[etoys-dev] Fwd: Calculus discovery by and for young people

[Edward Cherlin]

Start here.

http://www.mathman.biz/html/map.html

http://mathman.biz/html/chapters.html

On Wed, Jan 26, 2011 at 15:23, Walter Bender <walter.bender at gmail.com> wrote:
> On Wed, Jan 26, 2011 at 3:18 PM, Edward Cherlin <echerlin at gmail.com> wrote:
>> We have the offer of a calculus book for elementary grades. Please
>> take a look at Don's Web site,
>>
>> http://mathman.biz/
>
> Math Myths:
> Don and Jerry have come up with a number of "Math Myths" - things that
> are NOT true - but ideas people, because of ignorance, expedience
> and/or things they were taught, try to shove down their students'
> throats:
> 1. You can't take 7 from 3.
> 2. When you multiply, the answer is bigger.
> 3. You have to add from right to left.
> 4. When you subtract the result is smaller.
> 5. Fractions are small numbers.
> 6. There's only one way to do something.
> 7. When you add the result is bigger.
> 8. When you divide the result is smaller.
> 9. I can't do it unless someone tells me how to do it.
> 10. Math is hard and only a few people can do it.
> 11. You have to know everything about whole numbers before you can do fractions.
> 12. You have to  know algebra before you can learn about calculus.

I can add many more, such as the notions that mathematics is all about
calculations, that it has nothing to do with my daily life, that
infinitesimals have been proven to be impossible, that imaginary
numbers aren't real, and that all of math is entirely and perfectly
true, now and forever, without change.

> This is a fun list... but I couldn't find any examples of his
> work/method on his site.
>
> -walter
>>
>> and let us discuss what it would take to get this done up in a series
>> of Etoys projects. If others think it worthwhile, I will invite Don
>> here.
>>
>> I am also proposing that FLOSS Manuals publish the book, and will ask
>> on the Sugar list whether anybody would like to work on this as a
>> regular Sugar activity in Python.
>>
>>> ---------- Forwarded message ----------
>>> From: Don Cohen- The Mathman <doncohenmathman at gmail.com>
>>> Date: Tue, Jan 25, 2011 at 16:33
>>> Subject: Re: ?
>>> To: Edward Cherlin <echerlin at gmail.com>
>>>
>>> Hi Edward,
>>> To begin with, I would like to contribute my book Calculus By and for
>>> Young People-Worksheets (in ebook form, which is being done by a
>>> former student, and will be ready by May). The book is in Socratic
>>> format, asking questions leading to the different ideas, with an
>>> answer section in each chapter. I have it on a CD now, in pdf form but
>>> wanted to make minor changes-like my new email address, new website
>>> address..Would anyone there like a copy of this CD? There is a list of
>>> materials that would help, in the appendix.
>>>
>>> I'd be willing to talk to anyone interested in seeing what can come from this.
>>>
>>> Don
>>
>> --
>> Edward Mokurai (默雷/धर्ममेघशब्दगर्ज/دھرممیگھشبدگر ج) Cherlin
>> Silent Thunder is my name, and Children are my nation.
>> The Cosmos is my dwelling place, the Truth my destination.
>> http://www.earthtreasury.org/
>> _______________________________________________
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>>
>
>
>
> --
> Walter Bender
> Sugar Labs
> http://www.sugarlabs.org
>



-- 
Edward Mokurai (默雷/धर्ममेघशब्दगर्ज/دھرممیگھشبدگر ج) Cherlin
Silent Thunder is my name, and Children are my nation.
The Cosmos is my dwelling place, the Truth my destination.
http://www.earthtreasury.org/