Math MattersPodcasts

Episode 04. The Move Towards Mass Computational Literacy

Rod Berger
March 25, 2024

Dr. Rod Berger speaks with Conrad Wolfram, CEO and co-founder of Wolfram Research Inc. and author of the recent book The Math(s) Fix about the business of math education.

With the education landscape shifting we are presented with the opportunity to change how we prepare our next generation for the plurality of paths they could ultimately choose and the role math could have in enhancing their lives within that frame.

Dr. Berger explores why math has become so disconnected from our real world experience, leaning into Conrad’s wealth of knowledge to understand how we can move away from our rote learning, assessment-focused math model to one which empowers students, and therefore citizens, to engage more effectively in the world.

Conrad points to our progression into a new era of computation—mass computational literacy, where math has been liberated by computation, free to evolve and develop. Math is now more connected to data science and modeling than to equations and quadratics and by embracing this change we can give humans the edge in the AI age.

Ultimately, our education system needs to match the demands of society and we as educators and guardians need to provide those who will be the leaders of tomorrow the skills required to thrive in our computer-literate economic future.

Add this link to your RSS feed to subscribe to future episodes of the Math Matters: https://anchor.fm/s/76506f74/podcast/rss

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Math MattersPodcasts

Episode 04. The Move Towards Mass Computational Literacy

Rod Berger
Mar 25

Dr. Rod Berger speaks with Conrad Wolfram, CEO and co-founder of Wolfram Research Inc. and author of the recent book The Math(s) Fix about the business of math education.

With the education landscape shifting we are presented with the opportunity to change how we prepare our next generation for the plurality of paths they could ultimately choose and the role math could have in enhancing their lives within that frame.

Dr. Berger explores why math has become so disconnected from our real world experience, leaning into Conrad’s wealth of knowledge to understand how we can move away from our rote learning, assessment-focused math model to one which empowers students, and therefore citizens, to engage more effectively in the world.

Conrad points to our progression into a new era of computation—mass computational literacy, where math has been liberated by computation, free to evolve and develop. Math is now more connected to data science and modeling than to equations and quadratics and by embracing this change we can give humans the edge in the AI age.

Ultimately, our education system needs to match the demands of society and we as educators and guardians need to provide those who will be the leaders of tomorrow the skills required to thrive in our computer-literate economic future.

Add this link to your RSS feed to subscribe to future episodes of the Math Matters: https://anchor.fm/s/76506f74/podcast/rss

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