Dennis Adams, Mary Hamm Demystify Math, Science, and Technology

Annotation

In a rapidly evolving local and global economy, skills related to mathematical problem solving, scientific inquiry, and technological innovation are becoming more critical for success in and out of school. Thus, Demystify Math, Science, and Technology addresses the need to cultivate these skills in young students so that ingenuity, teamwork, and imaginative skills become part of their arsenal in dealing with real world challenges. This whole package of attributes is essential for learners imagining new scenarios and future work in areas that don't even exist yet. Another important issue is that teachers now deal with students who span the entire spectrum of learning. Students differ widely in levels of preparedness, personal interests, and cultural ways of seeing and experiencing the world. One size does not fit all. Teachers need to learn to turn diversity into an advantage because innovation builds on the social nature of learning; the more diverse the inputs, the more interesting the outputs. The authors also believe that no one should be sidelined with basic skill training in a way that keeps them away from the creative and collaborative engagement associated with problem solving, inquiry, and the technological products of math and science.