Since the Science of Whatever fad has been steadily trending, people in the reform math sector are drawing their wagons in a circle. They are fearful that their cherished concepts of what they think works in math ed will end up in a sticky “Sold a Story”-like ending as has been happening with reading.
As part of the effort to head off the charge, reformers are now using the “fallacy of the heap” in trying to say there’s really no difference between novices and experts. Or variations of the argument. They draw upon credible references such as David Didau and John Sweller, and refer to the “expertise reversal effect”, and “fading guidance” as students/novices become more adept in newly acquired knowledge. In running with such references, they are reminiscent of Dean Martin as he crooned “Everybody loves somebody sometime”. Yes, at some time all of us are experts at something. So, the reformers argue, why get hung up about it? Let’s continue with PBL and inquiry-based learning and the belief that understanding must precede procedures, as long as we provide guidance—or something.
It’s all a matter of perspective and how one goes about singing about expertise. Just ignore the fact that everyone is also a novice at some time, and keep believing that the practices that haven’t worked are working just fine. Nobody will do a “Sold a Story” on what you do; they wouldn’t dare, now would they?
Uh, would they?
Might I be so bold to suggest that perhaps the public is growing a tad weary of the rhetoric, as more and more cries behind The Science of Learning grows louder. Great shoutout to you and others Barry, from Paul Kirschner. https://twitter.com/rastokke/status/1647296955180109827?s=20
Greg does a grand job here of separating the distinction between an expert at say grade 7 math and an expert at math in general.
https://open.substack.com/pub/fillingthepail/p/mathematics-experts-and-what-to-do?r=59cba&utm_medium=ios&utm_campaign=post
I suspect anyone claiming to be an expert at math in general is not. Most true experts are going to be much more precise about where they have expertise for most mathematicians there will be more sub fields the are not experts in than those they are.