Does our educational system adaquately prepare us Math wise.

Its well established that we stop at the O level in the BGCSE. Most dont even take the extended paper, which means that most arent taught the extended level work.

I was looking at universities abroad, and computer science is heavy on math. Some of them expect you do already have done pre-calculus by high school. To my knowledge pre-cal is not taught in govt schools, and maybe a few private schools actually teach it. Many may say if implemented persons would fail even more, but I ask are we being prepared from primary and junior high school?

Then it extends to our national university/college:COB. Where basic college maths (Math 140) is really nothing more than grades 10-11 math. College prep ha, I wont even talk about that. In my CIS contract I do 3 english and 1 math course. That doesnt sound right, now granted they changed it and replaced 140 with 163 (finite math) but is that enough.

Math is really more than numbers. I feel it teaches logic and problem solving. IMO, we are skimming the surface in terms of Math.

here is a quote from an earlier thread

However, I was definitely NOT prepared for the Math I had to do here.. COB and that Math 140 crap is a JOKE. More than likely if you transfer out you will have to go up to precalc levels and I had no idea about the most of that stuff being taught

http://www.bahamasissues.com/archive/index.php/t-1413-p-2.html

from computer science to financial engineering and all in between in the global scope of things math is the future forward...especially if we want to build a world beating nation. it's all in the math- as my guy says he should know!

It is sad. I go to St. Andrews and I was in the top set math so we did Pre-Cal in grade 11. In comparison to US schools the end of BGCSE is equivalent to the end of grade 10. Something has to change with our educational system.

Does our educational system adaquately prepare us Math wise.
Its well established that we stop at the O level in the BGCSE. Most dont even take the extended paper, which means that most arent taught the extended level work.
I was looking at universities abroad, and computer science is heavy on math. Some of them expect you do already have done pre-calculus by high school. To my knowledge pre-cal is not taught in govt schools, and maybe a few private schools actually teach it. Many may say if implemented persons would fail even more, but I ask are we being prepared from primary and junior high school?
Then it extends to our national university/college:COB. Where basic college maths (Math 140) is really nothing more than grades 10-11 math. College prep ha, I wont even talk about that. In my CIS contract I do 3 english and 1 math course. That doesnt sound right, now granted they changed it and replaced 140 with 163 (finite math) but is that enough.
Math is really more than numbers. I feel it teaches logic and problem solving. IMO, we are skimming the surface in terms of Math.
here is a quote from an earlier thread
http://www.bahamasissues.com/archive/index.php/t-1413-p-2.html




Garnelleo: By now you must know that the educational system is going to the dogs; I could fix it in five years for $200,000 per year, that’s a discount. But I doubt that this knowledge will help you.

Calculus is very easy. I would recommend that you talk to your advisor and tweak your syllabus in order to get more maths in it. If you need tutorial help I have a friend who is very good, she graduated a year after me from the college. There are some great teach your self calculus books out there that you can look into. Just don’t be afraid of math it is very enjoyable just have fun and it will come to you.

I don’t know if you have strong algebra and geometry skills along with arithmetic, because calculus is an evolution on these, what’s amazing about calculus is you can determine change, which is difficult to do in algebra, arithmetic and geometry. You can calculate change and rates of change, which will be the differential calculus; the other half will be the integral which allows you to use rates of change to determine uniform change. I am getting too far ahead of myself now. But if you need a tutor send me a message and I will get you in touch with them.

you should try to do the precalc at cob... math 167 and 168... use your electives... i had ms lloyd... she was really good... ms elliot does calc... maybe talk to her too... good teacher n practical...

you should try to do the precalc at cob... math 167 and 168... use your electives... i had ms lloyd... she was really good... ms elliot does calc... maybe talk to her too... good teacher n practical...

thats what I am doing now. But I am saying that precalc should have been high school, or the mandatory intro math course at COB. a1000, Ima talk to the people in charge at the college about this.

thats what I am doing now. But I am saying that precalc should have been high school, or the mandatory intro math course at COB.


sighz... we already kno the entire education system needs restructuring... they used to do it... calc in high schools in the bahamas i mean... everything's been watered rite down... good luck

sighz... we already kno the entire education system needs restructuring... they used to do it... calc in high schools in the bahamas i mean... everything's been watered rite down... good luck

thanks. And although all i need is 140 (basic college maths). I am going to try do 167 (precalc algebra), 168(precalc trig) and 170 (calc I).

you should try to do the precalc at cob... math 167 and 168... use your electives... i had ms lloyd... she was really good... ms elliot does calc... maybe talk to her too... good teacher n practical...


Growing:

Is Ms Eliot still at COB?

She taught me physics there, would love to get a hold of her does the college have an email address for her:gi:

Growing:
Is Ms Eliot still at COB?
She taught me physics there, would love to get a hold of her does the college have an email address for her:gi:


me no kno... i had her a few yearz ago myself...

Growing:
Is Ms Eliot still at COB?
She taught me physics there, would love to get a hold of her does the college have an email address for her:gi:

yea she taught me 140. Excellent lecturer. google for COB's staff listings and you can find it.

math is especially important for software programming, they go hand in hand .. both should be emphasised more in schools, will make the kids use their minds and maybe keep out of trouble, and get a decent job when they leave school ..

Namaste:

Garnello, the more I think about, the clearer it has become. I do believe that Calculus may very well be unnecessary for your field. It is important to remember that mathematics is but a way of describing reality, it is not the way but a way. If you change the direction of your thinking and look at your field it would give you an idea of where you need to go. For example security is a very big issue with computers to day, designing open ended system that can adapt to changing viruses and spy ware is going to be in big demand, you don’t need calculus to do this. Thinking is so important, that you have to use every situation that you face to expand and manipulate your reality least you will be living in some one else.

I was looking at universities abroad, and computer science is heavy on math. Some of them expect you do already have done pre-calculus by high school. To my knowledge pre-cal is not taught in govt schools, and maybe a few private schools actually teach it. Many may say if implemented persons would fail even more, but I ask are we being prepared from primary and junior high school?

It’s important to remember what education is. As I continue to write education is:

Education as I formally learnt from John h Clarke, but I informally learnt from my family and in the village is the ability to handle power. power as it is used in this argument is the ability to define reality. I have made a distinction in terms of education and what goes on in most colleges, universities and grade schools because these train persons to become clogs in society, and you by your post provided me with the classical example. Go to school graduate and look for a job. This is in contrast to the concept of education as I am putting forth which is look at the Bahamas, look at your innate gifts and see how the marriage of these gifts lead to the development of self and country. If you had taken this approach then your life in the institution of ignorance would be much different, you would have left there with the ability to put your vision of the world into practice.

Therefore Garnelleo you are standing at the threshold of A brave New world, where you go is up to you. You can free your mind and make your curriculum work for you or you can work for it, but it’s all up to you. Any one “can show you the door but only you can open it” Morpheous to Neo in the Movie The Matrix.