Post 100844 by dtluna@voluntaryism.club
(DIR) More posts by dtluna@voluntaryism.club
(DIR) Post #100362 by wizard@niu.moe
2018-09-19T23:49:11Z
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I feel like every math class I've taken has been missing something that I can't quite pinpoint.... It's as if there's a large portion of knowledge that's abstracted out of the classes that, if left in, would allow me to really understand and enjoy the material a lot better.I think it's a history of the mathematics and the people who discovered the theorems I've been taught.
(DIR) Post #100363 by PrismaticMurder@niu.moe
2018-09-20T05:23:17Z
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@wizard I think you may be on to something. I'm not sure how you would be able to incorporate it sensibly. But it would ne interesting at least.
(DIR) Post #100364 by wizard@niu.moe
2018-09-20T05:25:42Z
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@PrismaticMurder To be fair, there are entire degree programs based entirely on the history of mathematics, so it might not be exactly an appropriate topic for a math class.I'm still not too sure if that's what classes are missing. I just feel like I could have been taught to have a much greater appreciation for the subject. Taking a discrete mathematics class helped.
(DIR) Post #100365 by wizard@niu.moe
2018-09-20T05:28:50Z
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To add on: I've taken dozens of algebra and other math classes, but none of them ever started with a formal description of what "algebra," "calculus," "discrete math," or etc actually is. Mathematics is clearly a large field and I have no idea what topic fits where, or why exactly those things fit in the places they do. I'm not too sure I'm making any sense here, but hopefully that got the point across.
(DIR) Post #100736 by PrismaticMurder@niu.moe
2018-09-20T05:35:47Z
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@wizard As much as I rant about the epsilon abomination, the course Real Analysis really got into the nuts and bolts of calculus.
(DIR) Post #100737 by wizard@niu.moe
2018-09-20T05:37:22Z
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@PrismaticMurder My teacher pretty much skimmed past the epsilon-delta definition of a limit, and didn't really want to waste time answering questions because it wasn't a big part of the course. I felt like it was the most interesting thing we've learned so far though lmao
(DIR) Post #100738 by PrismaticMurder@niu.moe
2018-09-20T05:46:37Z
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@wizard That's sort of important. Fundamental even.I think that there's a rush to get through X amount of content. But no one wants to spend the time laying a foundation.In my experience it shows with textbooks. I've had more success with courses that are taught from 30 year old texts than the newest greatest thing.
(DIR) Post #100739 by wizard@niu.moe
2018-09-20T06:02:32Z
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@PrismaticMurder Perhaps it's because students expect teachers to be giving them skills that are applicable to the Real World(tm). I've heard plenty of times in my life as a student "what's the point?" or "when am I going to use this?" Nobody needs to know the proofs or theorems so long as they can get the work done for their job. I believe that line of thinking misses the point itself, but I can sort of understand it.Also my class is 2hrs 50 mins twice a week, there's no rush for anything lol
(DIR) Post #100740 by dtluna@voluntaryism.club
2018-09-20T06:05:23.674747Z
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@wizard @PrismaticMurder Excuse me, but time is scarce, just in case you haven't noticed.
(DIR) Post #100843 by wizard@niu.moe
2018-09-20T06:18:25Z
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@dtluna @PrismaticMurder 2hrs and 50 mins is just about a lifetime if you're listening to a monotonous voice tell you mathy dad jokes that nobody bats an eye at.
(DIR) Post #100844 by dtluna@voluntaryism.club
2018-09-20T06:19:29.605549Z
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@wizard @PrismaticMurder That's exactly what I'm saying. Don't waste your time on shit you're not interested in or that you don't find useful.
(DIR) Post #100876 by wizard@niu.moe
2018-09-20T06:22:20Z
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@dtluna @PrismaticMurder That's the problem though. I find the topic useful and I think the idea of it is interesting, but it's never been presented in an interesting manner to me before.Also it's a mandatory class for my major so I need to take it to graduate with the credentials I need for the jobs I want so lolI'm wasting a lot of time taking classes that I can't test out of but I can't argue with the cheap price of this college.It's really frustrating.
(DIR) Post #100877 by dtluna@voluntaryism.club
2018-09-20T06:23:37.806140Z
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@wizard @PrismaticMurder > wasting time in a university> believing in credentialsThat mind control worked good on you
(DIR) Post #101042 by wizard@niu.moe
2018-09-20T06:32:57Z
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@dtluna @PrismaticMurder Hey, it's not my fault that other people believe in credentials.I'm really unsure as to whether I want to continue after I get my associates degree though. The only nice thing about university is that I've made a few professional connections, but even still the people that actually care about computer science are needles in the haystack.
(DIR) Post #101043 by wizard@niu.moe
2018-09-20T06:45:57Z
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@dtluna @PrismaticMurder if I had known what was awaiting me in university, though, I probably would have just stayed home. Not too sure if I regret it or not yet. I'll get back to you in a few years on that one :>
(DIR) Post #101044 by dtluna@voluntaryism.club
2018-09-20T06:46:40.841994Z
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@wizard @PrismaticMurder few years? That's insane