Improving school mathematics 2
Implications of the new perspective
Mathematics is the science of recognising, understanding, appreciating, creating and using patterns in day to day life, business, sciences, work life, technology.
When we look at what is known about math from such a broad based perspective, it has wide and far reaching implications on practically all aspects of the teaching - learning process as well as on all stakeholders. Once we accept this broad based definition of what is it to know maths it has its profound impact on teaching methods as they become more student friendly, more inclusive and appeal to students with different levels of intelligence and having different ways of constructing their reality.
In direct, practical terms, a Beyond Abacus teacher would spend more time, energy, in developing the concept of weight than on just calculating weight conversation. Like the teacher would help students appreciate roughly how much, say, a mobile would weigh, a glassful of milk would weigh ? What would roughly be equivalent weight of say one bucket of water and wheat / flour ?
This kind of teaching will make students appreciate that they are learning something that is useful, that it is something coming from daily life. It will also give each student an opportunity to work at their own pace, create their own examples, work in teams, and share their thoughts.
The students can be given to read, interpret, ECG, pathology report tables, to develop an appreciation for data handling.
These and similar activities will help the students in recognising mathematics as a science of patterns in day to day life.
Yes definitely it's more relevant today because knowledge of mathematics is same since ages but it's application in today's world is fascinating...how to not only apply, but feel the importance of maths in all ways
ReplyDeleteIt is huge opportunity