Teaching science

[Ignis Fatuus]

I don't agree with Gove on much, but this caught my eye:

Gove also said he wanted GCSE maths and science exams to be made tougher, adding: "We urgently need to ensure our children study rigorous disciplines instead of pseudo-subjects.

"In Massachusetts, 16-year-olds are asked, in their science exams, to identify the shape of a carbon tetrabromide molecule as predicted by the valence-shell repulsion theory.

"In England, 16-year-olds are asked in their science exams whether we sweat through our lungs or our skin."

 

[Troll]

I don't agree with Gove on much, but this caught my eye:

Agree in principle - but I think that needs changing to

"In England, some 16-year-olds are asked in their science exams whether we sweat through our lungs or our skin."

 

[Mich the Tester]

Agree in principle - but I think that needs changing to

"In England, some 16-year-olds are asked in their science exams whether we sweat through our lungs or our skin."

Yep, and half of those asked didn't understand the question.

 

[BlasterBates]

I have sweaty lungs but they've been much better since I started inhaling deoderant.

 

[TimberWolf]

Yep, and half of those asked didn't understand the question.

Doesn't matter, I believe examination boards provide the answers on the back of the paper, and where that doesn't work, on the front.

 

[Mich the Tester]

Anyway, seeing as Tetra means 4, surely the only possible shape for a molecule of carbon tetrabromide is a tetrahedron, as anyone with a basic knowledge of classical studies would know without using Valences, shells, repulsive stuff or google.

 

[MrRobin]

Reminds me of this:

Chinese Students Maths Question vs English Students Maths Question

 

[Mich the Tester]

Reminds me of this:

Chinese Students Maths Question vs English Students Maths Question

Chinese prisms have a reputation for being quite tough.

 

[TimberWolf]

Reminds me of this:

Chinese Students Maths Question vs English Students Maths Question

The first (Chinese) reminds me of Pure Maths 'A' level question, perhaps being one of the easier ones, while the second (English) I don't think would have been difficult enough to appear on an 'O' level paper a couple of decades ago.

 

[Mich the Tester]

The first (Chinese) reminds me of Pure Maths 'A' level question, perhaps being one of the easier ones, while the second (English) I don't think would have been difficult enough to appear on an 'O' level paper a couple of decades ago.

Hmmm, but I wonder whether you would really want Chinese education in Britain. Drilling maths into young children along with Maoist singalongs, torturous gymnastics sessions etc. is perhaps the opposite extreme to working out the length of the hypoteneuse while munching another bag of crisps.