MAE2240 Lecture 1: MAE2250 - Week 1
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!WEEK!1!
We#need#to#question#and#examine#what#we#are#doing#that#causes#children#to#disengage#
from#mathematics.#
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Causes!of!disengagement:!!
• Classroom#atmosphere#(timed#tests;#basic#facts)#
• Ugly#lessons#(boring#repetitive#exercises)#
• Poor#teaching#(unclear#expectations)##
• Lack#of#application#to#the#world#outside#the#classroom#(when#am#I#ever#going#to#use#
this?#)##
• Student#beliefs#(there#is#only#one#right#answer#and#only#one#way#to#get#that#answer)#
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What!can!we!do!to!improve:!
• Use#children's#literature##
• Mathemagic#
• Games#
• Provide#interesting#problems#
• Make#use#of#trivia#
• Relate#mathematics#to#the#world#outside#the#classroom##
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Maths!anxiety:!a#common#and#widely#recognised#phenomenon;#has#been#defined#as#
'feelings#of#tension#and#anxiety#that#interfere#with#the#manipulation#of#numbers#and#the#
solving#of#mathematical#problems#in#a#wide#variety#of#ordinary#life#and#academic#situations'#
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Empower!status:!give#them#confidence#by#spending#time#on#mathematics#so#that#they#can#
understand#mathematics#and#enjoy#it;#be#confident#yourself##
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Document Summary
We need to question and examine what we are doing that causes children to disengage from mathematics. Causes of disengagement: classroom atmosphere (timed tests; basic facts, ugly lessons (boring repetitive exercises, poor teaching (unclear expectations) Lack of application to the world outside the classroom (when am i ever going to use this? : student beliefs (there is only one right answer and only one way to get that answer) What can we do to improve: use children"s literature, mathemagic, games, provide interesting problems, make use of trivia, relate mathematics to the world outside the classroom. Maths anxiety: a common and widely recognised phenomenon; has been defined as. "feelings of tension and anxiety that interfere with the manipulation of numbers and the solving of mathematical problems in a wide variety of ordinary life and academic situations"