Comments on: Mathematics in the News

By: Maths lover

Maths lover — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 14:36:14 +0000

the level of education in UK is shameful, wut we learn in India in year 5 you dont learn that in year 11, u dont even have to learn any formulae, the other subjects leve is also very low, esp physics, biology, it is embarassing

By: caiden

caiden — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 04:56:38 +0000

Do you think that the Scottish education system is better than the English one?
1. The average class size was 26 in S1 and 25 in S2.
2. The average English class size was 26 both in S1 and in S2 classes.

By: Steve

Steve — Fri, 25 May 2007 09:56:58 +0000

It sounds as if the course is not the one for you. Have you ever thought about transferring to another university? There’s one down the road from you, which in my day (ahem a long time ago) had a superb maths department. Why not go and talk to them?

By: Richard

Richard — Fri, 25 May 2007 01:36:26 +0000

I have had mid-degree blues since week 2.

Encourage to read? No. In my two years, I’ve had one book recommended.
Explore? No. Anything that deviates off the course is WRONG.
Talk to postgrads? Not a chance
Maths Soc? HA! AS IF! In fact we only have about 7 socs in the entire uni, and a lot of sports clubs.
Talks? Nope, non of these, either.

I know it’s down to the student, but when the subject is so basically taught with a few handouts and very basic look-what-I’ve-written-down lectures, with no interaction with students, than there’s a problem. I don’t want to say which uni *cough*NTU*cough*, but it offers only the very minimum stuff, which to be fair, might be what some people are after.

It’s much easier to give the class a mock almost exactly like the exam so students can memorise it, than it is to engage and inspire students. Looks better in figures, too, I imagine.

I didn’t turn up for three weeks once. They didn’t notice.

By: steve

steve — Tue, 22 May 2007 18:04:25 +0000

Richard – that sounds awful. Assuming that it’s not just the mid-degree blues that you are suffering from (a not uncommon phenomenon) perhaps you could say more? Doesn’t your university encourage you to read further round the subject, explore what you’ve learnt, apply it to other interesting topics or even just talk about it perhaps to postgrads? Don’t they put on talks on areas that you don’t cover in normal lectures, inviting interesting external speakers? Is there a maths soc?

In short, mathematics can require a lot of mind-numbing toil but a good maths department encourages you to want to learn more. But in the end it is down to the student to do the exploration.

By: Richard

Richard — Tue, 22 May 2007 17:39:22 +0000

No, Ed, it doesn’t. Not currently. I have studied Maths for 2 years at uni now, and it’s a joke. A bleak, depressing joke.

I would advise most kids to drop Maths. I used to love it, but in 2 years I’ve had all my enthusiasm worked out of me by a course that simply wants memorisation. That’s why people are turning away from Maths. I’ve not had to think for myself in two years, now. Memorisation is easier to teach and test, so that’s what gets taught most places, simple, mindless regurgitation of facts. It’s this kind of teaching that needs to be addressed.

By: Boulder Math Tutor

Boulder Math Tutor — Mon, 21 May 2007 21:12:56 +0000

Many people–including politicians, don’t see the practical use in upper level math classes. Who needs to practice intergrals if you’re going to be a taxi driver? But they neglect the fact that studying math trains the brain to think logically–a skill that goes far beyond the math classroom.

By: Maths

Maths — Fri, 18 May 2007 19:46:15 +0000

I think that people interested by maths decrease constantly. Maths interest decrease too because students do not feel that maths will help them in the future.

By: Steve

Steve — Sat, 28 Apr 2007 17:23:14 +0000

Do you think that the Scottish maths education system is better than the English one?

That's a very interesting question so if anyone has experience of both systems please do let us have your thoughts.

By: beans

beans — Sat, 28 Apr 2007 16:22:19 +0000

\random: I’ve met the guy! Although it was nothing to do with maths- just bumped into him whilst visiting the HoC and asked for a photo!

Anyhow, I think league tables should be scrapped. I think most people laugh when they say they’re ‘not good a maths’, because they’re not comfortable saying it. I mean I know when I’m not in my zone I tend to make a lame joke or laugh at things, to get back into the comfort zone.

Do you think that the Scottish maths education system is better than the English one?