Lesser class strength conducive to learning: Australian teacher

December 12, 2014 10:44 am | Updated April 07, 2016 03:55 am IST - VELLORE:

Reduced student strength in the classroom would be more conducive to better learning, said Matt Skoss, Maths/Science Coordinator of the Centralian Senior College, Alice Springs, Australia.

Talking to this Correspondent on the sidelines of the International Scientists-Students Meet held at the Government Girls Higher Secondary School in Arcot on Thursday, Mr. Skoss said that he deals with only 24 students in his classroom as against nearly 40 in the Arcot government school.

Group activity should be encouraged among the students who should be divided into 3 or 4 groups which could discuss among themselves and communicate to each other for a better understanding of the lessons.

The use of digital and electronic teaching devices would enhance the quality of learning.

“Teachers should encourage the students to talk among themselves about the subjects being taught so that the message is easily communicated among the students,” he said.

Theatre for teaching maths

Theatre could be used as a medium to teach mathematics, according to Verena Sprecht, who runs a theatre company called The@rt in Frankfurt, Germany.

“You can make a story, a dance or dialogue around every mathematical theorem so that the students could easily understand the concepts,” said Ms. Verena who uses the theatre for conveying the concepts in mathematics in primary schools in Frankfurt.

“It has become part of the school system,” she said.

Kamal Lodaya of IMS, Chennai, said that the conference facilitated an exchange of information among the participants about the new and modern techniques in mathematics teaching.

Each school could adopt a technique which is suited to its environment, he said.

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