Brian Greene makes the point about science, and it holds just as true for math: "We rob science education of life when we focus solely on results and seek to train students to solve problems and recite facts without a commensurate emphasis on transporting them out...
Our philosophy
What’s wrong with standardized tests for teachers?
Well, I really mean to answer "what's wrong with using the results of students' standardized tests to evaluate teacher performance?" On its surface, nothing. Indeed, student performance should be the primary metric of teacher quality. When I worked for Bodsat Prep, I...
MIT Offers Best ROI
A recent study claims that an MIT education offers better ROI (Return on Investment) than that of any other undergrad institution. As an alum, I'm excited to hear it. As a professional educator, I'm excited to share it. (And as an ambitious person, I'm wondering what...
A Different Kind Of “Underserved”
What if the 32nd individual on the planet to achieve a nuclear-fusion reaction were only 14 years old? It's not science fiction. And the article about it makes the insightful point that the most underserved students in the country are those at the top.
The Power Of The Nudge
My friend and colleague Jai Flicker just posted this lovely essay on the time he knew just what to say to a student to make a big difference. His point was that one's attitude towards work matters a lot. I take away a different point: that there's more to teaching...
Take It Like A Grown-Up
A few years ago, a 35-year-old took the SAT and wrote about the experience. I responded with the essay below, which I think is relevant to most academic work, not just the SAT. I posted the essay on Facebook, where a very interesting discussion ensued. Forgive me if...