Mathematics is much more than just numbers and formulae, says Professor R. Ramanujam from the Institute of Mathematical Sciences, Chennai. But a lot of students develop an aversion towards the subject. Students cannot be entirely blamed for this situation as it is the responsibility of the teachers to help students learn the subject.
“Your approach and attitude matters the most. Many have forgotten the fact that mathematics is the language of basic science. Whether in a complicated scientific hypothesis or a simple technology, maths plays a big role but communicating the subject has become a major concern now,” he says. Maths needs attention like never before.
By relating the subject to everyday activities, teachers can develop an interest for maths among the students. “It has to be seen in relation to sports, art, music and architecture. Students have to be introduced to processes like approximation and estimation,” he points out.
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Sensing the need to popularise maths among the students and teachers, the Vigyan Prasar, an autonomous body under the Department of Science and Technology, is promoting maths among the teaching fraternity across the country. “As number of students applying for research studies in this subject has come down drastically, the DST has taken steps to establish 2,000 maths clubs in educational institutions all over the country,” informs Ramanujam, a Theoretical Computer Scientist at the institute.
To encourage students to opt for basic science, the Ministry of Human Resource Development offers Fellowship programmes in Indian Institutes of Science Education and Research for the top one per cent Class XII students. “It is a five-year integrated programme in basic science,” he says.
In an attempt to sensitize maths teachers as part of its nation-wide outreach programme, Vigyan Prasar, National Council for Science and Technology Communication of DST organised a workshop for teachers in association with the Tamil Nadu Science Forum, All India People Science Network and Department of Mathematics of Mannar Thirumalai Naicker College in Madurai recently.
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It was aimed at sensitising teachers towards developing skills for teaching, bridging the gap between education and communication, popularising the daily class room teaching by making the concepts attractive for students, promoting hands-on activities and identifying basic difficulties in teaching.
“Pose a challenge to students and guide them to get the results,” says M.S. Rangachari, national resource person for Vigyan Prasar from Warangal, Andhra Pradesh. He introduced new mathematical teaching tools. “Teachers should not undermine students’ ability. They should leave students to work on their own. There should be some open ended questions to apply what they have learnt in classrooms,” he says.
To make learning more interesting, teachers can also learn simple paper folding methods to educate their wards, feels M. Pandiarajan, district secretary of TNSF. Basic concepts like algebra, geometry can be taught through the method. “Only activity-based learning will help students in the long run. Just drawing shapes on boards will not help. Through the paper folding method, the teacher involves students in the activity and makes them understand basic concepts,” he says.
Around 60 teachers from 22 districts participated in the workshop which included lectures, demonstrations and panel discussions.