California has been at the center of a heated debate over what math knowledge students really need to succeed in college and careers, according to Education Slice.
With math scores falling nationwide, some educators have argued that the standard algebra-intensive math pathway needs a revamp, both to engage more students and to help them develop relevant skills in a world increasingly reliant on data.
In Oxnard, CA, educators say the expansion of the school district’s data science curriculum has reoriented teachers’ and students’ approach to math.
“Data science is changing their view of math,” says Jay Sorensen, Oxnard’s educational technology coordinator. “It changed their perspective or view of what math is, because they maybe didn’t enjoy math or were frustrated with math or hated math before.”
At least 17 states now offer data science, an interdisciplinary field that combines computer programming, math and statistics, as a high school math option, according to the group Data Science for Everyone. Two states, Oregon and Ohio, offer it as an alternative to algebra II.
Education Slice
