CONFERENCE FOR MATH TEACHERS, a report.

CONFERENCE FOR MATH TEACHERS, a report.

PURPOSE: ENABLING MATHEMATICS LEARNING THROUGH TECHNOLOGY

ORGANIZED BY: RAMANUJAN FOUNDATION FOR INITIATIVES IN MATHEMATICS EDUCATION(RFIME)

CHIEF GUEST: SHRI VINEET JOSHI, CHAIRMAN, CBSE

HELD ON: 2 AND 3JULY, 2012

TIMINGS: 8:30AM – 4:30PM

VENUE: INDIA INTERNATIONAL CENTRE, NEW DELHI

ATTENDED BY: Ms. ALKA KANWAR AND Ms. SANDHYA BATHEJA from our School.

“Mathematics has traditionally been perceived as difficult. The primary reason for this state of mathematics learning       today is the significant gap between content and pedagogy. In order to bridge this gap it is imperative to bring about a change in the way mathematics is taught “ - Dr. Shyama Chona

The purpose of RFIME is to reach out to students and teachers of schools across the country with a new paradigm of mathematics education, one driven by innovation, research, multi-dimensional methodology and the use of technology. Keeping this vision in view, a professional development programme, ‘Enabling Mathematics Learning through Technology’ was planned at IIC on 2 and 3 July, 2012. The programme deliberated on various issues related to the integration of technology in mathematics instruction and provided participants with a hands-on experience in using technology tools for teaching mathematics. Approximately 150 teachers from middle, secondary and senior secondary levels of several reputed schools of Delhi attended the workshop. Some of the participating schools were Air Force Bal Bharti, Sanskriti School, Banyan Tree, St. Columbus, Hans Raj Model School, The Heritage School, Sardar Patel Vidyalaya, Queen’s Mary School, St. Mary’s School, Navy Children School, Delhi Police Public School and many branches of Delhi Public School. Many teachers from Govt. schools and SCERT were also invited to attend the conference.

The resource people were from eminent mathematics backgrounds and represented highly esteemed institutes of the country. Highlights of their talks are as follows:

Prof. R. Ramanujam, Institute of Mathematical Sciences, Chennai

Topic: Mapping the school mathematics curriculum

“A mathematics curriculum has both a logical structure and a pedagogical structure. Analysis of the first is a mathematical task. Analysis of the second is a task of mathematics education. Performing these tasks separately is like choosing plants for a garden without knowing how they grow., then watering them without knowing anything about what flowers and fruits one may expect. We need an analysis of the curriculum that is simultaneously mathematical and pedagogical; this is not only essential but possible as well.”

Dr. Shailesh Shirali, Director, Community Maths Centre, Rishi Valley School, AP

Topic: Experimentation and discovery in mathematics: The role of Technology

“ One of the peculiarities of mathematics teaching handed down over the generations, is that we teach it in a strictly logical way, ignoring the fact that mathematics was not discovered in quite that way. That is , we tend to teach the subject according to its logical structure. The effect of this is to convey the impression that the subject has no past and that it has existed forever in a perfect, pristine state. This is obviously not true. The actual fact is that all through history, experimentation has been an integral part of the subject, and that it is through such experimentation that we make connections, spot patterns, form conjectures, test them and revise them, and finally prove them(or in some cases prove them to be false)

But if this is the case then why is such a perspective not made a regular part of mathematics pedagogy?”

Mathematics, IIT, Mumbai.Prof. Inder K Rana, Department of

Topic: Mathematics from the Real World- Why and How?

“ Too often maths is taught on the abstract level of arbitrary numbers with examples that have no  connection to the real world. It is a challenge to teach mathematics to the ‘mobile generation’. So we should make an effort to bring real life situations to mathematics in the classroom with the help of technology. The tools should be such that  stimulate mathematical discussions in a small group settings and generates interest in problem solving.”

Dr. Jonaki B Ghosh, RFIME

Topic: a.  Visualising and exploring mathematics using Casio teaching tools

b.  Learning Mathematics in Secondary School: Some Pedagogical Affordances of Handheld Technology

Prof. Geetha Venkatraman, Dean, School of Undergraduate Studies,Ambedkar University

Topic: A powerpoint presentation on biography of Srinivasa Ramanujan

Dr. Gaurav Bhatnagar, Sr. Vice President, DIPS, Educomp Solutions Limited

Topic : Some lessons from Ramanujan’s Approach to Mathematics

“5 Lessons to learn from Ramanujam:

Dr. Haneet Gandhi, RFIME

Topic: Assessment for the learning of mathematics

Ms. Rashmi Kathuria, Dept. of Mathematics, Kulachi Hansraj Model School, New Delhi

Topic: Expanded classroom @ Technology

Ms. Sangeeta Gulati, Head, Dept. of Mathematics, Sanskriti School, New Delhi.

Topic: a. Exploring mathematical ideas in a dynamic geometry environment (A hands on workshop session on Geogebra)

b. Online Resources for Mathematics Classroom

Ms.Himani Asija, Dept. of Mathematics, Delhi Public School, Vasant Kunj, New Delhi

Topic: Enriching School Mathematics through Project based Learning

After listening to the speakers, we gained a huge advantage on how we can adapt to new technology based teaching-learning scenarios spite of our hectic schedules. We want to thank our School management for the platform and opportunitywhich we shall long cherish.

As filed by Ms. Sandhya Batheja and ms. Alka Kanwar, senior Maths teachers.