This Huffington Post article examines the use of
3D-printed tools and puzzles in math education, a result of MIND Research
Institute's innovative efforts to help young students learn math by
"experiencing" it. Written by Ki Karou, a designer at MIND, the
article reflects on the recent Math Fair and other company projects. There is
an endearingly honest tone, but also a noticeable issue with writing skill and
organization.
The article
describes several 3D-printed learning devices, each accompanied by a visual.
Though the abundance of examples helps concretize the idea of 3D printing for
the reader, it gets a bit cluttered. Also, photos and videos generally help
brighten up an article, but there are so many that they interrupt the flow of
the article.
Another aspect that
both adds and subtracts to the article's effectiveness is the casual, personal
tone with which Karou writes. It adds genuineness, such as in this quote:
"there is a buzz-worthy new technology… that when I tell my grandma about
it, she tells me I'm speaking to her in another language" (1). His use of
plural personal pronouns such as "we" when discussing MIND's work
appeals to his ethos by reminding readers of his direct experience with the
subject. However, the article also ends up more like a casual blog post than a
serious review of the Math Fair and related projects. Karou sounds less like a
reporter and more like a Math Fair visitor who wrote the article for fun.
The article's
structure as an informative, rather than argumentative, piece is appropriate.
Perhaps Karou aims to inspire teachers and curriculum designers, or advertise
his organization and its projects, or simply give information to the general
public about a new technology. Regardless, it is an interesting read, but its
effectiveness is inhibited by disorganization, a few too many examples and
visuals, and some small grammar mistakes.
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| "Our goal is to bring math to life in new ways for a new generation of students. So that they can develop necessary STEM and problem-solving skills to create a brilliant future." - Ki Karou |
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