Mathematics Reform: What's it REALLY all about?
According to a list of the top-paying jobs for new college graduates, all but 2 of the top 30 jobs require courses in advanced mathematics. (payscale.com). Some of the fields cited include engineering, statistics, physics, information systems and finance. As in studies from past years, it remains the case that higher salaries can be directly correlated with the study of higher level mathematics.
And from "How Should Colleges Prepare Students to Succeed in Today's Global Economy?" (Results of a national poll by Peter D. Hart Research Associates, 2007) we have the top 10 things that employers look for in recent graduates:
1. The ability to work well in teams—especially with people different from yourself
2. An understanding of science and technology and how these subjects are used in real-world settings
3. The ability to write and speak well
4. The ability to think clearly about complex problems
5. The ability to analyze a problem to develop workable solutions
6. An understanding of global context in which work is now done
7. The ability to be creative and innovative in solving problems
8. The ability to apply knowledge and skills in new settings
9. The ability to understand numbers and statistics
10. A strong sense of ethics and integrity
At least six of these pertain to the teaching of mathematics. This is not new information, but it becomes relevant as we shift our instructional practices to match the call of our new standards. It is a reminder that in all of our hard work this year, not only are we preparing students for a new test, but we are preparing students for their future. We may be tempted to believe that the new reforms are simply a new way to evaluate teachers, and just another swing of the pendulum; but I have to believe that the intention is much larger than that. It is an opportunity to enrich the possibilities that lie ahead for all of our students as they become adults in the 21st century.
Supportive Resources:
Kindly,
Susan Looney, Ed.D.
President - LMC