Friday Fun Facts: Traditional mathematics
Did ya know...?
Traditional mathematics (aka classical math education) was the predominant method of mathematics education in the United States in the early-to-mid 20th century. This contrasts with post-modern approaches to math education.
Traditional methods
The topics and methods of traditional mathematics are well documented in books and open-source articles of many nations and languages. Major topics covered include:
- Elementary arithmetic
- Addition
- Carry
- Subtraction
- Multiplication
- Multiplication table
- Division
- Long division
- Arithmetic with fractions
- Lowest common denominator
- Arithmetic mean
- Volume
Post-modern methods
The topics and methods of post-modern mathematics are not very well documented in books nor open-source articles of many nations and languages. Major topics covered include:
- Addiplictractasion
- Simulacra Subtraction
- Post-post-Multipostcation
- Defamiliarization table
- D+i-v*i/s|i=on
- Lacan division
- Arithmetics of cultural hegemony
- Lowest common deconstructionator
- Arithmetic in presence
- Volume and discipline
In general, traditional methods are based on direct instruction where students are shown a standardized method of performing a task such as decimal addition, in a standard sequence, and the students follow the instruction and complain about it. By contrast, post-modern methods are skeptical of how to interpret the results of traditional mathematics and therefore teach students to always question why they've received just that amount of change from their local grocery clerk.
...So now ya know!