Comments on: Salvation by Pop Culture http://socyberty.com/education/salvation-by-pop-culture-2/ Sun, 19 Feb 2012 21:53:57 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Richard Van Ingram http://socyberty.com/education/salvation-by-pop-culture-2/comment-page-1/#comment-81189 Richard Van Ingram Tue, 07 Oct 2008 01:19:35 +0000 http://socyberty.com/education/salvation-by-pop-culture-2/#comment-81189 You have an excellent mind (Watchmen is one of my favorite comics of all time, too, with v for vendetta, both by Alan Moore -- a master writer and thinker).<br /> <br /> The disconnection between theory and practice (the why and the how) you recognize was already at work in my day and probably well before. My short answer for why this occured: History. <br /> <br /> As in, the study of history. Mathematics makes complete sense, the formulae and everything provided someone can tell you the history of mathematics and science -- teach the math historically. Then you discover the reason why the formulae and the concepts were invented or discovered; and the history is fascinating.<br /> <br /> I recommend two things to you:<br /> <br /> 1. There is a PBS documentary series that was made back in the '70s by the physicist/biologist/humanist scholar J. Bronowski called "The Ascent of Man." If you can get your hands on the series, excellent. If not, there is a book that is equally excellent, and should be easy to find in a good used book store or online. It is doubtless out of print, but many copies should be available.<br /> <br /> 2. Another documentary series about the philosophy of science called "The Day the Universe Changed" from the late '80s by James Burke, then science editor for the BBC (I think). The series is wonderful, but very expensive, but, again, there is a book that is affordable, and it's in print -- you might find a cheap copy used online. <br /> <br /> (You might also find these documentaries at a good library to borrow.)<br /> <br /> Reading and seeing these will give you the foundation for understanding many of the things you're asking, and they're well-made, and very interesting (Burke's is even entertaining -- he's very witty).<br /> <br /> Try them! You'll thank me -- and do so by showing them to others and discussing the ideas. You have an excellent mind (Watchmen is one of my favorite comics of all time, too, with v for vendetta, both by Alan Moore — a master writer and thinker).

The disconnection between theory and practice (the why and the how) you recognize was already at work in my day and probably well before. My short answer for why this occured: History.

As in, the study of history. Mathematics makes complete sense, the formulae and everything provided someone can tell you the history of mathematics and science — teach the math historically. Then you discover the reason why the formulae and the concepts were invented or discovered; and the history is fascinating.

I recommend two things to you:

1. There is a PBS documentary series that was made back in the ’70s by the physicist/biologist/humanist scholar J. Bronowski called “The Ascent of Man.” If you can get your hands on the series, excellent. If not, there is a book that is equally excellent, and should be easy to find in a good used book store or online. It is doubtless out of print, but many copies should be available.

2. Another documentary series about the philosophy of science called “The Day the Universe Changed” from the late ’80s by James Burke, then science editor for the BBC (I think). The series is wonderful, but very expensive, but, again, there is a book that is affordable, and it’s in print — you might find a cheap copy used online.

(You might also find these documentaries at a good library to borrow.)

Reading and seeing these will give you the foundation for understanding many of the things you’re asking, and they’re well-made, and very interesting (Burke’s is even entertaining — he’s very witty).

Try them! You’ll thank me — and do so by showing them to others and discussing the ideas.

]]> By: Rohit http://socyberty.com/education/salvation-by-pop-culture-2/comment-page-1/#comment-81187 Rohit Mon, 06 Oct 2008 22:43:16 +0000 http://socyberty.com/education/salvation-by-pop-culture-2/#comment-81187 Well, I myself am interested in reading and learning. I was just reading a comic book called Watchmen. The "golden age" can be relived.<br /> <br /> But your second point, if we are being cheated, is absolutely right. We need educational reform, I despise the way we are taught. In English for example we get work to do, finish it and hand it in. We are never taught HOW to read or HOW to write better. But it is the opposite for other courses, like Math, we are taught HOW to do the work, but not WHY it works. Use this formula to get this, I ask why and the teachers never seem to have an answer. Well, I myself am interested in reading and learning. I was just reading a comic book called Watchmen. The “golden age” can be relived.

But your second point, if we are being cheated, is absolutely right. We need educational reform, I despise the way we are taught. In English for example we get work to do, finish it and hand it in. We are never taught HOW to read or HOW to write better. But it is the opposite for other courses, like Math, we are taught HOW to do the work, but not WHY it works. Use this formula to get this, I ask why and the teachers never seem to have an answer.

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