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Eradicate Math Illiteracy across the Globe!!

msilva31msilva31 Posts: 180
in A Moving Train
Everyone

I have been a die hard PJ Fan since 92 and have been in the fan club since 93, and I have seen a tremendous amount of love and support from this community for a ton of causes that affect people across the globe. I work for a For Profit company called Tabtor (www.tabtor.com). We are a revolutionary math learning/teaching platform on iPads and Android tablets which puts a certified instructor (real person) in the hands of a child through a tablet. We are starting a program called Learn Math, Share Math. For every new paying customer we get into our program, we will donate a free subscription to a child in a school over seas that is in need. We are attending a meeting at the UN in NYC with dignitaries across the globe in hopes of getting this initiative off the ground. Our goal is to give every child an equal chance in this world, and the only way to level the playing field is through education. With Education you can change the world.

If anyone is out there that has had experience in potentially raising money for causes (i.e. kickstarter or similar) please email me at mike@tabtor.com. We have the teachers to support this initiative, we will provide the software and support, but we need the capital to secure tablets for the children to use. I am not asking anyone to sign up for Tabtor, however if you research and make that decision on your own that would be fantastic, but more so looking for people to spread the word about us and our initiative. You never know who is listening. As Wayne Gretzky once said " we miss 100% of the shots we don't take".

Here is a recent commercial we made that describes what Tabtor is about:

https://player.vimeo.com/video/124964745

If you have any questions please don't hesitate to reach out to me at mike@tabtor.com.

Thanks for listening.

Mike

Comments

  • Last-12-ExitLast-12-Exit Posts: 8,661
    I hated math when I was in school. I got good grades, just couldn't stand it. I didn't take algebra 1 until my junior year in high school. And never took geometry. My daughter is taking algebra 2 as an 8th grader and is pulling a 98.
  • brianluxbrianlux Posts: 42,040
    Mike, why just math? I've never understood (now or when I was teaching) why our education system insists everyone learn math or has to be good at any particular subject for that matter. It always made more sense to me to help kids develop the skills and interests that come naturally or that they find interesting. That doesn't mean go easy on them or make everything easy. My favorite teachers were the ones that challenged me the most in classes that I found interesting and those teachers were tough,... but I love them for it.
    “The fear of death follows from the fear of life. A man [or woman] who lives fully is prepared to die at any time.”
    Variously credited to Mark Twain or Edward Abbey.













  • msilva31msilva31 Posts: 180
    Brian and Last Exit

    Thanks for your responses. The reason we are only doing math is because that is all we have content for. We are in the process of adding English (literacy) and other languages but we are not there yet. Actually our platform can put any subject on there from physics to chemistry, but everyone is affected by math and its easy to communicate that's why we started with math. With the advent of technology, we (the human race) made the world a smaller place for better or worse. We (Tabtor) have harnessed that technology and are trying to make the world a better place. It is proven that education moves the GDP of countries. The power of education has the ability to shed light onto individuals that feel that there is no way out, a sense of hope. As American citizens, we have a lot of resources at our disposal which billions of people don't have access to, and ultimately gives us power as a nation. Like Spiderman says "with power comes great responsibility" as corny as that sounds, its true. We would like to do our part in providing technology to students that need it. Here is an example, Sierra Leona (West Africa) stricken with Ebola, students are quarantined indefinitely and are not allowed to travel back and forth to school. With our technology they can still be taught in their homes and still progress in their education. The beauty is, they don't need wifi to use the program and yet they still have access to an American teacher, or a teacher from another part of the world.

    We are starting this movement, and I wanted to get the PJ community involved as we are a great group with the best intentions, and have the ability to make change. Please share.

    Mike

  • Dirtie_FrankDirtie_Frank Posts: 1,348
    If I may add, math is an international language. No matter what you speak it is all the same globally. I believe math makes people think more and helps with problem solving. That is just my opinion.
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  • PJ_SoulPJ_Soul Posts: 49,954
    edited April 2015
    My brain doesn't do math very well, and not for lack of trying. A lot of people are like that. Just like some people aren't artistically inclined and some people don't have rhythm, other aren't mathematically inclined.
    That said, nothing wrong with trying to get as many people to get better at it as possible.
    With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be careful. Strive to be happy. ~ Desiderata
  • benjsbenjs Posts: 9,150
    PJ_Soul said:

    My brain doesn't do math very well, and not for lack of trying. A lot of people are like that. Just like some people aren't artistically inclined and some people don't have rhythm, other aren't mathematically inclined.
    That said, nothing wrong with trying to get as many people to get better at it as possible.

    It's worth reading a fantastic book called This Is Your Brain On Music. The author, Daniel Levitin, talks about the complex mental math involved in the processing in music (these mathematical relationships are a foundation for what we consider consonance and dissonance), all of which takes place (as indicated by babies bobbing their heads or falling asleep to Mozart) before one can even talk! We all understand mathematics subconsciously; some of us are better subconscious -> conscious translators than others in that realm, that's all!
    '05 - TO, '06 - TO 1, '08 - NYC 1 & 2, '09 - TO, Chi 1 & 2, '10 - Buffalo, NYC 1 & 2, '11 - TO 1 & 2, Hamilton, '13 - Buffalo, Brooklyn 1 & 2, '15 - Global Citizen, '16 - TO 1 & 2, Chi 2

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  • brianluxbrianlux Posts: 42,040
    Good luck, Mike. If you get a Kickstarter program going maybe post the link here.
    “The fear of death follows from the fear of life. A man [or woman] who lives fully is prepared to die at any time.”
    Variously credited to Mark Twain or Edward Abbey.













  • PJ_SoulPJ_Soul Posts: 49,954
    edited April 2015
    benjs said:

    PJ_Soul said:

    My brain doesn't do math very well, and not for lack of trying. A lot of people are like that. Just like some people aren't artistically inclined and some people don't have rhythm, other aren't mathematically inclined.
    That said, nothing wrong with trying to get as many people to get better at it as possible.

    It's worth reading a fantastic book called This Is Your Brain On Music. The author, Daniel Levitin, talks about the complex mental math involved in the processing in music (these mathematical relationships are a foundation for what we consider consonance and dissonance), all of which takes place (as indicated by babies bobbing their heads or falling asleep to Mozart) before one can even talk! We all understand mathematics subconsciously; some of us are better subconscious -> conscious translators than others in that realm, that's all!
    Kay, then my brain does not translate it properly (I'm not good on the piano either, lol. Started when I was 7, and have never even been able to reach average abilities on it, lol (at least I still enjoy it)..... I'm excellent at music appreciation though :P ).
    With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be careful. Strive to be happy. ~ Desiderata
  • brianluxbrianlux Posts: 42,040
    PJ_Soul said:

    benjs said:

    PJ_Soul said:

    My brain doesn't do math very well, and not for lack of trying. A lot of people are like that. Just like some people aren't artistically inclined and some people don't have rhythm, other aren't mathematically inclined.
    That said, nothing wrong with trying to get as many people to get better at it as possible.

    It's worth reading a fantastic book called This Is Your Brain On Music. The author, Daniel Levitin, talks about the complex mental math involved in the processing in music (these mathematical relationships are a foundation for what we consider consonance and dissonance), all of which takes place (as indicated by babies bobbing their heads or falling asleep to Mozart) before one can even talk! We all understand mathematics subconsciously; some of us are better subconscious -> conscious translators than others in that realm, that's all!
    Kay, then my brain does not translate it properly (I'm not good on the piano either, lol. Started when I was 7, and have never even been able to reach average abilities on it, lol (at least I still enjoy it)..... I'm excellent at music appreciation though :P ).
    haha! I can relate!

    I had to pass college math to get my teaching credential. I had excellent grades in everything but math has always been a bit of a challenge for me. I can do arithmetic in my head but when it comes to the more abstract forms of math I really struggle. Fortunately I got through it and never took math again.

    Like many people, I'm more right brained than I am left brained. This is why I support the idea of giving creative type kids an out as far as math goes. They should be able to do basic, simple math but beyond that, don't let that get in the way of them accelerating in whatever else works for them. Too many schools have ditched their art and music programs. I'm all for liberating creative types!

    “The fear of death follows from the fear of life. A man [or woman] who lives fully is prepared to die at any time.”
    Variously credited to Mark Twain or Edward Abbey.













  • PJ_SoulPJ_Soul Posts: 49,954
    edited April 2015
    Yeah, exactly. I can add and subtract fine, lol, and am a wiz at basic multiplication and division on paper. :lol: But once it gets into even simple trig or calculus or anything like that, I simply can't do it. I needed Math 11 to get into university, and I got one on one tutoring from my math teacher for 3 months straight in preparation of my provincials, and I still didn't even pass. He gave me a "P" (which means I passed even though I actually got an F) out of pity and because I put in an effort. :blush: Meanwhile, I had A's in all the arts. And now I have a useless arts degree, lol!! image

    Post edited by PJ_Soul on
    With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be careful. Strive to be happy. ~ Desiderata
  • brianluxbrianlux Posts: 42,040
    PJ_Soul said:

    Yeah, exactly. I can add and subtract fine, lol, and am a wiz at basic multiplication and division on paper. :lol: But once it gets into even simple trig or calculus or anything like that, I simply can't do it. I needed Math 11 to get into university, and I got one on one tutoring from my math teacher for 3 months straight in preparation of my provincials, and I still didn't even pass. He gave me a "P" (which means I passed even though I actually got an F) out of pity and because I put in an effort. :blush:

    Was that "P" for "pass or "P" for "pity"? LOL!

    “The fear of death follows from the fear of life. A man [or woman] who lives fully is prepared to die at any time.”
    Variously credited to Mark Twain or Edward Abbey.













  • PJ_SoulPJ_Soul Posts: 49,954
    brianlux said:

    PJ_Soul said:

    Yeah, exactly. I can add and subtract fine, lol, and am a wiz at basic multiplication and division on paper. :lol: But once it gets into even simple trig or calculus or anything like that, I simply can't do it. I needed Math 11 to get into university, and I got one on one tutoring from my math teacher for 3 months straight in preparation of my provincials, and I still didn't even pass. He gave me a "P" (which means I passed even though I actually got an F) out of pity and because I put in an effort. :blush:

    Was that "P" for "pass or "P" for "pity"? LOL!

    Same diff! :lol:
    With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be careful. Strive to be happy. ~ Desiderata
  • msilva31msilva31 Posts: 180
    Guys

    I love the feedback and I am very interested in starting a kick starter campaign for this. Once I get it started I will definitely post it here. One question, and I am not strong in math by any means, so I may fall in this category but Why is it socially acceptable to be math illiterate and not illiterate (unable to read). Think about it, how many people are willing to say they stink in math (me included) but would never say they couldn't read? Interesting isn't it. Our goal is to Erase Math Illiteracy!

    Hey just to bring it back to PJ, here is an awesome clip of PJ Name that Tune with my kid when he was 3. see if you can beat him

    https://youtu.be/znhjQeUnI9w

    Mike
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