I have a technical background in the sciences and engineering, but have been a history teacher for several years. It always struck me that there are some big differences in how these two areas of endeavor need to be taught. The STEM type classes (i.e. Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) are based upon some tangible skills need to master these classes. They include mastering the grammar and language of mathematics as well as some of the related skills of logic, and ultimately some critical thinking skills.
The humanities and the social sciences can and often do rely upon many of these same skills, but they don’t really teach them (save for some philosophy classes). Traditionally it has been a useful symbiosis between these two areas of intellectual endeavor: namely free inquiry and mental discipline.
They need to be taught differently too. Math classes, musical instrument lessons, language classes, and almost any sort of computer programming or computer language classes deal with what is essentially learning a new language. To gain some mastery of these sorts of skills, lots of tiresome repetition and exercises are needed, in contradistinction to a related literature or history class… In other words, these skills are imperative in STEM classes and only ‘nice to have’ in humanities classes…
The Way We Teach Math, Sciences, and Languages Is Wrong
http://www.freakonomics.com/2011/11/02/the-way-we-teach-math-and-language-is-wrong
Kid studies Java as a second language; should more do so?
http://venturebeat.com/2011/11/05/java-as-a-second-language/
What Can Plato Teach Me That I Can’t Find on Wikipedia?
http://bigthink.com/ideas/41197
For what it's worth...
I notice the dude writing all the formulas forgot to put a "dx" in his integral. Odd to be sloppy when his apparent reason to write the stuff in the first place is to take a picture to post on the web.
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