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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]Integrated math is usually done very poorly. When I looked at after school programs the best of them like AOPS and RSM do algebra and geometry classes. The worst are integrated math like Kumon and Mathnasium, which are more a random collection of worksheets. I can see how in a class setting integrated math is going to be a sprinkling of everything while barely scratching the surface before moving on to something else.

We prefer the traditional approach and went with AOPS. It’s not only algebra and geometry but other courses as well, number theory, counting and probability, precalculus etc. I don’t see how anyone could do all of them at the same time or why even attempt it. How would that even work? Like a week each of geometry, algebra, number theory, statistics trigonometry, precalculus. The topics would be so spaced out that the poor kids will forget half before getting to the next topic.

Integrated math is one of those educational fads that end up going nowhere.
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I don’t know anything about the after school programs but I think it’s odd to call integrated math a fad when the whole point of this thread is that it’s extremely common in other countries, some of whom are known to be much better at teaching math than the US[/quote]

Often people quote PISA assessments as proof that US math education is really bad. Many of the top countries select who takes the test or have early tracks into vocational training which skew the results.

National curriculums may be good at raising the averages, but not great for the bottom or top students. The top 5% of students in US are not behind other countries, based on coursework completed by end of high school, they are better prepared for college.

Whoever has the patience can read this very thoughtful and interesting article in how Chinese scholars compare the math education with that in US. It may challenge many of the assumptions in the thread.

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8291123/[/quote]

They are just like us! Criticizing the local system they know and imagining that the foreign system they don't know is better.

"Yang: The basic physics and chemical courses in college require mathematical knowledge of calculus and linear algebra. In Chinese universities, most freshmen have no such knowledge so that we have to stop the specialized courses for one or two weeks, during which we supply them with the mathematical knowledge before we can come back to the main course."

Chinese universities teach basic calculus and linear algebra in 2 weeks! Because their students are well-prepared for college.

Intro University science classes in China require calculus and linear algebra! Into US classes do not; they are more mathematically based. [/quote]

That’s not what they said though. They highlighted some issues related to math education in China, namely that the focus on exam preparation takes a toll on creativity, students waste a full year preparing for Gaokao and advanced US students generally have more high level coursework done in high school.

Intro physics classes for stem majors in US are calculus based. [/quote]

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