In a culture that focuses on fast paced innovations, various aspects in our lives are constantly changing. It seems like every few months the newest phone, car, appliance is released. It can be exhausting and expensive to keep up, however we are all a little guilty of wanting to be constantly updated. Along with technological innovations there is no denying that education techniques and standards are also advancing. The disparity in just the last generation alone is astonishing. Classrooms have transformed from blackboards to smart boards, paper to laptops and textbooks to online resources. Parents and teachers often find themselves wondering, whatever happened to using a good old-fashioned No. 2 pencil?
To focus specifically on math in the classroom, a lot more has changed than just the tools used. The expectations facing 21st century students are constantly rising, and as a result teachers are raising the bar. Heres a few ways teachers and professors have altered the way they teach to fit the new standard:
1) Higher academic standards
Academic milestones need to be reached at much younger ages. This essentially means students need to develop a more wholesome understanding of what they are learning. According to the
Common Core State Standards, "the idea is that the higher academic standards will ensure students are adequately prepared for college and the careers of the 21st century."
2) Digital Math
Technology, especially computers/cell-phones are second nature to most students who in this generation are coined to be "digital natives." Teachers are turning to digital math resources and adaptive leaning systems to engage students and make math enjoyable.
The Center of Math is centered around accessible and affordable digital textbooks. As we are in the height of the digital age, several teachers and students have decided to make the switch from print to digital. To view our digital resources
click here.
3) Emphasis on the "why" and the "how"
Many see math as just a pointless subject consisting solely on memorizing formulas. Now more than ever, teachers are focusing much more on the reasoning behind a specific theories/formulas. Students are expected to not only master mathematical concepts, but also understand the reasoning behind them.
4) College on the horizon
It was not always the case that 70 percent of high school graduates attended college. The norm for students no more than 50 years ago was to stop at a high school degree, a much smaller percentage attended college. Teachers now must focus on catering their curriculum to serve students past the 12th grade.
5) Real-world applications
Recently math education has made the shift from being considered an abstract concept filled with formulas and theories to a concrete subject focusing on skills that can be applied to the real world. Teachers are shifting from more traditional curriculums and are beginning to incorporate real-life applications into their math classrooms.
6) Allow students to explore
Learning is dynamic, rather than static. It used to be that children were asked to repeat math concepts until their responses were automatic, multiplication tables ring a bell? Now, students are getting pushed to limits where they are encouraged to explore ideas and experiment with different avenues of the subject.
7) Link between researches and educators
Teachers and researches are now encouraged to collaborate to produce data that can help improve education. Math education is always changing. To ensure it is moving in the right direction a researchers' input is necessary to better math studies.
8) Changing perceptions of math
Research has shown that how children view their math capabilities has an effect on their success. Students willing to take higher-level math is directly correlated with their self-esteem as learners. Teachers are working to transform math from a "scary" subject into something that is approachable and useful for students, so they can develop the confidence they need to be successful.
Sources:
http://www.dreambox.com/blog/10-ways-math-education-changing
The National Museum of Mathematics is a great place for any math lover to visit. Located in New York City, the museum features a number of interactive exhibits, a gallery of mathematical structures, pictures and art, as well as programs that explore the wonders of mathematics. This is the place to be for anyone who wants to spend a day of fun, immersed in a world of mathematics. 
Right in our backyard (Cambridge, MA), MIT is a center of math and sciences. The MIT museum is meant to engage and inspire visitors about the possibilities and opportunities science and technology have to offer. The museum features interactive exhibits, public programs, and its own world-renown collections. Any math lover should visit the museum and see one of the most influential mathematical places in the world.
Located in San Jose, in the the heart of Silicon Valley, the Tech Museum of Innovation is a great place for any math lover to visit. The museum features many different programs and exhibits designed around tech innovation. One such exhibit involves designing and building your own robot! This is a great place to see what the latest innovations in technology are, all involving math of some kind.
Zero: The Biography of a Dangerous Idea
The Drunkard's Walk: How Randomness Rules Our Lives
Calcudoku
Once classes begin, some teachers don't even use the assigned texts!
In a culture that focuses on fast paced innovations, various aspects in our lives are constantly changing. It seems like every few months the newest phone, car, appliance is released. It can be exhausting and expensive to keep up, however we are all a little guilty of wanting to be constantly updated. Along with technological innovations there is no denying that education techniques and standards are also advancing. The disparity in just the last generation alone is astonishing. Classrooms have transformed from blackboards to smart boards, paper to laptops and textbooks to online resources. Parents and teachers often find themselves wondering, whatever happened to using a good old-fashioned No. 2 pencil?
