Why do older adults assume kids are stupid today?

[N2NH]

I can tell you that the math is very different and a lot harder now than it was when I was in college. Took a summer math course and I can tell you there was no learning curve. It didn't seem that you were there to learn but to already know. I didn't get the point of taking the course, since if I already knew, I didn't need to take it, but there are those curriculum requirements that state you need to take Math 202, after taking Math 201 which has the prerequisite of Math 143 and Math 123. All those have prerequisites too. The kids in the class knew their stuff and if you haven't grown up with a calculator in your hand, you aren't learning at that point.

Nope. Kudos to the kids in college today. Might not have the common sense of a nail, but they are very smart.

[n2ize]

I can tell you that the math is very different and a lot harder now than it was when I was in college. Took a summer math course and I can tell you there was no learning curve. It didn't seem that you were there to learn but to already know. I didn't get the point of taking the course, since if I already knew, I didn't need to take it, but there are those curriculum requirements that state you need to take Math 202, after taking Math 201 which has the prerequisite of Math 143 and Math 123. All those have prerequisites too. The kids in the class knew their stuff and if you haven't grown up with a calculator in your hand, you aren't learning at that point.

Nope. Kudos to the kids in college today. Might not have the common sense of a nail, but they are very smart.

Actually most of the more advanced college level math courses don't require a calculator. I rarely had any need for a calculator when I was studying for my masters degree in mathematics. Most of the courses are theoretical theorem/proof oriented and are about understanding conceptualizations and involve constructing logical arguments as opposed to performing intensive numerical calculations.

Most of the recent undergraduate level MIT courses that I audited are no harder than when I was taking them decades ago. Virtually all of the fundamental theorems are the same. In fact I found some of them easier then when I was taking them as many of the teachers have embellished new approaches to clarify some of the more difficult ideas making it easier for students to grasp them.

Then again it depends on the school, the teacher, etc. Since I don;t know what you mean by math 123, 143, 201, 202 I have no way of knowing what topics you covered. Different schools have different designations for their course numbers.

[K7SGJ]

Actually most of the more advanced college level math courses don't require a calculator. I rarely had any need for a calculator when I was studying for my masters degree in mathematics. Most of the courses are theoretical theorem/proof oriented and are about understanding conceptualizations as opposed to being calculation intensive.

How long ago did you get your masters?

[n2ize]

How long ago did you get your masters?

mid-late 1980's.A few courses were computer intensive but rarely did I require a calculator. Many courses were very theory oriented so ost often I needed a pencil and paper and time to rack my brain to come up with a valid argument. The Engineering boys were using calculators much more than I.

[NQ6U]

How long ago did you get your masters?

John can't recall the exact date but he does remember that the stone beads on his abacus made the thing really heavy.

[n2ize]

John can't recall the exact date but he does remember that the stone beads on his abacus made the thing really heavy.

It's just that in a lot of the courses a calculator won't be of any help because you aren't crunching numbers. Most of the time you are using symbols that could stand for a variety of different things.

[N2NH]

Actually most of the more advanced college level math courses don't require a calculator. I rarely had any need for a calculator when I was studying for my masters degree in mathematics. Most of the courses are theoretical theorem/proof oriented and are about understanding conceptualizations and involve constructing logical arguments as opposed to performing intensive numerical calculations.

Most of the recent undergraduate level MIT courses that I audited are no harder than when I was taking them decades ago. Virtually all of the fundamental theorems are the same. In fact I found some of them easier then when I was taking them as many of the teachers have embellished new approaches to clarify some of the more difficult ideas making it easier for students to grasp them.

Then again it depends on the school, the teacher, etc. Since I don;t know what you mean by math 123, 143, 201, 202 I have no way of knowing what topics you covered. Different schools have different designations for their course numbers.

Then I guess the kids (and I) really are that stupid. Every person in the class had a calculator and it was recommended by the professor. We got an average of 175 to 185 problems per day, 4 classes a week and a quiz nearly every day. Derivatives were part of it. Factorials too. Nothing like what you see in High School (and nothing like I'd seen in over 4 decades either). And no, it wasn't Engineering, but it was required to get the degree as opposed to the certificate. I did use the calculator a lot in Engineering. It was actually easier as it was math I was used to.

I think the professor used an algorithm to lace up her girdle in the morning.

[KC2UGV]

Then I guess the kids (and I) really are that stupid. Every person in the class had a calculator and it was recommended by the professor. We got an average of 175 to 185 problems per day, 4 classes a week and a quiz nearly every day. Derivatives were part of it. Factorials too. Nothing like what you see in High School (and nothing like I'd seen in over 4 decades either). And no, it wasn't Engineering, but it was required to get the degree as opposed to the certificate. I did use the calculator a lot in Engineering. It was actually easier as it was math I was used to.

I think the professor used an algorithm to lace up her girdle in the morning.

I understand what John is saying here. In my trig class (Math 126, aka College Math II), a calculator is of very little use. You can get a few portions of the question faster with a calc, but on the whole, it's just not needed.

Like this question:

What is the co-terminal angle of (2pi)/4

[N2NH]

I understand what John is saying here. In my trig class (Math 126, aka College Math II), a calculator is of very little use. You can get a few portions of the question faster with a calc, but on the whole, it's just not needed.

Like this question:

What is the co-terminal angle of (2pi)/4

Yep. That wouldn't be a problem for me either. These didn't look like that.

Be back in a few hours. Gotta get some sleep. Coming off a 102 fever with what feels like the flu and a bad asthma attack.

But will try to get the textbook to give an idea of one of those 700+ weekly problems we had to solve. I've signed on a Math Board to try and figure out the riddle of polynomial derivatives that must be factored - in fraction form.

[KC2UGV]

Yep. That wouldn't be a problem for me either. These didn't look like that.

Be back in a few hours. Gotta get some sleep. Coming off a 102 fever with what feels like the flu and a bad asthma attack.

But will try to get the textbook to give an idea of one of those 700+ weekly problems we had to solve. I've signed on a Math Board to try and figure out the riddle of polynomial derivatives that must be factored - in fraction form.

Ugh, I feel ya dog... I'm battling something fierce right now too, had to leave work early, and sleeping on and off for 4 hour periods.