tea.mathoverflow.net - Discussion Feed (math and motivational issues)

Scott Morrison comments on "math and motivational issues" (5670)

Scott Morrison — Sat, 29 May 2010 23:42:58 -0700

@HalfdanFaber, I'm actually unsure what distinction you're making. What harm might have been caused (was caused?) beyond offending someone?

HalfdanFaber comments on "math and motivational issues" (5669)

HalfdanFaber — Sat, 29 May 2010 10:55:40 -0700

This is an uncommon question, that I think could have been handled more gracefully. Scott, perhaps your real concern was to not cause harm, rather than offense?

Jon Awbrey comments on "math and motivational issues" (5663)

Jon Awbrey — Fri, 28 May 2010 22:10:57 -0700

I just read it as falling into the "advice" category, and it looks like everyone who answered so far simply responded with "motivated math" type book suggestions. Not all conditions that people call "mental disorders" are all that uncommon, and teachers will certainly run into all sorts of garden variety learning difficulties in their students from time to time — the quality of teaching is not strained too much by that, we should hope.

Pete L. Clark comments on "math and motivational issues" (5662)

Pete L. Clark — Fri, 28 May 2010 21:57:02 -0700

I think the quetion is even harder for MO regulars to answer than you suggest, due to the fact that the OP leads with the information that he has a "mental disorder". I hear that and I think: sorry, not qualified to help. Maybe that's a route to closing the question gracefully.

Scott Morrison comments on "math and motivational issues" (5661)

Scott Morrison — Fri, 28 May 2010 20:54:19 -0700

I feel that math and motivational issues is not a good question for mathoverflow. Certainly it doesn't admit an identifiably "correct" answer. Moreover, the answers won't be of interest to a research mathematician -- to answer usefully you need to address the needs of (in his own words), an enthusiastic but unmotivated student with only high school mathematics.

I think mostly my difficulty is finding a way to close the question without causing offense. If someone agrees with me and has a good idea, please proceed.