Chalk & Talk From math to science: How weak math skills hurt students with Therese Markow (Ep 40)
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Jan 24, 2025 Therese Markow, Professor Emeritus at UC San Diego and host of the Critically Speaking podcast, dives into the alarming decline of basic math skills among students and its critical impact on science education. She shares insights from her experience as a geneticist, exploring the fascinating link between math proficiency and logic. The conversation also tackles the potential genetic aspects of math abilities and debunks myths about gender and math skills. Markow emphasizes the importance of foundational math for success in life and academic pursuits.
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Percentage Problem
- Therese Markow asked her biology students a simple percentage question about heart disease.
- Many students struggled, highlighting a surprising lack of basic numeracy skills.
Fractions in Genetics
- A student in Therese Markow's genetics class became upset when asked to multiply fractions.
- She claimed she hadn't learned fractions or multiplication tables, viewing them as a "worthless waste of time."
Lowered Standards
- Therese Markow believes that declining student preparedness has led to lowered curriculum standards.
- She cites the example of Dr. Maitland Jones, a NYU professor fired for his rigorous chemistry course.