Da Cunnin' Plan

The Class: Arts Infusion in the Digital Age

The Student: Elizabeth Kulasza, Math/Computer Science Teachables

The Broad Question: What does math look like if we thought of math as a language

I have often told people that math is just a language but I have never done any real research into this idea so I thought I may explore this concept.

I love math and get excited when I get to do it. I get excited and love it, not matter how easy or simplistic the mathematics seems.

Too many people seem to misinterpret mathematics, seeing it as dead, devoid, something that is just there. It's just math. It's just numbers. "You're good at math, right? What's 12x5?" There's so much more to math than just written answers on a piece of paper.

I have to admit, during my practicums I have done the "Notes-examples-work" structure in my math classes and my teachers have been thrilled. My students seem to understand the concepts. They do well on the tests. They seem engaged. I'd like to take the time to look at the artistry of math, the poetry that we weave with each variable, argument and logical conclusion.

I'd like to take some time with this inquiry to do the following:

1. What do 'experts' say on the topic of "math as a language"? What do mathematicians, educators, artists, and others say?
2. What are some of the ways that we can present math as a language? What current practices stay the same?
3. What are the products and the concepts as explained through math as a language?
4. What do we give up when we give up concepts? Are we giving things up because they will no longer be useful? Or are we failing to see them for what they are?

The Plan: Update this blog every day, hopefully making it a conversation or a series of thoughts, building on each other. The posts can either be a response to reading, research or a conversation with someone who uses math (or someone who doesn't). It can be a rant, my own opinions or thoughts. It could be trying out some theory, focusing on the "language" of math and how those concepts are shown through the that language.

Please feel free to comment!