The Psychology of ArithmeticThorndike, Edward L. (Edward Lee)
Science
The Psychology of Arithmetic
Thorndike, Edward L. (Edward Lee)
Arithmetic -- Study and teaching
(2) _How are degrees of ability or attainment, and degrees of progress
or improvement in the function or a part of the function measured?_ For
example, how can we determine how well a pupil should write, or how hard
words we expect him to spell, or what good taste we expect him to show?
How can we define to ourselves what knowledge of the meaning of a
fraction we shall try to secure in grade 4?
(3) _What can be done toward reducing the function to terms of
particular situation-response connections, whose formation can be more
surely and easily controlled?_ For example, how far does ability to
spell involve the formation one by one of bonds between the thought of
almost every word in the language and the thought of that word's letters
in their correct order; and how far does, say, the bond leading from the
situation of the sound of _ceive_ in _receive_ and _deceive_ to their
correct spelling insure the correct spelling of that part of _perceive_?
Does "ability to add" involve special bonds leading from "27 and 4" to
"31," from "27 and 5" to "32," and "27 and 6" to "33"; or will the bonds
leading from "7 and 4" to "11," "7 and 5" to "12" and "7 and 6" to "13"
(each plus a simple inference) serve as well? What are the situations
and responses that represent in actual behavior the quality that we call
school patriotism?
(4) _In almost every case a certain desired change of knowledge or skill
or power can be attained by any one of several sets of bonds. Which of
them is the best? What are the advantages of each?_ For example,
learning to add may include the bonds "0 and 0 are 0," "0 and 1 are 1,"
"0 and 2 are 2," "1 and 0 are 1," "2 and 0 are 2," etc.; or these may be
all left unformed, the pupil being taught the habits of entering 0 as
the sum of a column that is composed of zeros and otherwise neglecting 0
in addition. Are the rules of usage worth teaching as a means toward
correct speech, or is the time better spent in detailed practice in
correct speech itself?
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