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Don’t Give Up on Algebra: Let’s Shift the Focus to Instruction

National Science Foundation

In its current form, school algebra serves as a gatekeeper to higher-level mathematics. Researchers and policy makers have pushed to open that gate—providing more students access to algebra, focusing in particular on those students historically denied access to higher-level mathematics. Berry & Larson, 2019; Levitt, 2019).

Algebra 76
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How Did We Get Here? The Tangled History of the Second Law of Thermodynamics

Stephen Wolfram

But by the end of the 1800s, with the existence of molecules increasingly firmly established, the Second Law began to often be treated as an almost-mathematically-proven necessary law of physics. There were still mathematical loose ends, as well as issues such as its application to living systems and to systems involving gravity.

Energy 88
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The Concept of the Ruliad

Stephen Wolfram

And—it should be said at the outset—we’re still only at the very beginning of nailing down those technical details and setting up the difficult mathematics and formalism they involve.) Mathematically this can be thought of as being like decomposing the ruliad structure in terms of fibrations and foliations.). Experiencing the Ruliad.

Physics 122
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Even beyond Physics: Introducing Multicomputation as a Fourth General Paradigm for Theoretical Science

Stephen Wolfram

Many would say that modern exact science was launched in the 1600s with the introduction of what we can call the “ mathematical paradigm ”: the idea that things in the world can be described by mathematical equations—and that their behavior can be determined by finding solutions to these equations.

Physics 65
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Multicomputation: A Fourth Paradigm for Theoretical Science

Stephen Wolfram

Many would say that modern exact science was launched in the 1600s with the introduction of what we can call the “ mathematical paradigm ”: the idea that things in the world can be described by mathematical equations—and that their behavior can be determined by finding solutions to these equations.

Science 64
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Remembering the Improbable Life of Ed Fredkin (1934–2023) and His World of Ideas and Stories

Stephen Wolfram

It didn’t help that his knowledge of physics was at best spotty (and, for example, I don’t think he ever really learned calculus). It explains that III has four divisions: Mathematical and Programming Services, Behavioral Science, Operations, and “New York”. It says that “From a one-man operation [in 1962], I.I.I.

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Computer Science was always supposed to be taught to everyone, and it wasn’t about getting a job: A historical perspective

Computing Education Research Blog

My argument is that computer science was originally invented to be taught to everyone, but not for economic advantage. Forsythe argued (in a 1968 article) that the most valuable parts of a scientific or technical education were facility with natural language, mathematics, and computer science. It was an amazing event.