‘Notions’ about math create phobia to subject
System of examination biggest challenge facing children
math?
Math has been labeled as difficult, all over the world - this is a common trend. To evoke interest in the subject primarily basic concepts are to be explained. The next step would be to enhance logical thinking which can give confidence to the child, and make math looks more like a tool to fix problems.
Is it fair to impose a set of academic curriculum on children with no consideration given to their natural abilities?
Children come like a clean slate, and have the ability to learn very fast. Until a basic level of education is imparted to them, it’s hard to tell where their natural potential lies. Moreover, the fundamental lessons we give in different subjects are basic for the child’s development later in life. That’s why we have a certain set curriculum until a certain grade, after which the student chooses his areas of specialization.
Shouldn’t evaluation of students be based on a wider measuring parameter that includes their artistic, musical and sports abilities?
Yes. The CBSE report sheets of students carry a wider parameter based on life skills. The report reflects the overall development of a child with regard to attitude towards school, schoolmates, teachers and interest towards life skills, art and sports.
What should an ideal classroom look like in your opinion in terms of layout, interactivity, study material etc.?
Ateacher should be able to monitor each and every child. Individual teachers can use their own layout to suit their convenience. Usage of board is essential in math teaching so that all children can view what is being taught. However, in math lab children can be seated face to face as it involves group activities. But class room teaching should never be conducted face to face as it causes distractions.
What are the most common problems that students face in private schools in Kuwait?
Lack of real life skills, lack of exposure to various facets of life, stereotype living atmosphere. Nature is the great teacher and children should be given ample opportunities to interact with nature. That is missing in Kuwait. Here school life is mostly restricted to air-conditioned classrooms.
The climatic condition, the school timings, parental pressure and societal standards compound the problem. The children are glued to the digital screens most of the time, because their social life is highly restricted. Children rarely go out for playing.
Is there a shortage of good teachers in Kuwait? What should be the ideal strength of a classroom for teachers to give maximum individual attention?
A: Ideal strength is 20-25 students per teacher. This helps teachers to give individual attention and promote activity oriented teaching as a small class is more manageable.
Q: The emphasis of traditional teaching methods is on rote learning. Does this kind of learning help in the learning of math?
A: In math, logic and reasoning are very important. And believe me, children have these abilities. However, when it comes to the application of formulas, you have to learn them by heart. The child would have got the logic behind the problem, and the steps to solving it right. However, even a minor mistake in the formula will not give him the right answer.
Q: Shouldn’t the formulas also be workable in a logical manner?
A: That’s right, and I do it in my classes. For example, there is a logical way by which you can derive the formula, (a+b) = a2+b2+2ab. However, it helps to know it by heart because it will enable you to save a lot of time. In my school, I have made many math models to help children appreciate the logic behind math. We also conduct yearly math exhibitions and use the opportunity express the beauty of math to the common man. We aim to break the myth that math is for the nerds and that it’s all about complicated numbers. Math has a beauty of its own that can be appreciated by anyone.
The subject a vast majority of students hate is math. This is mainly because they score low in math. A student might be brilliant, yet his or her scores can be low as a result of confusing the formulas, as I said. Marks serve as yardstick to measure the student’s academic achievement but never sheds light on the student’s logical and reasoning abilities. As a parent, even I am concerned about my child’s marks, because at the end of the day this is what he is going to be judged by.
Educational systems have changed over time. Gone are the days when children were meted out with physical punishments. These days, the punitive aspects are way too relaxed, and children are not too keen on learning by rote. The drop in rote learning without an effective system to replace it, in spite of on going experiments, has actually created a gap.
Q: Is rote learning good for the mental development of a child? Does it not make the reasoning side of his brain less exercised?
A: Both rote learning and logical learning are important. We have two hemispheres in our brain and both need to be equally exercised for our complete development. We can make rote learning fun for the child if we are a little creative. For example we can put up mathematic tables on the walls, exposing the child constantly to these numbers, such that they register in his mind automatically. There are also rhymes, which they can sing and learn easily.
Q: What do you mean by life experience of math?
A: The practical application of math in our daily lives is what I mean by life experience. When a child does shopping, he is dealing with money. He has to pay an amount, and probably receive the change. There’s math there.
As I mentioned, this constitutes a big challenge among expatriate kids in Kuwait. Unlike in their home countries, the children in Kuwait are brought up in a very restrictive atmosphere, where they are over protected and disallowed from engaging in life experience on their own. This is a big setback to the development of cognitive skills, especially in math.
I am not just talking about money matters. A child leaves the flat, enters his school van, gets driven to his school, and comes back the same way. This is what happens in Kuwait, but when children have the opportunity to walk to their schools, they appreciate the concept of distances better.
Q: If you had the power to change any three things in the existing educational system in Kuwait, what would they be and why?
A: I strongly advocate that math teaching must be an endeavor of fun in Primary level in order that the children can understand the concept. Once the concept is clear then higher level mathematics can be introduced. More time must be allotted to math tutoring with qualified and dedicated teachers. Involve students actively in math exhibitions. Introduce math labs in each school with properly framed teaching models for the students to grasp better.
Multiple Choice tests play an important and a very useful supporting role in self evaluation or self-examination of students. The present system of continuous and comprehensive evaluation tool is very useful to get immediate feedback. It is not that easy to prepare good MCQ’s but it can be developed for a good purpose.