Vedic Math in eLearning

Interesting post at the Tata Interactive blog about Vedic Math. This is a topic which has fascinated me for a while and the post on the TIS blog is interesting because it links Vedic Math to e-Learning.

The author of the post feels that Vedic Math has huge implications for curriculum designers of Math courseware and special-needs education for learning disabilities like dyscalculia. He asks us to imagine compressing a typical ten-year Math course into one page of sixteen simple rules of thumb!

I recently had the opportunity of bringing up this topic with Jon Revelos (Director, Instructional Design at Tata Interactive Systems and someone who is known to read math books for leisure!). This is what Jon had to say about Vedic Math, "Aside from the fun of the speedy results it delivers, it's also interesting to see some of the debates that rage on surrounding the topic itself.  Some think that it's the greatest thing in the world and should replace all 'traditional' approaches to teaching (and performing) math.  Others think that it nothing more than a series of parlor tricks that actually fog a true understanding of mathematics and, if taught before a solid foundation of 'traditional' math instruction is in place, can do more harm than good.  Still others think that it's a ploy of dubious origins to rally support for Indian heritage/pride by down playing 'western' approaches to math.  Who's right?  Who knows!  And, in certain senses, who cares?! I just think that it's pretty neat stuff that actually works."