Comments on: Graffiti math http://www.squarecirclez.com/blog/graffiti-math/326 Mathematics, learning, computing, travel - and whatever... Tue, 16 Mar 2010 02:48:59 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=abc hourly 1 By: zac http://www.squarecirclez.com/blog/graffiti-math/326/comment-page-1#comment-2742 zac Sat, 08 Jul 2006 01:41:44 +0000 http://www.squarecirclez.com/blog/graffiti-math/326#comment-2742 Hi Alan & thanks for your comment. I gather you too, as well as I, have suffered from "the PR/communications hack bringing good work into disrepute by misstating its significance". Hi Alan & thanks for your comment.

I gather you too, as well as I, have suffered from “the PR/communications hack bringing good work into disrepute by misstating its significance”.

]]> By: Alan Cooper http://www.squarecirclez.com/blog/graffiti-math/326/comment-page-1#comment-2741 Alan Cooper Fri, 07 Jul 2006 23:27:08 +0000 http://www.squarecirclez.com/blog/graffiti-math/326#comment-2741 I agree with your point #1 and hope that the reference to "..has uncovered mathematics..." is just another example of the PR/communications hack bringing good work into disrepute by misstating its significance. (and I note that the shorter blurb on the RPI news frontpage does leave that out and emphasizes the real achievement which is the nice lessons and tools) With regard to your point #2, to "get them interested in mathematics" might be the goal that you and I have, but the RPI guy, Ron Eglash, is an associate professor of science and technology studies, and just improving attitudes toward computers contributes to his broader goal of improving "technological career aspirations for ethnic minority students". That said, I too would like to know whether use of the tools improves attitudes towards mathematics per se. cheers, Alan I agree with your point #1 and hope that the reference to “..has uncovered mathematics…” is just another example of the PR/communications hack bringing good work into disrepute by misstating its significance. (and I note that the shorter blurb on the RPI news frontpage does leave that out and emphasizes the real achievement which is the nice lessons and tools)

With regard to your point #2, to “get them interested in mathematics” might be the goal that you and I have, but the RPI guy, Ron Eglash, is an associate professor of science and technology studies, and just improving attitudes toward computers contributes to his broader goal of improving “technological career aspirations for ethnic minority students”. That said, I too would like to know whether use of the tools improves attitudes towards mathematics per se.

cheers,
Alan

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