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It is often said mathematics is a foundation of learning. Communications, computer science, the arts, the Internet, space exploration all are based on underlying mathematical concepts. In its most recent international survey, the Program for International Student Assessment (PISA.) ranked the United States in 27th place for student performance in math. What are the causes and what is being done about it?
Mathematics is more than arithmetic. Scientists and philosophers throughout history have called it the foundation of all knowledge, and praise its simple beauty. Yet many Americans seem to have a problem with it. In a recent survey, one in three Americans admitted that they're not good at math. Here nationally renowned mathematician and Dean of the School of Education, Albert knows why.
"Elementary school teachers in this country, and Europe as well, are part of that general population and consequently they bring that dislike of mathematics subconsciously, sometimes consciously at other times, to the classroom and as a result the teaching mathematics at the elementary school level lacks motivation, lacks enthusiasm. The enthusiasm of the teacher is extremely important in turning kids on to the subject matter," said Albert.
Turning kids on to math is the goal of the National Museum of Mathematics in New York City. It's a one-of-a-kind museum that resembles a high-tech playground with more than 30 hands-on attractions.
"And as a nation we need to get kids more excited about math and about science, technology, and engineering because that's our productivity, that's our workforce," said Lawrence, the Executive Director of MoMath.
Every day the museum is filled with lots of excited schoolchildren and adults.
"I learn a lot more than I am learning currently, but it's really just a lot of fun to see all the different things that look like just games when they're actually just math," said Sera.
"It probably makes mathematics seem less scary than a lot of people think it is," said Lew, Sera's grandfather.
Question 20. What is the foundation of all knowledge according to scientists throughout history?
Question 21. According to Albert, why does the teaching mathematics at elementary school in U.S. lack motivation and enthusiasm?
Question 22. What is the goal of the National Museum of Mathematics?
人們通常說數(shù)學(xué)是學(xué)習(xí)的基礎(chǔ)。通信、計(jì)算機(jī)科學(xué)、藝術(shù)、網(wǎng)絡(luò)、太空探索都建立在基本的數(shù)學(xué)概念上。在最近的國際調(diào)查中，國際學(xué)生評(píng)估項(xiàng)目（PISA）將美國學(xué)生在數(shù)學(xué)上的表現(xiàn)排在27名。原因是什么，對(duì)此我們又采取了什么措施？
數(shù)學(xué)不僅僅是算術(shù)。歷史上科學(xué)家和哲學(xué)家把數(shù)學(xué)稱為所有知識(shí)的基石，并稱贊了它的簡潔美。然而很多美國人似乎都學(xué)不好它。在近來的一項(xiàng)調(diào)查中，有三分之一的美國人承認(rèn)他們的數(shù)學(xué)并不好。聞名全國的數(shù)學(xué)家及教育學(xué)校的院長艾伯特知道為什么。
“美國和歐洲的一部分小學(xué)老師就屬于數(shù)學(xué)不好的人，所以他們會(huì)有意無意的在學(xué)生面前把對(duì)數(shù)學(xué)的厭倦表現(xiàn)出來，因此小學(xué)里的數(shù)學(xué)教學(xué)缺乏動(dòng)力和熱情。老師的熱情對(duì)于讓孩子關(guān)注這門學(xué)科非常重要。”艾伯特說。
將孩子的注意力轉(zhuǎn)向數(shù)學(xué)是位于紐約市的國家數(shù)學(xué)博物館的目的。那是一個(gè)與高科技運(yùn)動(dòng)場(chǎng)相似的博物館，有三十多種吸引注意力的親身體驗(yàn)。
“對(duì)國家而言，我們需要讓孩子對(duì)數(shù)學(xué)和科學(xué)、技術(shù)、工程學(xué)感興趣，因?yàn)槟蔷褪俏覀兊纳a(chǎn)力，是我們的勞動(dòng)力。”MoMath的執(zhí)行董事勞倫斯這樣說。
博物館每天都有很多激動(dòng)的小學(xué)生和成年人。
“我學(xué)到的比我現(xiàn)在在學(xué)的要多很多，但是看到不同的數(shù)學(xué)問題像游戲一樣真的很有趣。”塞拉說。
“它可能會(huì)讓數(shù)學(xué)變得不再像人們想象中的那樣可怕。”塞拉的祖父盧說。
問題20 歷史上的科學(xué)家認(rèn)為知識(shí)的基礎(chǔ)是什么？
問題21 根據(jù)艾伯特，美國小學(xué)的數(shù)學(xué)教學(xué)為什么缺乏動(dòng)力和熱情？
問題22 國家數(shù)學(xué)博物館的目的是什么？
譯文屬可可原創(chuàng)，僅供學(xué)習(xí)和交流使用，未經(jīng)允許不得轉(zhuǎn)載
