Education Next is one of my favorite publications. I found this article about the “math wars” in California very insightful.
The discourse surrounding California’s new math framework paints a stark contrast between traditional rote memorization and a more progressive problem-solving approach to math education. This dichotomy often leaves educators pondering: What’s the middle ground?
Enter Robotics.
By integrating VEX Robotics into math instruction, educators create a bridge between these approaches. Robotics encourages the application of foundational math concepts in a tangible, explorative manner, promoting both memorization and problem-solving. As students interact with robots, they are engaged in a cycle of trial, error, and triumph, embodying the essence of Guided Discovery Learning - which I discuss in my book as also a bridge between teaching “skills” vs “problem-solving”.
The synergy between robotics and math instruction fosters a rich, multidimensional learning environment, nurturing both the structured and explorative facets of mathematical understanding.
A few things of note from the article:
-
The article does a wonderful job putting the debates about how best to teach math in a historical context
-
The article does a deep dive into the work and research of Jo Boaler and it does not paint a flattering picture (I’ve always been a fan of Boaler’s work). This is a good reminder to not accept research claims at face value.
-
The article focuses on elementary math. I would love to see something similar focused on Middle School math.
Would love to hear what others think.
