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#2
Just watched the first one for Limits under Calculus. It's more of an example than a tutorial. He says what to do, but not why to do it... Which is the real meat of a good tutorial.

I didn't check any others.

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#3
That's a massive list of videos there, must have taken an enormous amount of time to build and the website is likely live for a couple of years already. Strange that I never heard of it, while at the same time Khan Academy has been getting lots of praise. Thanks for sharing this.

Re: undefined

#4

Just watched the first one for Limits under Calculus. It's more of an example than a tutorial. He says what to do, but not why to do it... Which is the real meat of a good tutorial. I didn't check any others.

Knowing why is extremely important, as Feynman describes in this essay: http://v.cx/2010/04/feynman-brazil-education

Re: undefined

#5
post #3

That's a massive list of videos there, must have taken an enormous amount of time to build and the website is likely live for a couple of years already. Strange that I never heard of it, while at the same time Khan Academy has been getting lots of praise. Thanks for sharing this.

Not a problem, I stumbled onto it by accident. Since I am interested in mathematics, but lack a lot of basic knowledge, it's nice to have this handy in addition of resources like Khan Academy.

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#6
As a math teacher, his branding/personal presentation makes me bristle.

One of the hardest things to do is to convince a struggling student that "only nerds can do math" is not a truism. By presenting himself as a stereotypical nerd (i.e., taped glasses, etc.) I feel like Patrick only helps to reinforce that stereotype.

For many students, my concerns are overblown. For some, though, they are very real; students do psyche themselves out of being able to solve a problem and shut down.

The world needs more math experts who break stereotypes, not reinforce them.

Re: undefined

#7
post #4

Just watched the first one for Limits under Calculus. It's more of an example than a tutorial. He says what to do, but not why to do it... Which is the real meat of a good tutorial. I didn't check any others.

Knowing why is extremely important, as Feynman describes in this essay: http://v.cx/2010/04/feynman-brazil-education

Could you please remove this link. I get upset when I see people copying other people's work.

Go buy the book instead (Surely you're joking, Mr Feynman), it's worth it!

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#8
post #6

As a math teacher, his branding/personal presentation makes me bristle. One of the hardest things to do is to convince a struggling student that "only nerds can do math" is not a truism. By presenting himself as a stereotypical nerd (i.e., taped glasses, etc.) I feel like Patrick only helps to reinforce that stereotype. For many students, my concerns are overblown. For some, though, they are very real; students do ps…

The world needs more math experts who break stereotypes, not reinforce them.

If public schools create such a stigma against nerds (driven by the violence against them?), perhaps it is the environment that needs reform. It shouldn't be up to naturally nerdy people to deny their nature (in order to survive), but for the system at least not to stifle them.

I'd say the world needs more math-knowledgeable people period, be they experts or amateurs, nerdy or not.