In A Tale Out of School – A Case Study in Higher Education, I describe how, after pressuring me to change a course I was teaching, the Chairman of the Mathematics Department explained that the Math Department "...just wrested [a course] from … [Continue reading]
Gina Kolata’s New York Times Article Gives Helpful Insight for Flawed Cholesterol Calculator
November 19, 2013 by
Gina Kolata wrote again today about the cholesterol calculator that exaggerates "...the true risk of a heart attack or stroke by an average of 100 percent..." … [Continue reading]
The Chonicle of Higher Education Headlines: The STEM Crisis: Reality or Myth? But…
November 13, 2013 by
Doesn't it depend on whether you mean too many STEM grads or too many grads with STEM education. The article talks about an Ohio State grad having trouble finding a job but I find that it may be that Ohio State students are having trouble finding an … [Continue reading]
More on The Atlantic’s Article on Teaching Math
November 13, 2013 by
(The article is here http://www.theatlantic.com/education/archive/2013/11/the-stereotypes-about-math-that-hold-americans-back/281303/#disqus_thread ) There were some interesting replies to my comment on the article. I am posting my response to … [Continue reading]
Excellent Explanation of How to Teach Math in The Atlantic – But…
November 13, 2013 by
...as I commented on the site, where do we get the teachers? (The article, which I recommend is at http://www.theatlantic.com/education/archive/2013/11/the-stereotypes-about-math-that-hold-americans-back/281303/#disqus_thread) "I am a former math … [Continue reading]
Compare “Feeder Schools”: Another Addendum to the Previous Post
November 12, 2013 by
Just posted a reply to Mel Murphy, who wrote, "Read your article. Having kids in the college selection mode, and having received mailings and invitations from WUSTL as well as other "prestigious" institutions, I am most appreciative and find it … [Continue reading]
Addendum to “Peter Cappeli” Post – Another Testimony About Higher Ed
November 11, 2013 by
Dan Laroque put this comment on the WSJ "... In the latter years of my teaching career, it got very frustrated dealing with students and administration. The universities have literally turned the curriculum standards over to the students. It is … [Continue reading]
The Economist Cover Story “How Science Goes Wrong” and NY Times “Risk Calculator for Cholesterol Appears Flawed”; Connected?
Both of these stories focus on what could be a failure of professionals to understand and utilize quantitative data and methods. In the case of the cholesterol test, I have no way of knowing exactly how the failure occured. But I am worried that it … [Continue reading]