Re: [math-fun] Passing thought for a textbook
I can't help but think that this is a fine way for an expert to hone his skills and amuse himself, but a lousy way for a student to learn the craft.
On Sun, Jan 11, 2009 at 2:32 PM, Dave Dyer <ddyer@real-me.net> wrote:
I can't help but think that this is a fine way for an expert to hone his skills and amuse himself, but a lousy way for a student to learn the craft.
Indeed--contemporary learning theories suggest that learners might be as inclined to embrace the incorrect methods as they would be to find the errors. Kerry -- lkmitch@gmail.com www.fractalus.com/kerry
Just a passing thought: A mathematics textbook with a single exercise at the front of the book which reads,
Every proof in this book has one (deliberately introduced) technical error, and may also have inadvertent errors. Correct all proofs.
those of us that value the moore method (having students prove ALL the results of a course, as well as discover some of them for themselves) know the value in assigning exercises of the form: "prove the following or find a counterexample". assign enough of these, and the student reflexively will know that any "stated truth" is suspect until proven. those of you have not tried the moore method, don't knock it until you try it. you cover far less material, but the students understand it much better because they "own" it. erich friedman
participants (3)
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Dave Dyer -
Erich Friedman -
Kerry Mitchell