Tech Task #5: MathTV
You know, up until a few years ago, I really, really hated math, well, at least, doing math.
Well, it wasn't exactly hate. It was more frustration that I couldn't get it. From having panic attacks over long division in Grade 4 (poor Mrs. Chudley did her best), to trying really hard in Linear Algebra and still only getting a C, doing math beyond the basics always felt like a futile effort. To quote a classic Bowie song, I was always crashing in the same car, so the prospect of maybe having to teach math someday was terrifying. The students would figure out I don't know what I'm talking about and probably laugh me out of the building. The stuff of nightmares, really.
Well, over the last little bit, things have changed. Turns out I actually like teaching math, quite a bit in fact. The switch flipped when I had to teach an adult math course at my summer job. I had to school myself in a few things I was weak in (I can finally do long division!), but overall it was a good experience. You can really see progress when you're teaching math, because the results are so concrete, and that's really satisfying as a teacher. It only took twenty years, but math and me are no longer bitter enemies.
Now, the point of all this rambling is to introduce a YouTube channel that focusses on teaching math in a clear, direct way. Say hello to MathTV
I was first made aware of this channel via the professor of the calculus course I took at UPEI. I didn't do that well in the course, though it wasn't for lack of trying (I got to know the math tutors real well that semester), but I liked MathTV so much I ended up subscribing. If you think that is weird, a visit to my subscription feed will tell you that a math channel is just the tip of the iceberg.
Anyways, what I like about MathTV is that it gets to the point. None of the videos are are very long, yet they cover what you need to know about a given topic. The lessons range from high school to college level math, and even include tips for teachers and study skills.
In terms of drawbacks, well, for one, it's kind of a one-way medium. You can't ask the host questions like you can in an actual class, so all a student can do is watch the video over and over again if they don't get something. Also, unless you have some math prodigies in your class, this channel wouldn't be that helpful if you teach elementary grades. Finally, it's an American channel, so it mentions things like Common Core that we don't employ here in Canada.
In the end, it's obviously not a replacement for an actual teacher in a classroom. But as a supplementary tool, it's pretty good.
I give it four quadratic equations out of five*
*I hate the quadratic equation and it should thrown in a well
Well, it wasn't exactly hate. It was more frustration that I couldn't get it. From having panic attacks over long division in Grade 4 (poor Mrs. Chudley did her best), to trying really hard in Linear Algebra and still only getting a C, doing math beyond the basics always felt like a futile effort. To quote a classic Bowie song, I was always crashing in the same car, so the prospect of maybe having to teach math someday was terrifying. The students would figure out I don't know what I'm talking about and probably laugh me out of the building. The stuff of nightmares, really.
Well, over the last little bit, things have changed. Turns out I actually like teaching math, quite a bit in fact. The switch flipped when I had to teach an adult math course at my summer job. I had to school myself in a few things I was weak in (I can finally do long division!), but overall it was a good experience. You can really see progress when you're teaching math, because the results are so concrete, and that's really satisfying as a teacher. It only took twenty years, but math and me are no longer bitter enemies.
Now, the point of all this rambling is to introduce a YouTube channel that focusses on teaching math in a clear, direct way. Say hello to MathTV
I was first made aware of this channel via the professor of the calculus course I took at UPEI. I didn't do that well in the course, though it wasn't for lack of trying (I got to know the math tutors real well that semester), but I liked MathTV so much I ended up subscribing. If you think that is weird, a visit to my subscription feed will tell you that a math channel is just the tip of the iceberg.
Anyways, what I like about MathTV is that it gets to the point. None of the videos are are very long, yet they cover what you need to know about a given topic. The lessons range from high school to college level math, and even include tips for teachers and study skills.
In terms of drawbacks, well, for one, it's kind of a one-way medium. You can't ask the host questions like you can in an actual class, so all a student can do is watch the video over and over again if they don't get something. Also, unless you have some math prodigies in your class, this channel wouldn't be that helpful if you teach elementary grades. Finally, it's an American channel, so it mentions things like Common Core that we don't employ here in Canada.
In the end, it's obviously not a replacement for an actual teacher in a classroom. But as a supplementary tool, it's pretty good.
I give it four quadratic equations out of five*
*I hate the quadratic equation and it should thrown in a well
Interesting post. I too do not enjoy math and unfortunately I still do not enjoy it. I am glad that you had found that math is something you enjoy. Maybe if i had the right teacher and an app like the math TV you discuss I would not dislike math as much as I do. Well anyways thanks for the awesome post.
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