What Is Mathematics For Students?
What is Mathematics?
Math is a subject that students in all grades need to be proficient in. Without strong mathematical skills, they are denied the best opportunities and contributions they can make as citizens of our world.
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It is also a tool for understanding the world and making sense of it, as well as an important skill for solving real-world problems. For example, algebra can explain how quickly water gets contaminated in third-world countries and the resulting illnesses; statistics can predict how much a country’s economy will grow over time or how many animals might be endangered; and geometry can teach about the architecture of many cultures.
In addition, a global curriculum can help students develop and apply critical math knowledge that makes sense in their own lives, in the context of other people’s experiences. The challenge is finding genuine, relevant, and significant examples of global or cultural contexts that enhance, deepen and illustrate an understanding of the math content itself.
Effective strategies for teaching math can have a major impact on students’ academic success and their enjoyment of the subject. This includes using a wide range of hands-on activities and games, including dice rolls, LEGOs, and playdough to help students learn about basic math concepts.
The key to math learning is to have the right tools, so students can see what they’re learning in a clear and meaningful way, says Jo Boaler, professor of education at Stanford University. That’s why she focuses on a discovery approach to math instruction, which emphasizes building students’ abilities to solve problems and draw connections between different aspects of the subject.
She also believes that students are more likely to learn math well when they’re given problems they enjoy working on and don’t have to worry about rote procedures. She encourages teachers to focus on the pedagogy that will most benefit their students.
Developing an Understanding of Mathematics
Students who can understand how mathematics works have a solid foundation for applying their mathematical knowledge to new or unfamiliar problems, according to research by math education professor Annie Savard at McGill University in Montreal. The ability to reason with mathematics, she said, is a critical part of the skills students need for success in their careers and future lives.
Creating a Global Context for Math
Rethinking how we teach math in a global context can be a great way to engage students and get them excited about the content. But it is essential to avoid using inappropriate or non-relevant examples, which will have little relevance to the subject and thereby add nothing to an understanding of math and the world.
This will keep students engaged and ensure that the math they’re studying is relevant to their lives. In other words, it will make a big difference in the quality of their experience in school and beyond.
To build proficiency in the subject, students need to be taught all five strands of mathematical proficiency in sequence and over the course of several years, a process that will take them from rote recall of basic facts to deep understanding. They need to know how each strand fits together and to be able to use their understanding to solve complex problems.