Math, math everywhere…It’s in the beat to the music on the radio, the speed my car travels as I zoom home, the statistics of the presidential poll on the nightly news, the calories and carbs we count for each meal…the list goes on and on. One thing that I think is important to note is the distinction between numbers and math. Room 319 designates the room a class meets in, as opposed to Room 320, but is there really any math involved? Of course this goes back to our discussion on what is mathematics.
As far as the use of math in the public domain, let me preface my comments by saying that I am an ostrich and very much disconnected from the media so my comments may be a little elementary. In the media we hear of math largely in the form or statistics and probability (for those that distinguish between the two). We hear about the probability of rain and sunshine in the nightly weather report. Commercials are filled with statistics on the likelihood of pregnancy, cancer, heart disease, adverse reaction to a medication, etc. We here about the popularity of individuals based on “polls” (I put it in quotes, because no one has ever called me and asked my opinion, have they called you?) Often though the math is done for you and the message is explicated stated or implied to you. Often the observer does not do the math, but simply accepts the reporter’s remarks as fact. I think that is one of the beautiful things about constructivism. If we will really get a hold of this concept, we can produce future generations that will critically think about what the media portrays as fact.
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2 comments:
That is a really interesting point! Its not like we demand they show us their figures for these statistics and probabilities...Suppose their 'strategy' isn't sound? The media's communication of their reasoning is certainly missing. Sounds to me like based on the rubric the media is displaying 'limited understanding'. :-)
I agree. Can you think the last time when a math is not mentioned in a day. For example, if you listen to the weather, the weather man mentions averages in rainfall or average temperature. The news mentions the Dow Industrial Average just about 2 or 3 times per hour. And the list goes on. I measure ingredients for the bread I make. Increasing or decreasing the recipe. Measuring the water I drink in a day and the list goes on. I balance my checkbook, look at the bills, check the calculations to see if they added things up right, read my paycheck and now I am reading a math methods book in my spare time. Math truly is all around us.
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