Comments on: Calculated Risks

By: Building Comment on “Calculated Risks” at Basket of Candy in a Dentist’s Office

Thu, 21 Feb 2008 21:02:55 +0000

[...] “Calculated Risks”, a post on students2oh.com, got me thinking about questioning our learning environment (but not just in math, which is mainly what this post was about). Ever since the first school class was held way back whenever, there have been a lot of precedented traditions, like, in her words, the “Print and Puke” method of learning, that haven’t really changed, and now, our generation seems to be the one that wants to change them. The author of this writing, Samantha, talked about how the math classes that she has been in have always taught using the traditional ways, but the students in those classes were seemingly progressively annoyed, bored, and tortured. Now is the time for people to question, and ultimately rebel against these traditions. (Not in the bad way, though. You know what I mean). Unfortunately, most people are too oblivious to realize we’re ready for change, and that is why it is going to be so hard for people to learn new methods of learning, and of education. This is what Samantha seemed to be elaborating on, in terms of math class, and I agree completely. [...]

By: Dance, Sing,and Act » Blog Archive » Students 2.0 Comment

Dance, Sing,and Act » Blog Archive » Students 2.0 Comment — Thu, 21 Feb 2008 20:58:09 +0000

[...] other day we were talking about this post on students2oh.org. The author talks about the “print and puke” meathod, meaning you do [...]

By: Putting Stories Back Together » Students 2.0 Building Comment

Putting Stories Back Together » Students 2.0 Building Comment — Thu, 21 Feb 2008 20:51:39 +0000

[...] I think this is a very accurate description of learning in school these days. I know that I get lots of study sheets and just memorize it and use that material for the test or quiz the next day. I can really relate, because that is the way that I do things in school. I am big on studying and getting ready a test or quiz and I never thought anything of it. This has really gotten me to think about the subject. I kind of like the system the school has though, because that is the way I always have done it and I think the way the school teaches us will get us further in education. I say this, because if the school can get the knowledge in our heads it will be there and when we have a problem that uses it in real life we will be able to arrange our thoughts and answer that question. To figure out what I am commenting on go to this website. [...]

By: pepperr

pepperr — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 21:03:18 +0000

The “Print and Puke” method of learning is very common. All most all of my teachers use that method. I think that it is the least effective method. We spend a week or two on a subject, have a test on it, and never come back to it again. I don’t remember half of what we learn.
Nice writing and thoughts!

By: phoenix

phoenix — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 21:01:41 +0000

I’ve gone through the ‘print-and-puke’ method before. In elementary, like huskrgrl, I really didn’t like math. I didn’t understand it, and nobody ever said why we needed them. I decided in fourth grade that I hated math and I wanted to do something as job that had no math what so ever. But then things changed.

In sixth grade I changed schools, and at my new school, my questions finally got answered and I became interested in math. I used to hate it, but now that I understand math it isn’t so bad. I decided I wanted to be an engineer in alternative energy, and I knew that this ment I was going to need to use math. I hope that plenty of people learn about the ‘print and puke’ method because then people can actively try to start stopping it so that kids can enjoy school and get every bit out of it as they can.

By: thingydingy

thingydingy — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 20:56:49 +0000

I think that it is sad that the role math and school and thinking for that fact play in our life. Our teachers encourage it and work hard to teach it, but we as students take it for granted and ignore it.
Being a part of an advanced discovery program my experience is still better then most, but even in advanced programs people aren’t allowed to love to think and to love school. Peers discourage it by example and by teasing those who rise above. We are not allowed to love school. That is nerdy. Even if we do we hide it because it will be looked down upon. This is probably true because those who struggle to learn are jealous of those to whom it comes easily. They take out their jealousy by teasing and making those who are blessed to be smart feel bad about their gifts. Teachers and those who care for our learning desperately try to make it not so, but they have no effect humans are to prone to jealousy and to eager to be accepted. If one wants to be extraordinary they must shirk what their peers say and rise above to love learning and math and the concepts of thinking because that, not fitting in is what will carry them through their life.

By: fracturedfabrication

fracturedfabrication — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 20:54:26 +0000

I think this is a very accurate description of learning in school these days. I know that I get lots of study sheets and just memorize it and use that material for the test or quiz the next day. I’m glad you brought this topic up.

By: 4ways

4ways — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 20:52:42 +0000

WOW! You hit me right on! I totally feel that way and I have lost my interest for Math completely. I can do the simple questions, but once the questions get really hard and long, I start to lose the concept and meaning. I really want to do well in Math, but it’s so hard to be good at something when you don’t have a passion for it. Good job! I can tell you really put a lot of thought into this piece of writing!

By: huskrgrl

huskrgrl — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 20:49:24 +0000

I can totally relate to this post and your previous experiences with math and learning. I used to hate math because in elementary school I was also placed in the “advanced group” and so the teacher would never have time to teach me and my few other peers the curriculum and strategies. I quickly lost interest in the subject and decided that I would use the “Print and Puke” method to get by in math in middle school, high school, and college.

In the last few years though, I have been finding a desire in becoming a doctor or something in the medical field. I excel in health, science, math, language arts, social studies, Spanish, and computer classes so I find that I would do well in the medical field as long as I keep an interest in these subjects. I decided to re-fall in love with math and other subjects that I didn’t have much interest in so that I could follow my dream.

Your writing is very insightful to the minds of other students that feel (or felt) the same way the I do. I think that teachers should help describe the specific topics a little bit more so that this “Print and Puke” method doesn’t come into play in the lives of future kids.

By: babyblankie43

babyblankie43 — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 20:44:44 +0000

I think that this was a really well thought out piece of writing. I agree with a lot of of what you said, but at my school I guess the other students in my class don’t seem to be as tortured as what you made math class out to be. Ya, we don’t LOVE math, but we’re advanced students who have complicated minds, that, in turn, come with the desire to learn more, know more, and interact with our world in a more sophisticated way. Math is just kind of a fact of life that is pretty important to know (except for radicals–I STILL haven’t found a suitable purpose for them, yet...!!!). We move through our school lives simply and without conflict (most of the time), so I guess we’ve learned to accept our learning environment’s regulations, and there isn’t much torture nor rebelling. But...maybe we’re just too oblivious to see that we’re wasting our time...? I’m still not sure, but I think that this was a great post and very insightful. Good job. =)