Jo Boaler: Math Evangelist, Author, and Stanford Professor
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Dr. Jo Boaler, a math education expert, advocates for modernizing math teaching by removing rote memorization and timed tests. She believes that math can be made more relevant and engaging by incorporating creative and interconnected activities that involve a growth mindset. Jo emphasizes the need to move away from narrow tests and rankings that reduce math to a mere practical skill. She suggests that math can be a beautiful, visual, and creative subject with real-world applications such as data analysis and pattern recognition.
Jo discusses the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on math teaching, highlighting the positive outcome of colleges no longer requiring SAT scores for admissions. She argues that SAT scores have a low correlation with success in college and life and are not effective predictors. Jo also suggests introducing data science as an alternative pathway to calculus, as it would be more relevant and engaging for most professions.
Jo emphasizes the importance of teaching math in a multi-dimensional and engaging way, similar to how other subjects like humanities engage students through acting, writing, and storytelling. She believes in eradicating damaging labels such as "gifted" and focusing on praising children's actions and accomplishments instead. Jo also addresses the criticism of mindset theories and the miscommunication of grit in education.
Jo suggests that parents can bring about change in math education by talking to schools and teachers, sharing resources, and helping teachers learn new approaches to teaching math. She recommends challenging negative experiences with math and approaching learning in a different way.
Jo believes that using technology like calculators is acceptable for solving simple math problems, as the focus should be on developing number sense and reasoning skills. She highlights the shift in mindset from the past, where calculators were not readily available, to the present, where they are ubiquitous.
Dr. Jo Boaler, a math education expert, advocates for modernizing math teaching by removing rote mem