to teach math using technology.

tailgater
Monday, December 19, 2011 10:34:34 PM

I have two kids, one in 8th grade Algebra and the other in 9th grade Geometry. Both are "A" students in each of their honors math classes. But, neither of them get exams in their classrooms. Instead, they are taken to their Schools' Testing Centers where they answer multiple choice questions on a computer monitor. Either they get the question right or wrong. No partial credit for showing their work or following the proper steps. Zip, zero, zilch. No red pen marking their errors so that they can learn from their mistakes. Should they properly follow every single step while solving an equation, make stupid math error. I realize that tests like the ACT and SAT are multiple choice, but that's a different thing. Just doesn't seem right...

rfenst wrote:

Life isn't a multiple choice.

Which begs the question, what are they really learning?

Monday, December 19, 2011 10:50:33 PM

Life isn't a multiple choice.

Which begs the question, what are they really learning?

tailgater wrote:

No, but I did have a teacher who said "Life is an open book" and so were all of our tests .....:-k

c3s

jackconrad
Tuesday, December 20, 2011 12:21:11 AM
There is no substitute for knowing why what you are doing works and then practicing it to permanently embed those principles to the mind..
Smoke1!
Tuesday, December 20, 2011 6:44:49 AM

Life isn't a multiple choice.

tailgater wrote:

Good point, it's more true/false. :-"

tailgater
Tuesday, December 20, 2011 9:04:36 AM

Good point, it's more true/false. :-"

Smoke1! wrote:

True.

No, wait.

FALSE!

](*,)

DaQueenBeez
Tuesday, December 20, 2011 10:13:46 AM
Teaching the test... gotta love it. Good ol' OBE - you don't need to know HOW to think, as long as you know WHAT to think. GGrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr......
Mattie B
Tuesday, December 20, 2011 10:20:26 AM
I agree this bites. But I dealt with a situation a bit worse that that. My son is in the 3rd grade this year, and last year they decided to teach something called Chicago Math. Do y'all have any experience with this?

Its a totally different way to add numbers. They don't teach to carry the "1". I was so frustrated when trying to help my son with his homework. He didn't have a clue. So I met with the teacher to learn how to do the math, and she couldn't explain it to me. How can a 7 year old learn math, when I can't even figure it out. And these were simple problems like 14 + 17.

Thankfully our school has gone back to the old school way of teaching math. Unfortunately, he may be a year behind now. He struggles in math but seems to be picking it up.

Who gets to make these decisions?

Mrs.Tank
Tuesday, December 20, 2011 10:29:54 AM
Chicago math? Wait - I've heard a lot about Chicago school systems... Almost on the same par as Milwaukee Public Schools...

dstieger
Tuesday, December 20, 2011 10:45:39 AM
For those that are determined to succeed....jointly endorsed by Blagojevich, George Ryan, Dan Rostenkowski and Richard Daley
tailgater
Tuesday, December 20, 2011 11:28:34 AM
Chicago math is practiced in DC.

It's difficult to explain the intrinsic nature of how the numbers react and relate, so I'll show you by using an example:

Suppose you have a nation that is 14 Trillion dollars in debt.

You then create a program that SPENDS an additional Trillion dollars, with most of it going to non-essential fluff that was promised to the states of those who authored the bill.

Now, mathematically you've got 14T + 1T.

In the olden days, this would equal 15T.

But by using Chicago Math, you're able to convince your voters that the addition $1T will somehow reduce the orignal $14T.

Amazingly, it works wonders. (the convincing. Not the reduction)

It's based on an ancient formula that traces it's roots back to an Eastern African nation.

But the example above is just a tease.

It's easy to use this logic and to then extrapolate many different scenarios.

One could, for instance, suggest that it is better for our economy to join hands in defiance of those who pay the most in taxes. But we'll leave this example for next years class.

plinytheelder
Tuesday, December 20, 2011 12:51:34 PM

Life isn't a multiple choice.

Which begs the question, what are they really learning?

tailgater wrote:

C'Mon tailgater, they're learning Algebra and Geometry... He already said that...