In light of all the recent changes in regards to education, I thought I’d also mention this change as well.
Alberta Education is changing its math curriculum next September (in 2010). Instead of students having to choose between two math courses, pure and applied, students now have three choices when transitioning into high school.
In grade 10, students will be enrolled in one of the three math courses. One of the courses is geared for students planning for post-secondary (which further splits into students requiring calculus or not requiring it for their post-secondary studies). The other is for students joining the workforce straight out of high school or for students pursuing apprenticeship programs, and the last one is a basic math program.
Mathematics 10C is geared for students wishing to take the “-1” or “-2” route; “-1” is for students who require calculus in their post-secondary studies while “-2” is for students who do not. The “-3” route is for students going straight into the workforce or pursuing an apprenticeship program; and the “-4” route is the same basic math program that will not have changed under the revised curriculum (the 31 course also doesn’t change).
Each course now covers less topics than they currently do and aims to go into more depth into the areas that the student will require depending on the route they pick.
You can read the news article from CBC News here, or check out the information files from Alberta Education here.
What do you think of these changes to the curriculum? Too complicated or specific? Or does it make it easier for students?
Interesting.. But it seems like it requires you to figure out pretty early on what you want to do with your life. Making decisions in grade ten based on what you'll need for post-secondary is smart, but it's a lot to handle for some people I think.
Agreed.
Actually, Alberta Ed only split the Pure math into -1 and -2's.
-3 path is similar to applied math while -4 path already exist as math 14 and 24.
I guess Pure math is a little hard to be handle for some, but this would definitely be helpful to those who don't need the highest level of math but want to learn higher level than applied math.
Agree, it's certainly helpful. But what is the benefit of taking -2? Okay, you're not preparing for calculus. But then why not just take applied? Will there be a diploma for -2 and will universities look at it? Who's going to care about -2?
This information might be contained within the articles, but I haven't had a chance to look through them.