A recent study in India reveals a surprising gap between math skills used in school and real-life market transactions, highlighting the need for educational curricula to bridge the gap between intuitive and formal mathematics.
Study Reveals Gap Between Math Skills Used in School and Real-Life Market Transactions
A recent study conducted in India has shed light on a surprising phenomenon: children who excel at mental math in marketplace jobs struggle with formal math problems in the classroom, while those who perform well in school struggle to apply their skills in real-life market situations. This dichotomy raises important questions about how we approach math education and whether it is effective in preparing students for the demands of everyday life.
Math education is a fundamental component of a well-rounded curriculum.
It develops critical thinking, problem-solving skills, and logical reasoning.
Studies show that math proficiency is linked to better academic performance in other subjects, such as science and engineering.
In the workforce, math literacy is essential for careers in data analysis, finance, and technology.
According to the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics, 70% of future jobs will require math skills.
Governments worldwide invest heavily in math education initiatives to bridge the gap between educational outcomes and industry demands.
Math Skills in the Marketplace
The study found that children working in retail markets possess exceptional mental math skills, which enable them to quickly perform calculations to complete transactions. In one experiment, researchers observed 201 kids working in markets in Kolkata who correctly solved market-type problems from 95 to 98 percent of the time by the second try. However, when these same children were given a standardized Indian national math test, their performance dropped significantly.
Marketplace jobs, also known as gig economy jobs, have become increasingly popular in recent years.
According to a report by Intuit, 43% of the US workforce will be engaged in some form of freelance work by 2025.
Platforms like Uber, Lyft, and TaskRabbit have made it easier for people to find temporary or part-time work.
Additionally, companies are also offering marketplace jobs as a way to supplement their existing workforce.
This shift towards flexible work arrangements is expected to continue, with more people opting for non-traditional employment.
The Disconnect Between School and Market Math
Conversely, students who are still enrolled in school but do not work in markets tend to excel on school-type math problems. In one experiment, 96 percent of students from 17 Delhi schools could solve typical problems with a pencil, paper, unlimited time, and one opportunity to self-correct. However, when these same students were presented with market math problems in a simulated setting, their performance declined significantly.
Why the Gap Persists
Researchers suggest that part of the issue lies in the way math is taught in schools. ‘The school kids have no idea’ about exploiting base 10, a tactic used by market kids to handle retail transactions, says MIT economist Esther Duflo. Market kids, on the other hand, may use additional tricks not seen in the study.
Esther Duflo is a French economist and academic who has made significant contributions to the field of development economics.
She is known for her randomized controlled trials (RCTs) in developing countries, which have provided valuable insights into poverty alleviation and policy effectiveness.
Duflo's work has focused on topics such as education, health, and financial inclusion.
She is a recipient of the Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences (2019), along with Abhijit Banerjee and Michael Kremer.
Implications for Education
The findings of this study have significant implications for math education. While it is essential that students develop strong mental math skills, it is equally important to ensure they can apply these skills in real-life situations. The authors suggest that educational curricula should bridge the gap between intuitive and formal mathematics, enabling students to reason their way to an approximation of the right answer.
Future Research Directions
The research group is currently weighing new experiments to address this issue directly. As one author notes, ‘We don’t want to blame the teachers. It’s not their fault.’ The current finding highlights the importance of educational curricula that bridge the gap between intuitive and formal mathematics, making progress in this area a pressing need.
Support for the research was provided by the Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab’s Post-Primary Education Initiative, the Foundation Blaise Pascal, and the AXA Research Fund.
