NEED FOR NEW ORIENTATION IN MATHEMATICS EDUCATION

   

Mathematics is one of the civilisation's greatest and

most prized achievements.By enhancing the capabilities of human minds,mathematics as we know has facilitated the development of science ,technology,engineering and business.For people to participate fully in the society,they must be well versed with the method of basic mathematics. According to me, citizens who cannot reason mathematically are cut off from whole realms of human endeavour. Mathematics is a byword for success.Lacking in mathematical skills not only  deprives you of different opportunities in life but

reduces your competency in everyday tasks.

    Coming to the main point,the mathematics students need to learn today is not the one that their parents and grandparents needed  to learn.When today's students become adults,they fill face new demands for mathematical proficiency that school mathematics should attempt to anticipate.Moreover ,mathematics is a realm no longer restricted to a few.All young Indians must

learn to think mathematically and they must think mathematically to learn.

   

   Mathematics is an intellectual and logical 

expression of human mind.This expression indicates the active will and desire for precise 

perfection.The basic elements are logic,analysis 

and construction.In very fundamental terms they 

need to add,subtract and divide.....but the world of 

maths is far far more interesting that these basic but absolutely essential concepts.Most importantly ,students need to inculcate the habit of thinking,since maths is the most precise form of logic and as we all know logic entails analytical study.Students need to fully understand the mathematical concepts that they study,so as to develop an interest and consequently a firm grasp on the subject.Please its a request to all the readers that if you seriously want to learn maths,learn it by heart and for all young ones,i would strongly urge you to study maths not for marks at priority but for knowledge,to develop mathematical thinking and to increase your mental level because maths helps build strong minds.It helps make sense of the maze that this big world seemingly embody ,by finding shape and pattern,by allowing students to see the underlying similarities in the way all things balance and equate.

  Another question which arises here is that why some students seem to learn mathematics easily and others stay away from it as far as possible,learning it only with great effort and apparent pain?Why are some people good at algebra but terrible at geometry and analysis?

 The basic problem that lies here is the approach to mathematics teaching and learning.The goal of mathematics education should be to develop student's mathematical thinking skills and not merely to transmit mathematical knowledge to them.If the goal of mathematics education is to develop mathematical thinking,the detailed understanding of the processes that are involved in mathematical thought.Truly speaking, the 

educators should first study how the student's understand and how they can be encouraged to understand different mathematical concepts.They should encourage the students to learn maths in a positive manner and not create fear in their minds by saying them before teaching that this particular subject like mechanics is tough but still we have to do it as it is in your course.Please its an urge to all the teachers reading my blog to not to teach maths as a course subject but to make students to think logically and to help them develop better mathematical skills.(Although its out of topic ,but i feel the need to mention it here that its a request to  all the parents to not to  pressurise their children and force them to study for marks and percentages.Let them choose their career and profession because ultimately its their life at the end.Please do not pressurise them to take up a field which doesn't interest them because in  such a case results will not be fruitful  because when a student is  made to choose a profession in which he is not interested ,he is going to blame his parents for that.So,let your children decide their career themselves so that they can explore their mind and do their things with 100% potential.I am sure if you will trust them ,they will disappoint you .Let them work for themselves and a career of their choice only then  they can enjoy the learning process.)

 Coming back to the topic,Let Maths become a medium for students to increase their mental power and imagination.Use your 100% potential to learn maths in a right manner for knowledge and understanding ,for increasing your mental level so that it can be beneficial for you in your entire life.

Best of Luck! 

                  

Evaluating your attitude towards maths

Normally it is seen that students are not interested in maths ; may be they find it quite tough or have set a negative attitude that they will not be able to do it.So, in order to learn maths firstly one needs to develop a positive attitude towards the subject because your attitude directly affects everything that you attempt  and determines your success.the most important thing is not to pass the subject for marks but students should learn it by heart. They should try to understand each and every concept related to their topic and clear out their basics first because if the foundation is strong ,only then the building will be strong..i.e if fundamentals will be clear,  so definitely one will find the subject easier and more interesting.I have normally seen students cramming the theorems in maths ,mainly in higher classes.but, i  would definitely suggest not to cram the theorems as it will not help the students in any way.One should try his/her level best to understand the basic of the theorem because ultimately maths means to develop your mental level.So the main thing is that one should have a positive attitude towards maths.

Your attitude towards maths affects how well or often you do it ,and mainly how much enjoyment you derive from it.Many students have a negative attitude towards maths that can be described as "maths phobia" or "maths avoidance". Math phobia is a state of such tension or fear that the learning process in maths is blocked or interrupted. Maths avoidance usually occurs because the fear causes a person to react negatively to mathematical situations and therefore avoid them as much as possible.

The mathephobics have generally difficulty doing well in maths. But the thing ts that difficulty is not related to their ability but their attitude; the fear they have in mind that they cannot do well in maths which really affects their performance. Researchers have found that one of the traits of mathematical problem solvers is a low level of anxiety. So, if you feel you have this fear of maths, it is important to recognize that you can change your mental state that causes fear. Identify the negative statements that you make that are self negating and that cause you do poorly merely because you expect to do poorly .You should stop making negative statements and start making positive ones towards maths and your mathematical abilities. Definitely, you will be able to develop better mathematical skills than earlier. I expect that my article will help you to do better in maths.  

 BEST OF LUCK