Sidney Andrews

Recent Activity

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  Sidney commented on the article | over 2 years ago

  Still Separate, Still Unequal? (The Case of Gifted and Talented Education)

  I had a long conversation with my significant other about mathematics in education.  As a computer science graduate I can tell you with certainty that at an upper-level math elective, you are taught right away that the foundation of grade school math is based on assumptions.  I remember the first time we did a proof dealing with polar math that proved everything we learned about geometry in grade school is simply based in baloney.
  
  The basis of all geometry is the rule that for any two points, you can create two parallel lines.  When you get to a high-level mathematics curriculum, You are challenged to prove this and it is simply not possible to prove.  It is just an agreed upon assumption so that we can teach geometry.

  
  

  I may not necessarily see it as a cultural difference, but mathematics is taught in a context that is vastly different dependent upon who teaches it or where you are in the world.  Values hold constant, but numbers do not.

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  Sidney signed the petition | over 2 years ago

  Sign the Petition to Dismantle No Child Left Behind
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  Sidney commented on the article | over 2 years ago

  Still Separate, Still Unequal? (An Introduction)

  Great post!  I go along with the belief that the integration of schools based on race is an impossible task when we have geography, class and other issues at play.  We are in the context of another time.  Back before the Brown decision, the only route of obtaining equivalent supplies and education was to fight to have Black students integrated into the same facilities as the majority students.  Now that we have more avenues and options, it may be better in our modern context to try and work for equivalent facilities and supplies as opposed to sharing.  
  
  Unfortunately, that too is a fight that we're losing so far...

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  Sidney commented on the article | over 2 years ago

  Go Geek

  There are too many times where I have seen the abundance of technology in a school system where neither the students, educators or the on-site IT support have a clue how to leverage it.

  
  

  These students honestly are already digital in every sense of their life and as educators it is our responsibility to teach them how to use the skills they have already aquired on their own in the classroom.  This is where true geeks who are in tune with where technology is headed is needed as opposed to "IT professionals".

  
  

  I will admit, I have a Computer Science degree and have worked in different IT roles at educational agencies.  The major different between an IT guy and a geek is that the IT guy knows everything about the tech, and the the geek knows how to bridge the tech into our world.  True geeks can get these students following a Twitter feed from their teacher, using wikis for a classwide research project, and collaborating both online and offline on thier assignments beyond the scope of the typical school day.