I get why they did that. I’ve seen students go through the steps in the algorithm correctly and end up with the right answer, but without any clue what it meant. The answer sentence tells the teacher that the student understood why they applied the algorithm and what the answer meant.
100% this. I can’t tell you how only now, as a middle aged man, do I qualitative understand concepts like continuity and conventions like the complex number plane. No one thought it was important to explain, took the time to do so, or helped me develop the clarity of thought to really understand it.
Getting the right answers is radically different from understanding a concept.
My calculus teacher made us write our answers in complete sentences. I regret not putting bees in his car.
The average bee has a volume of 0.15 cm³.
A 2025 Toyota Corolla has an interior space of 2.05 m³.
How many bees would fit into the Toyota corolla? Please show your calculation and answer in full sentences.
The Toyota Corolla can fit 13,500,000 bees.
The calculations are missing, 0 points.
Problem is unclear. Is bee volume approximated as a cube, sphere or some other shape?
since we are talking about bees, naturally they are Icosahedrons.
Also, how rigid are the shapes, and how much pressure can we apply?
Fuck it. Pudding.
Only my best friends call me “Pudding”. Welcome to my circle of friends. ☺️
I get why they did that. I’ve seen students go through the steps in the algorithm correctly and end up with the right answer, but without any clue what it meant. The answer sentence tells the teacher that the student understood why they applied the algorithm and what the answer meant.
100% this. I can’t tell you how only now, as a middle aged man, do I qualitative understand concepts like continuity and conventions like the complex number plane. No one thought it was important to explain, took the time to do so, or helped me develop the clarity of thought to really understand it.
Getting the right answers is radically different from understanding a concept.