@ Trebla: was that statement directed at me???
I have no idea what you're talking about. My previous post in this thread was directed at buchanan's submission in the previous post. Your elaboration based on your assumptions for someone who hasn't even experienced the HSC course in Maths astounds me.
If so, get a life. The current HSC mathematics course are, with the exception of Extension 2 and some Extension 1 topics, difficult, rigid, boring. Math is not meant to be rigid nor logical nor difficult... it should be the opposite (and many a mathematician has said so):
Maths is not meant to be logical? Maths is basically the rationalisation of every science. Without the logic behind maths, there would be little scientific advances in modern society.
Math should be simple, yet elegant. Interesting yet irrelevant (to everyday life).
Math in schools is generally boring. This applies to much of the Western World... actually imo it's only Europe that actually knows how to teacher math to kids aged 11 - 18.
(i.e. High School, not universities, uni math is, from what I've heard, so f***ing different and so much BETTER... I have cousins who did/still do Engineering and Commerce @ USYD, one - Engineering is pure math, Commerce is hm mm stats, data anaylsis and consumerism mathematics - "applied math".)
University mathematics is basically extending from Extension 2 Mathematics. It is MUCH HARDER and far more rigorous than your HSC maths. If you think Maths should be simple, think again.
Anyway. Trebla - age brings wisdom, and I am assuming you're AT LEAST 25 years old. But don't forget - as we get older - we forget things (i.e. ignorance naturally comes to us with age). Treb, you're beginning to sound like a dull, boring, uninteresting, unexcited High School mathematics teacher... when really, you're just some cool young dude who has a passion for maths. So don't be too dismissive of the new syllabuses for NSW Mathematics Stage 6.
Epic fail. If you observe closely, I'm nowhere near 25 years old LOL. I did my HSC in 2006, which is clearly stated on my profile. I am also studying Mathematics/Statistics in uni.
I believe, I honestly believe (and I know because I am a Year 10 student and will be doing maths next yr ONLY if the new syllabuses are introduced, otherwise I'll pick up a FUN subject like Design &Tech)... SO SO SO many Year 10's living in NSW will be DROPPING maths all together for next year.
The primary reason that many people are dropping maths is because they didn't like it in junior years. Prelim and HSC maths is nothing like your junior maths unless you're doing General Maths. The 2 unit and Extension 1 and 2 courses are calculus based courses. Calculus is essential should you continue to pursue Commerce, Engineering or Science degrees in uni. Also, you cannot justify your judgement having not experienced the Prelim/HSC course yourself.
Every single year, without fail (well almost without fail) - check the BOS HSC Stats - the number of high school students dropping maths steadily increases. SO - to retain students' interest we really do need to introduce the new syllabuses. They have more of the applied math ideal. And although pure maths is much more awesome than applied math WE ALL KNOW THAT... it does not matter.
I WILL BE endlessly happy if just a dozen students at my school who were going to drop mathematics end up keeping it 'cos of the new vocational, Yr 12 "Mathematics General 1" course. At least then these kiddies won't have to be taught payroll on the job!!
- James.
I haven't directed any criticism towards the General Maths course at all. If you're more interested in the applications of Maths in society, you should take general maths. My criticisms in this thread are directed towards the proposed 2 unit and Extensions syllabus, particularly the Extension 2 syllabus and the proposal to have Multiple Choice questions.
I think that the proposed syllabus will lower the standards expected of students and will make the course less challenging and less interesting. The MC questions (according to samples provided) are designed to trick people rather than test their knowledge and skill.
NSW is currently one of the leading states in Mathematics, and most believe this proposed syllabus will place NSW behind other states and on an international scale. Not only that, but a less rigorous syllabus will make students more likely to struggle in university mathematics because their background foundational knowledge and skills will decline.
Based on your theory that the proposed syllabus will increase enrolment in Maths courses, I think that is unlikely. Students usually base their judgements on Prelim/HSC courses based on what they experienced in junior years, simply because that is only indicator that they have. I believe that changes should be made in the junior syllabus to get more students interested in maths at the beginning, because at the moment it is too boring and encourages rote learning.
I for one, found junior Maths very boring and routine and perhaps would have dropped maths if I wasn't doing well in it. However, when I took Ext1 and Ext2, it certainly made Maths much more interesting because it is based on understanding the concepts from scratch and doing unusual questions which challenge you to approach things logically rather than doing the same questions over and over again.
That is my view based on my own experiences as a student. Come back and give your views once you've actually finished the course.
