• Question: Do you feel that the maths curriculum in schools is too narrow?

    Asked by fmason71 on 23 Jan 2020.
    • Photo: Deirdre Toher

      Deirdre Toher answered on 23 Jan 2020:

      I think that not using computers to do statistical analysis – using calculators instead – is giving students an unrealistic view of what statistics is.

      The statistics syllabus could have been created to focus more on interpretation of statistical output; this would have allowed assessment within exams to continue without requiring students to use computers in the exams.

      Having more statistical literacy as part of the curriculum – for example Absolute versus Relative Risk, would be an interesting way to incorporate statistics as seen in the media into the curriculum and then helped students to be more critical of the reporting (often “something” linked to increased risk of “cancer / heart disease / some other disease”).

    • Photo: Fiona Macfarlane

      Fiona Macfarlane answered on 23 Jan 2020:

      I agree with Deirdre, in that I think a lot of key mathematical techniques are not really mentioned at all. Like using computers to solve mathematical problems

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