Monday, May 04, 2015

Where to find Math Answers



Education today has undergone radical shifts in the methodologies used to teach the material, studying methods, the expectations and goals students have for undertaking a course of study, and the expectations teachers have for students.  In the field of mathematics, historically an important element of philosophical and scientific undertakings, the view of many students has shifted.  Today, a majority of students see math not as a language or a philosophical tool, but rather as an impediment to attainment of their degree, for which they need nothing more than being able to obtain the correct math answers.  

The focus on getting the right answer has become the overriding motivation across large swathes of the educational field today.  Although many professors disagree with this, mandated testing requirements have necessitated a focus on answers, rather than philosophy.  The important part, unfortunately, for students to success is the math answers, rather than math understanding or appreciation.  Graduate students, especially those in doctorate programs, do appreciate the philosophical beauty of math.  But, for students in high school or undergraduate programs, often the need to produce the correct math answers is the only concern, leading some students to go so far as cheating and plagiarism.  Other times a service that provides math answers for a fee is employed for studying and homework completion.  These service may result in the correct answers, but they provide only a superficial solution to the learning process that is fundamentally inadequate for any profession that requires actual use of math knowledge.



Eventually, perhaps the system will change, as more and more people are becoming disillusioned with the answers-based educational focus.  It has been demonstrated that children's higher-order thinking and reasoning skills have decreased in recent years in a corollary fashion with the implementation of test-based learning.  The end result, however, will partially depend on the needs of society.  As society evolves, social forces select people with those traits and skills that can best serve the current needs of the workforce.  This depends on the state of technology, the structure of the workforce, the culture at large, and the political and social systems that create markets for various types of labor.  If most productive activities become automated, as some have predicted, there may be only a need for a small group of people with any actual understanding of advanced scientific and mathematical concepts.  Rather, in this situation, the workforce would mainly be based on functionaries who excel at executing repetitive and mindless functions.  

In the field of organizational psychology, limited intelligence can be a desired trait in a worker, because, if a worker is too intelligent, he or she will become bored at a repetitive job or one that requires little mental exertion and will thus be a less-productive worker than someone with a duller mind.  Hopefully, this is not the state of the future.  A society made of working robot machines and dull, lifeless workers does not sound like an inviting place to live in.  However, if there is no one to appreciated the artists and philosophers, they may cease to exist. 

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