Math Mind & Unschooler’s Educational Dictionary

Cheery Friday Greetings to our Learning How to Learners!

Book of the Month

Math Mind: The Simple Path to Loving Math, by Shalinee Sharma. This is a brilliant book—hands down the most engaging and best-researched book on learning math we’ve ever encountered. These paragraphs give a sense of Sharma’s ability to step back and help us see the big picture of what’s going on when teaching and learning about math:

“Math education isn’t often discussed from an integrative complexity perspective, with requisite speed and fluency counterbalanced by a slower, more creative and collaborative approach. Both-and, not either-or. The problem can be traced back to the math wars, a phrase coined in the 1990s but a battle that has been fought in schools for at least fifty years. At the time of this writing, I am nervous that the math wars may be revving up again. This should worry us all. The only casualties are the students.

       “The math wars are more like World War I than World War II. In World War II, the narrative is about the good guys and the bad guys, the Allies (i.e., democracies) and the Axis (i.e., Nazis). Trying to parse WWI, meanwhile, is much trickier. The common explanation is that a series of treaties created a domino effect engulfing multiple continents in war. The dominos began falling due to the assassination of an archduke. In the end, forty million people died. Similarly, the math wars are complex without easily identifiable good guys and bad guys. In fact, it is often not clear to many educators or STEM workers, like my team of software engineers and technologists, what the math wars are about: The issues ebb and flow with the political tides. Further, the math wars morph as social media celebrities seek Likes, and factions come together and dissolve. As it pertains to speed and math, the wars are quite simple: One side overemphasizes it and the other side underemphasizes it.

       “The research doesn’t declare a clear winner in the battle over speed. The problem is that neither side is willing to acknowledge the integrative complexity that the research offers and strike the proper balance.”

The nonprofit learning platform, Zearn Math, that Sharma has co-created and led, has been deemed one of the most important and innovative educational platforms in the US. Under Sharma’s leadership, Zearn Math has developed a ground-breaking approach to teaching and learning math, including interactive videos with onscreen teachers and digital manipulatives with just-in-time feedback. In print, physical manipulatives and the digital sphere, Zearn utilizes the proven pedagogy of concrete to pictorial to abstract as well as a balance of fluency, conceptual understanding and application work used in the highest performing PISA countries. Zearn’s technology is focused on supporting students to understand grade-level work through acceleration, starting students off with grade-level work and offering personalized, brief, just-in-time supports when students struggle, rather than the dominant approach of remediation, taking students off grade-level work for extended periods of time. In fact, Zearn demonstrated using a fixed-effect model that acceleration was superior to remediation. 

Learn all about great approaches to learning and teaching math in this brilliant book that opens the doors to the future of math education.

Barb’s on the road!

Yes, Barb’s once again on the move—she’ll be speaking on Coursera’s behalf on learning and generative AI for maor universities and business enterprises in Mumbai (Aug 19-21), Bangalore (Aug 22-24), Bangkok (Aug 25-27), Singapore (Aug 28), Manila (Aug 29).  If your organization is interested in participating, reach out to  Shilpa Shetty sshettyc@coursera.org.

And for all learners, here is a YouTube link for an interactive live session August 22, 12:00 pm IST (New Delhi time)/2:30 pm Singapore time. 

Yes, a Second Book of the Month! The Unschooler’s Educational Dictionary 

If you are trying to find the best school option for a child, you couldn’t do better than to read Jonas Koblin’s Unschooler’s Educational Dictionary A Lighthearted Introduction to the World of Education and Curriculum-Free Alternatives.This witty and insightful book offers a refreshing perspective on education, challenging conventional wisdom with humor and thought-provoking commentary. Koblin, the creative mind behind the popular Sprouts Educational videos, brings his unique blend of expertise and irreverence to this entertaining guide.

The book is divided into two parts: a cheeky dictionary of educational terms and a comprehensive guide to alternative education models. The dictionary section is a joy to read, filled with clever definitions, historical tidbits, and biting satire that will make you laugh out loud while also pondering deeper issues in education. From “Burnout” to “Waldorf,” Koblin covers a wide range of topics with a perfect balance of information and humor.

In the second part, Koblin provides an excellent overview of various alternative education approaches, from Montessori to unschooling. His balanced presentation helps readers understand the pros and cons of each method, making this an invaluable resource for parents and educators alike. Whether you’re a homeschooling parent, an education professional, or simply someone interested in learning about different educational philosophies, this book offers a wealth of information in an engaging, accessible format. The Unschooler’s Educational Dictionary is a must-read for anyone looking to expand their understanding of education beyond traditional schooling.

When empathy goes wrong (and how to make it right)

Is too much empathy a bad thing? Barb Oakley chats with Kat Yarborough on “Kat’s Conversations” about the surprising downsides of always trying to feel others’ pain. They explore how good intentions can sometimes backfire, and why critical thinking is just as important as a kind heart. It’s a fun, eye-opening talk that might change how you think about being “nice.” Catch it on YouTube. 

That’s all for now. Have a happy week in learning!

Barb, Terry, and the entire Learning How to Learn team

• Uncommon Sense Teaching—the book and Coursera Specialization!
• Mindshift—the book and MOOC
• Learn Like a Pro—the book and MOOC
• The LHTL recommended text, A Mind for Numbers
• For Kids and parents: Learning How to Learn—the book and MOOC. Pro tip—watch the videos and read the book together with your child. Learning how to learn at an early age will change their life!