[Edu-sig] Confused how teach geometry and importance of teaching geometry in 21st century.

[Jeremy Gray]

well, there's future usefulness and practicality to motivate your
homeschoolers. and there's also in-the-moment fun, beauty, and joy of doing
it. check out Strogatz's recent New York Times column:

"I bet I can guess your favorite math subject in high school.

"It was geometry.

"So many people I’ve met over the years have expressed affection for that
subject.  Arithmetic and algebra — not many takers there.  But geometry,
well, there’s something about it that brings a twinkle to the eye."
see the full article at
http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/03/14/square-dancing/

beyond being cool, maybe geometry helps develop spatial imagery and
visualization?

--Jeremy


On Thu, Mar 25, 2010 at 10:40 PM, <chris at seberino.org> wrote:

> I'm teaching high school math to homeschoolers and I'm looking for how to
> make
> geometry year meaningful.
>
> I'm having a "crisis of confidence" because from my viewpoint, algebra was
> 10x
> more useful for future math and science work.
>
> The only thing I can remember that was useful from geometry was a few
> volume
> and area formulas.  That can justify maybe a month but not a whole YEAR of
> geometry!?!?
>
> cs
>
> P.S. Yes yes I know that geometry is meant to teach logical reasoning.
>  Maybe
> one can get that from chess, debate club and other activities as well if
> not better?  People also say geometry is where you learn proofs.  Couldn't
> proofs be just as easily emphasized in all the other math classes?
>
> --
> _______________________________________
>
> Christian Seberino, Ph.D.
> Email: chris at seberino.org
> _______________________________________
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