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Readers Respond: Does Fixing the Leaky STEM Pipeline Require Calculus To Adapt?

ED Surge

A number of instructors say it’s partly reconsidering how calculus, a crucial step toward STEM careers and often a “weed out” course in higher ed, is taught. Noticing this, EdSurge traveled to Harvard this summer to observe one attempt at a more subtle revolution, meant to bring calculus instruction into the 21st century.

Calculus 281
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Talented Students Are Kept From Early Algebra. Should States Force Schools to Enroll Them?

ED Surge

Julie Lynem’s son had taken algebra in eighth grade, but hadn’t comprehended some of the core concepts. That left the family to decide whether to make him repeat the class in ninth grade — and potentially disadvantage him by preventing him from taking calculus later in high school — or to have him push through.

Algebra 339
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The Role of Mathematics in Education

Ask a Tech Teacher

The Role of Mathematics in Education: What Professions You Can Get in the Future Have you ever found yourself pondering the real-world applications of those algebraic formulas or geometric theorems you spent hours trying to decipher in school? But how does this abstract discipline translate into tangible career paths?

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The Math Revolution You Haven’t Heard About

ED Surge

Math professor Martin Weissman is rethinking how his university teaches calculus. Some educators place a share of the blame on calculus courses, which can push out otherwise interested students. Meanwhile, the calculus instruction has to be slowed down enough that it’s not as effective for math people as it could be. “I

Math 363
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Revisiting the Legacy of San Francisco’s Detracking Experiment

ED Surge

In 2014, the district pushed algebra to ninth grade from eighth grade, in an attempt to eliminate the tracking, or grouping, of students into lower and upper math paths. The district hoped that scrapping honors math classes and eighth grade algebra courses would reduce disparities in math learning in the district.

Algebra 294
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Why Do Underrepresented Students Struggle to Get the Math They Need for College?

ED Surge

Students who don’t know that colleges prioritize calculus find themselves at a disadvantage in college admissions, according to “ Integral Voices: Examining Math Experiences of Underrepresented Students ,” a recent report from Just Equations, a California-based policy institute focused on making math more equitable.

Calculus 314
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How To Make Someone Not Hate Math

ED Surge

Reflecting on my own self-identification, I had a vague sense it had something to do with Holifield’s Algebra II class, which I took in ninth grade. Still, Holifield helped make math practical for her when she took Algebra II with him, she says. But a case of “senioritis” caused her to drop out of high school calculus.

Math 314