[RUME] ER's Special Issue: Report of Math Advisory Panel

[Doug Holton]

For related reading, see also this essay by Bob Tinker of the Concord
Consortium, "Potholes in the Road to Proving Technology":
http://www.concord.org/publications/newsletter/2007-spring/perspective.html

He explains the issue with more everyday terms and analogies:

"News Flash: Bridges Found Useless!
    A research study just released by Professor Slam A. Bridge of the
University of Southern North Dakota shows that bridges have no value. In
side-by-side comparisons, a recent study proved that bridges have no
advantage over roads. Researchers gave drivers the option of selecting
either a bridge or a straight road. To make a fair comparison, the same
length and height bridge and road were placed next to each other. Both
were capable of handling the same traffic. So as not to give the bridge
an advantage, there was no river or other obstacle to cross placed in
their path. Professor Bridge found no significant difference in most
measures: transit time, accidents, or preferences."

Other interesting posts of his include:
NSF and K12 Reform
http://blog.concord.org/archives/14-NSF-and-K12-Reform.html
Ice Machines, Steamboats and Technology in Education
http://www.concord.org/publications/newsletter/2000fall/perspective.html


Richard Hake wrote:
> For those interested in math/science education, the AERA's 
> "Educational Researcher" (2008) of December 2008 is a special issue 
> on "Foundations for Success: The Final Report of the Mathematics 
> Advisory Panel."
> 
> The abstract of Kelly's (2008) introductory article reads as follows:
> 
> "In March 2008, the National Mathematics Advisory Panel final report 
> was released. This report was produced in response to an executive 
> order from President George W. Bush. The report is important because 
> of its subject matter-improving mathematics teaching and learning-its 
> historically significant genesis, and the strong position that the 
> report takes on the primacy of quantitative methods in education 
> research. The author briefly introduces the report and then draws 
> attention to some of the main points in the commentaries offered in 
> this special issue of 'Educational Researcher.' The special issue 
> ends with a rejoinder from the chair and co-chair of the report."
> 
> Richard Hake, Emeritus Professor of Physics, Indiana University
> 24245 Hatteras Street, Woodland Hills, CA 91367
> Honorary Member, Curmudgeon Lodge of Deventer, The Netherlands.
> <rrhake at earthlink.net>
> <http://www.physics.indiana.edu/~hake/>
> <http://www.physics.indiana.edu/~sdi/>
> <http://HakesEdStuff.blogspot.com/>
> 
> REFERENCES
> Educational Researcher. 2008. "Special Issue on Foundations for 
> Success: The Final Report of the National Mathematics Advisory Panel" 
> 37(9);  online at 
> <http://www.aera.net/publications/Default.aspx?menu_id=38&id=6562>.
> 
> Kelly, A.E. 2008. "Reflections on the National Mathematics Advisory 
> Panel Final Report,"  Educational Researcher  37(9): 561-564; online 
> as a 68 kB pdf at  <http://tinyurl.com/9rve3c>.


--
Doug Holton
Assistant Professor
Dept. of Instructional Technology & Learning Sciences
Utah State University
doug.holton at usu.edu
http://itls.usu.edu/
http://groups.google.com/group/learning-sciences