GUERRA, Rose Marie T.

Mathematics in a Modern World

SEC-99

M, TH 18:00-19:30

Reflection paper on How can you be good at math, and other surprising facts about learning

Jo Boaler’s Ted talk about How You Can Be Good At Math, And Other Surprising Facts About Learning,

She told us that what we have believed about our own potential has changed what you have learned, and continues

to do that to change your learning, and your experiences. She talked about the idea of being a math person is

completely an utterly wrong. It was disproven by brain science. It was a myth that society created, whether you were

born with a math brain or not. She stated one of Carol Dweck’s research on mindset has shown us that if you

believe in your unlimited potential, you will achieve at higher levels in math, and in life. And an incredible study on

mistakes show this very strongly. Boaler believed that our cognition, and what we learn is linked to our beliefs, and

to our feelings that making mistakes in math causes us to lose or gain confidence in computing new math problems.

She also told us that it is important that we change the message kids get in classrooms. We know that everybody can

grow their brain, and brains are so plastic to learn any level of math. We must get this out to kids. They must know

that mistakes are good. Mistakes trigger a part of the brain that causes people to do better in what they do and Many

students are afraid to create mistakes, because what classrooms are teaching them are enclosed with sets of rules that

they have to follow. They lack visualization, that is why Boaler, decided to show her students visuals questions and

it created a variety of answers. They create answers that have a deeper understanding about what is an important part

of mathematics. part of the reason things needs to change so much is because research on math teaching and

learning is not getting into schools and classrooms. where a brain area that sees fingers is lighting up, we are not

using fingers, but that brain area that sees fingers lights up. So, there is a brain area when we use fingers, and there is

a brain area when we see fingers it turns out that seeing fingers is important for the brain.