Good talking points. Also, correspondence with a U.S. organization, especially for spelling, should use U.S. spellings such as ³meter² to avoid appearing foreign.
From: STANLEY DOORE <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Reply-To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Date: Fri, 14 Mar 2008 02:56:53 -0400 To: "U.S. Metric Association" <[email protected]> Subject: [USMA:40561] NMP 2008 Final Report The National Mathematics Advisory Panel (NMP), on March 13, approved and presented to Education Secretary Spellings its 2008 Final Report titled Foundations for Success. I was there. The Report, as far as I can tell, makes no mention of the International System of Units (SI) or going metric. This strongly indicates that the SI should be taught and used in science courses and classes. The USMA President and I provided written testimony at the NMP's first meeting two years ago at the national Academy of Sciences. We suggested metric be included. I provided additional written comments then and for later NMP meetings. The NMP says that "real-world contexts to introduce mathematical ideas has been advocated ...." However, the SI, which most of the world uses, has been omitted. The NMP establishes "Critical Foundations for Algebra." They are: Fluency with Whole Numbers Fluency with Fractions Particular Aspects of Geometry and Measurement The NMP recommends "A focused, coherent progression of mathematics learning, with an emphasis on proficiency with key topics should become the norm in elementary and middle school mathematics curricula" Computational proficiency includes the development of automatic recall for addition, subtraction, multiplication and division and related facts. The NMP also said that an "integrated approach" is needed to avoid difficulties in taking advanced mathematics course work. These recommendations are consistent with the need for the United States to convert to the metric system since the SI is a coherent and integrated system of measurement. Computational efficiency and integration is fundamental with the International System of Units since the SI is much easier to use. For example: 1 mm of rainfall in one square metre equals 1 L of water which has a mass of 1 kg. Therefore, 1000 mm of rain equals 1 kL (1000 litres or one cubic metre) which has a mass of one metric ton. The is an everyday example of the utility, simplicity and integration of the SI. The NMP is correct in not including a specific systems of measurement to ensure the universality of mathematics. However, it would have been appropriate to suggest adopting the SI to help show how computational proficiency, coherence and understanding can be improved. The recommendations for mathematics are similar to those needed to adopt the metric (SI) system. Since the US has impeded the use of the SI by continuing to use non-metric systems of measurement, it is one reason why coherence, integration and understanding are lacking and the US is rated behind other countries. The SI is far easier for automatic recall which the NMP says is needed for computation. I learned this type of automatic recall for addition, subtraction, multiplication and division in the third grade. Now it's delayed until the fourth grade. The NMP recommends that high-quality computer-assisted instruction (CAI) "be considered as a useful tool in developing students' automaticity." However, there is no mention of portable handheld devices which would allow learning "Any Time in Any Place on Any Path at Any Pace." for students, parents, tutors, and teachers alike. The NMP does mention that textbooks should be smaller, but why not use current technology which can provide substantially more learning capability at less cost. It is easier to update or to expand applications and graphics? MIT has done it for less developed countries. The NMP says that CAI "well designed and implemented can have a positive impact on mathematics performance" Agreed. My granddaughter used CAI on her father's computer when she was four years old, yet first and second grade teachers I have spoken with said that children that age are too young. Regards, Stan Doore
