Dan's Response

Hi Byronn, thanks for the questions. I imagine the Wolframs and Arthur Benjamin would be able to better answer them but I can tell you that I use Wolfram Alpha not as an end unto itself but as a means to an end. For instance, I was recently trying to answer this question and it resulted in a complicated equation with a radical. I fired up WA and entered in the equation and WA handled the calculation. Again, I handled the creative thought of coming up with the equation. WA handled the brute force solution of the equation. That's more or less my approach to educational technology. Regards, Dan Byronn's note: "this question" refers to http://threeacts.mrmeyer.com/tacocart/, which was down at the time of this post.

My Question to Dan Meyer

I have to admit that after completing a bachelor's degree, and recently an associates degree in order to change careers, I've been able to learn only enough math to pass various test. After viewing TED talks by you, the Wolfram brothers and Arthur Benjamin, I have discovered a new love of math based primarily on my need for my children to develop a better understanding of math concepts. What can I do to help them and adults like myself who want to explore maths, but are intimidated by our weak mathematical foundations? My nephew is a sophmore in high school and I want to stregthen his foundation with maths that are practical, useful and broad enough to help him understand math applications for programming, statistics, and research should he choose to study these topics or others. I have several questions: 1. How should I use a program like Wolfram's Mathematica to help children and adults? 2. Can this type of program help prepare them for standardized test? 3. Do you agree with Arthur Benjamin that maths should build toward statistics? If so, what should the order of courses be?