The final comment is extremely applicable in so many ways. When I did something stupid, rather than lecture me or rant, Dad usually offered a simple comment that, in a few softly spoken words, pointed out the logical alternative. Those usually stuck with me much longer than when others ranted and steamed.
Knew a sergeant in USAF who loved to tear up recruits for the least infraction. His sidekick usually just drifted near any lad who was edging into troubled waters, [there were lots of us] quietly suggested the proper ‘if-then’ way to do a thing, and walked away. Got a lot better response from youngsters only a week or two away from home and family and who were mostly adrift in their ‘new’ world.
Later, I found that worked equally well with our sons and with the students where I taught. Was grateful for having learned that.
“Our problems are man-made.” And can, therefore, most often be corrected by no longer doing the thing that caused the problem. All too often we just do things that cause more problems or even do more of the thing that causes the problem.
“Working an integral or performing a linear regression is something a computer can do quite effectively. Understanding whether the result makes sense — or deciding whether the method is the right one to use in the first place — requires a guiding human hand. When we teach mathematics we are supposed to be explaining how to be that guide. A math course that fails to do so is essentially training the student to be a very slow, buggy version of Microsoft Excel.” —Jordan Ellenberg, professor of mathematics, University of Wisconsin–Madison, How Not To Be Wrong: The Power of Mathematical Thinking (2014)
SameAsOldFfred 7 months ago
Hmm. I thought this was going to be a reference to “Hidden Figures.”
The Reader Premium Member 7 months ago
His speech was both frank and earnest.
sandpiper 7 months ago
Excellent commentary despite the source.
The final comment is extremely applicable in so many ways. When I did something stupid, rather than lecture me or rant, Dad usually offered a simple comment that, in a few softly spoken words, pointed out the logical alternative. Those usually stuck with me much longer than when others ranted and steamed.
Knew a sergeant in USAF who loved to tear up recruits for the least infraction. His sidekick usually just drifted near any lad who was edging into troubled waters, [there were lots of us] quietly suggested the proper ‘if-then’ way to do a thing, and walked away. Got a lot better response from youngsters only a week or two away from home and family and who were mostly adrift in their ‘new’ world.
Later, I found that worked equally well with our sons and with the students where I taught. Was grateful for having learned that.
uniquename 7 months ago
I think I’m becoming legacy code.
whelan_jj 7 months ago
“Our problems are man-made.” And can, therefore, most often be corrected by no longer doing the thing that caused the problem. All too often we just do things that cause more problems or even do more of the thing that causes the problem.
PoodleGroomer 7 months ago
Not all problems are man made but solutions must be found for continued progress.
Richard S Russell Premium Member 7 months ago
“Working an integral or performing a linear regression is something a computer can do quite effectively. Understanding whether the result makes sense — or deciding whether the method is the right one to use in the first place — requires a guiding human hand. When we teach mathematics we are supposed to be explaining how to be that guide. A math course that fails to do so is essentially training the student to be a very slow, buggy version of Microsoft Excel.” —Jordan Ellenberg, professor of mathematics, University of Wisconsin–Madison, How Not To Be Wrong: The Power of Mathematical Thinking (2014)
Brent Rosenthal Premium Member 7 months ago
Were there computers when JFK was alive?
PaintTheDust 7 months ago
“We shape our tools and, thereafter, our tools shape us.” — John Culkin